ECC 3-A -- Goldsboro girls benefit from fourth-quarter technical

By Neil Fuller
Published in Sports on January 16, 2005 2:02 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- According to Goldsboro High School women's basketball coach Gladys McClary, her team passed a test worthy of collegiate finals on Friday night.

Junior guard Chevoya Jackson scored a game-high 19 points, and the Lady Cougars closed the third quarter on a 10-0 run to escape Charles B. Aycock with a 49-47 win -- and remain unbeaten in Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference play.

"It's good for a team, particularly us, to have to come from behind and to play a close game," McClary said. "We needed to be challenged by a team in our conference that was good. Being able to maintain our composure and concentration was key for us."

Fate had other ideas for the Goldsboro men's team.

Rob Phillips converted a 3-point play with 11.2 seconds remaining to lift the Golden Falcons to their second consecutive win over the Cougars this season, 75-71.

With Goldsboro leading 71-70, Phillips delivered a reverse layup in traffic as he was fouled -- then calmly sank the ensuing free throw.

"I knew I had to step up," the junior guard said. "I feel good. I feel like we're at the starting point of our peak right now."

Brandon Hobbs poured in 23 points to lead four C.B. Aycock players in double figures.

De'onta Anderson and Tim Kornegay combined for 19 fourth-quarter points to keep the Cougars (10-6 overall, 6-3 ECC) in the hunt.

Santavin Poole had 17 points for the Golden Falcons (4-8, 4-5).

Earlier in the night, the C.B. Aycock women went 0-for-5 from the free-throw line during the fourth quarter, and sophomore guard Jazzmine Lee failed to inbound the ball with 3.9 seconds showing on the clock and Goldsboro (14-3, 9-0) ahead 47-45 -- leading to a technical foul on an angered Lady Falcons bench.

Camille Early converted both technical free throws to clinch the game.

"We had our opportunities at the free-throw line tonight, and not producing killed us," C.B. Aycock coach Gary Hales said. "I'm proud of the effort we gave -- we battled hard -- but it comes down to execution on the free-throw line."

The Lady Falcons (6-8, 5-4) took a 37-32 lead on Lela Reid's turnaround jumper with 4:37 left in the third quarter. But Goldsboro countered with 11-straight points, including two 3-pointers by Jackson.

"Chevoya is slowly growing into her position," McClary said. "A lot of responsibility is on her, and she's recognizing when to step up in clutch situations. She loves to involve her teammates, but she's learning to recognize when she has to step up.

"She stepped up tonight with those 3-pointers, and I had no doubt they were going in."

Mikeda Graham sent the Lady Cougars into halftime with a 26-25 lead on a layup that beat the buzzer. Matters would remain as tight throughout.

C.B. Aycock shot 40 percent (21 of 52) from the field and 55 percent (5 of 9) from behind the 3-point arc.

Quanisha Milner and Keyata Pettiford recorded two 3s each for the Lady Falcons. Pettiford finished with 18 points, and Milner had 14.

Ashelyn Jones scored 12 for Goldsboro.

"We needed a win like this," McClary said. "This kind of win builds character that lasts the rest of a season. We passed the test."