Goldsboro's Moses drops in career-high 45 points

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on February 18, 2016 1:48 PM

• Print
• Email

[email protected]

South Lenoir couldn't stop Tyona Moses.

The senior guard scored a career-high 45 points and carried Goldsboro to an 80-68 win in the semifinals of the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference tournament Wednesday evening.

The second-seeded Cougars face regular-season champ Kinston at Ayden-Grifton on Friday evening. Game time is 6 p.m.

Goldsboro led South Lenoir, 19-17, after the first quarter, but senior Hailey West and sophomore Hunter West answered. Hunter drew a foul and sank both free throws, while Hailey buried a 3-pointer.

Hunter drove the baseline for a layup and the Blue Devils snuck past the Cougars, 28-24, with five minutes remaining in the first half.

Moses responded.

She ran the court for an uncontested layup. On the next possession, she received an assist from senior Sterling Jones and drove the court for two more points.

Sophomore Destiny Lucas drove to the basket for a layup. She then passed the ball to freshman McKayla Roberts for short jumper. Moses drove the length of the court again for two more points, but West fired a 3-pointer to lift the Blue Devils to a 38-37 lead at halftime.

Moses stole the ball and sprinted down the court for a layup to start the third quarter. She grabbed the ball off of an inbounds pass twice and flew to the other side of the court for layups.

The Cougars led 55-43. Senior Tawana Jones turned up the pressure on Hailey West and she was unable to make a 3. The Blue Devils trailed 60-50 after three quarters.

Moses sped down the court, but passed the ball to Lucas for a field goal. Senior Layshia Lofton raced around defenders and threw the ball to Tawana Jones for a quick layup.

Moses drove the baseline for a two more points.

"She (Moses) was in a zone tonight," Goldsboro head coach LaTina Bullock said. "They (South Lenoir) put a box-and-one on her (Moses), but they weren't really playing her hard. That's how she was able to get the ball in and get up the floor and drive to the hole.

"It kind of worked in our favor. I hope it (the zone) will roll over to Friday. I hope for all of them (Cougars) it will roll over to Friday."

Lucas ended the game with 12 points. Tawana Jones added eight points, and Sterling collected seven points.

Hunter West scored 14 points, and Hailey West scored 12 points -- all from behind the 3-point line.