Goldsboro-E. Wake

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 24, 2004 1:55 PM

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Survive until halftime and make adjustments.

Veteran Goldsboro girls coach Gladys McClary kept that thought to herself as she watched her team uncharacterstically struggle against East Wake's aggressive style of play Thursday evening.

The Cougars seemed out of kilter offensively and maybe half a step slow on defense. Despite the troubles, Goldsboro owned a two-point -- but unsatisfying -- advantage at halftime.

"We just couldn't seem to get any movement," McClary said.

A session with the dry-erase board, a few words of encouragement and the second-half play of point guard Chevoya Jackson turned the game around. Jackson tallied 14 of her game-high 22 points in the second half as Goldsboro emerged victorious 52-40.

East Wake's boys seized a 13-point advantage in the opening half and never trailed in their 69-58 victory against the Cougars. Goldsboro (8-2) endured its first home defeat in seven outings.

McClary said her team did absolutely nothing in the first half.

"Offensively, we went down and were not moving. I don't know if it was a lack of focus or concentration," McClary said. "We were not executing. Defensively, we were decent.

"I felt like if we could get through it and make it to the half, I could let them know what I wanted them to know. The second half we moved a whole lot better."

Jackson, as she has done all season, attempted to get her teammates involved in the offense. But the Warriors played tight defensively, crowded the passing lanes and made Jackson look for other options in the Cougars' halfcourt game.

Goldsboro led 22-18 before East Wake's Kristina Monck and Latrice Barnes knotted the score with back-to-back baskets. The lead see-sawed before the Cougars, behind Jackson, uncorked a quarter-ending 10-5 run.

Ashelyn James' two free throws and turnaround jumper boosted Goldsboro's advantage to 41-32 nearly midway through the final quarter. Kanesha Chavious answered with a 3-pointer to make it 41-35.

Carmille Early and James (16 points) combined for three points, and the Warriors never threatened from that point.

The Cougars secured the victory with a 9 of 12 effort at the free throw line in the final period. Overall, McClary's team hit more free throws (26) than field goals (13).

"The up side (to our trouble) was when you can't figure out what you need to do, you find something to do," McClary said. "When you manage to win, that says a lot about your team."

Goldsboro's boys couldn't overcome an unusual start.

The Cougars committed an uncharacteristic 10 turnovers, were assessed six fouls (four for reaching around their opponent) and fell behind by as many as 13 points in the first quarter.

They managed to trim a 19-6 deficit to 19-14 early in the second quarter, but could never put together a significant run to change the game's momentum.

"I don't think they beat us at our game. We beat ourselves because we didn't come to play," Goldsboro coach Randy Jordan said. "We didn't play hard, we didn't execute and I give a lot of credit to East Wake.

"But (the lack of play) was all us."

East Wake grabbed its biggest lead, 51-36, with less than three minutes remaining in the third period. Goldsboro closed the gap to 51-43 and knocked off another two points early in the fourth on two Daquan Joyner free throws.

Branden Herring's layup, off a turnover, and Joyner's offensive putback pulled the Cougars within 55-52 with 4:54 left in the game. Travis Montague started a 10-0 run for the Warriors, who never received another offensive challenge from Goldsboro.

"We couldn't get over the hump," Jordan said. "We cut it to four a couple of times. To their credit, they came down and answered every run we had, and made the big play when they needed to."

Tim Kornegay led the Cougars with 20 points, while Joyner finished with 16.

Calvin Harris paced three Warriors in double figures with 19 points, followed by Montague (17 points) and Adrian Crumel with 15.

Goldsboro's girls return to action Monday with a contest against Rosewood in the Wayne Country Day Invitational. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Cougar boys get a couple days of rest before facing Wayne Country Day on Wednesday in the Falcon Holiday Invitational at Charles B. Aycock. That game is slated for a 6 p.m. start.

Notes: A total of 12 players earned all-tournament recognition upon the completion of Thursday's competition. Goldsboro's Daquan Joyner and Tim Kornegay led the boys' team along with Chris Daniels (Knightdale), Dustin Maury (Beddingfield), Kyle Dewberry (E. Wake) and Travis Montague (E. Wake). On the girls' side, Goldsboro's Ashelyn James and Jessica Faison were joined by October Harris (Beddingfield), Jaquia Winstead (Beddingfield), Melanie Bennett (E. Wake) and Bianca Parker (Knightdale). ... Team sportsmanship awards went to Knightdale (girls) and Beddingfield (boys).

Girls game

East Wake 13 5 11 11 -- 40

Goldsboro 11 9 15 17 -- 52

EAST WAKE (1-9)

Chavious 1 2 0-0 8, Deaton 1 0 0-0 2, Barnes 2 0 1-2 5, Combs 1 1 0-0 5, Bennett 0 3 0-0 9, Monck 1 1 0-0 5, Nzau 0 0 0-0 0, Pittman 0 0 1-2 1, Schug 0 0 0-2 0, Brown 2 0 1-2 5. TOTALS -- 8 7 3-8 40.

GOLDSBORO (9-2)

Early 1 0 7-9 9, Chevoya Jackson 4 0 14-17 22, Garner 0 0 0-0 0, M. Graham 0 0 2-2 2, Faison 1 0 1-1 3, Ashelyn James 7 0 2-3 16. TOTALS -- 13 0 26-33 52.

Three-point goals -- East Wake 7 (Bennett 3, Chavious 2, Combs, Monck). Turnovers -- East Wake 25, Goldsboro 20. Total fouls -- East Wake 19, Goldsboro 10. Fouled out -- Combs. Technical fouls -- none.

Boys game

East Wake 19 19 13 18 -- 69

Goldsboro 10 22 11 15 -- 58

EAST WAKE (5-3)

Kyle Dewberry 7 0 0-0 14, Gordon 0 0 0-0 0, Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Calvin Harris 5 1 6-7 19, Mitchell 0 0 2-2 2, Adrian Crumel 6 0 3-4 15, Pulley 0 0 0-0 0, Travis Montague 6 0 5-5 17, Shearin 0 0 0-0 0, Obaji 0 0 0-0 0, Harrison 1 0 0-1 2. TOTALS -- 25 1 16-21 69.

GOLDSBORO (8-2)

Herring 1 0 0-1 2, McLean 0 0 0-0 0, Tim Kornegay 9 0 2-4 20, Lofton 0 0 0-0 0, Anderson 4 0 0-0 8, Marsh 0 0 0-0 0, Waters 2 0 0-0 4, Houpe 0 0 0-0 0, Thompson 0 0 0-0 0, Daquan Joyner 6 0 4-5 16, Cannon 2 0 0-2 4, Collins 2 0 0-0 4. TOTALS -- 26 0 6-12 58.

Three-point goals -- East Wake 1 (Harris). Turnovers -- East Wake 21, Goldsboro 24. Total fouls -- East Wake 16, Goldsboro 24. Fouled out -- Harrison. Technical fouls -- none.