Goldsboro picked to win EPC

Published in Sports on November 21, 2005 2:01 PM

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It didn't take Goldsboro long to garner respect in its new conference.

The Cougars boys' basketball team was picked to finish first in the Eastern Plains 2-A while the girls' team was selected to finish second by the league's coaches in a poll conducted by The Free Press. Coaches were allowed to vote for every team but their own in the poll.

Goldsboro's boys received four first place votes, while North Lenoir picked up the other two top votes. The Hawks were picked second, followed by North Pitt, Greene Central, Farmville Central and Tarboro.

The Cougars, who moved to the EPC from the Eastern Carolina 3-A, return four starters, although the team is still very young (two seniors, nine juniors, one sophomore and one freshman).

"We're honored to be picked first by the coaches," Goldsboro coach Randy Jordan said. "But we understand it's just a preseason poll. We're still going to have to be ready to play every night."

Jordan, recognized statewide as one of North Carolina's best hoops coaches, said he and his team are excited about joining one of the state's best basketball leagues.

"We're really looking forward to being in the Eastern Plains," Jordan said.

North Lenoir boys' coach Paul Dunn III said he was surprised his Hawks were picked to finish second.

"I guess everyone forgot that we beat Goldsboro last year with pretty much the same team we have this year," Dunn said. "But it's just a preseason poll and it doesn't mean a thing. Now, the bull's-eye isn't on us and we can go out and just play. We'll just let everybody keep sleeping on us."

In the EPC girls' poll, another new team -- Farmville Central -- was picked to win the league. The Jaguars received four first-place votes in voting by the league's coaches. Goldsboro, picked second, garnered the other two first-place votes, followed by Tarboro, Greene Central, North Lenoir and North Pitt.

After four years in the Carolina 1-A, Farmville Central moved back up in classification to the EPC 2-A this year.

By BRYAN C. HANKS

Courtesy Kinston Free Press