Cougar boys gain revenge on Warriors

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 14, 2005 2:09 PM

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A 32-minute performance of unselfish play and solid defense allowed Goldsboro's varsity boys to avenge a loss against county rival Eastern Wayne on Tuesday evening.

The Cougars collected a season-high 24 team assists and used a strong third-quarter defensive effort to turn back the Warriors 80-63 before a standing-room-only crowd. Goldsboro earned vindication from a seven-point loss at New Hope last week and evened its worksheet at 4-4 heading into Friday's home game against another county rival -- once-beaten Southern Wayne.

Senior point guard Chevoya Jackson flirted with a triple-double -- 21 points, 11 steals, five rebounds -- in the Cougar girls' 44-33 triumph over winless Eastern Wayne. Goldsboro improved to 4-3 overall and swept the regular-season series against the Warriors.

Eastern Wayne (0-8) suffered its 10th consecutive loss since a semifinal-round defeat against Charles B. Aycock in the 2005 Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference tournament.

"We played a smart game tonight," said fifth-year Goldsboro boys coach Randy Jordan. "I think the kids had a little something to prove."

The teams traded field goals during the first four minutes before the Cougars marched in front 18-11.

The Warriors answered and seized their final lead -- 19-18 -- on Monty Best's uncontested layup off Landon Downes' assist.

Tim Hobbs' turnaround bank shot in the lane gave Goldsboro a lead it wouldn't relinquish and started 16-5 run. Branden Herring's offensive putback and a layup off a court-length pass from DaQuan Joyner provided the Cougars with their biggest advantage -- 36-24 -- of the half.

Herring finished with a career-high 22 points.

"I thought Branden came of age tonight," said Jordan. "He scored a lot of easy baskets in transition, but he also did a real good job defensively on Downes. That was a big key for us because Landon was hurting us early."

Downes provided seven-first quarter points for the Warriors, but managed just two field goals combined the final three quarters. Eastern Wayne, which dominated the baseline in the opening half, pulled within 38-32 at intermission.

Jordan and his staff made two minor adjustments at the break.

"We knew we had to take away their baseline drive and get better help defense, and we did that," said Jordan. "That resulted in early turnovers for us which we converted into baskets."

The Cougars opened the quarter with an 11-2 run. Joyner, a 6-foot-7 junior, emerged the focal point on offense. When he drew Warrior defenders, he found an open teammate for layups. Joyner also scored eight of his 20 points during Goldsboro's third-quarter surge.

Warrior coach Marvin Bowman admitted his team had trouble "clogging" the middle and preventing Joyner from doing damage. He also cited his team's impatience offensively by not "working" the Cougar defense, and finding the open lane for a good look at the basket.

Joyner's two free throws, Herring's 3-pointer off Joyner's assist and a Herring putback boosted Goldsboro to a 49-34 lead. Eastern Wayne climbed to within 55-42 on three consecutive, old-fashioned three-point plays by freshman Reco McCarter, but could get no closer.

McCarter led four Warriors in double figures with 15 points. Downes and Lamar Davis each added 13, while Darryl Cowan contributed 11. Eastern Wayne converted 26 field goals and shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line.

Tim Kornegay complemented Herring and Joyner with a 12-point output. Nine Cougars scored at least one basket and combined for a season-high 36 field goals. Goldsboro hit 34 field goals in a season-opening victory against C.B. Aycock.

"Now we have to talk about the 'last game-next game' (scenario)," said Jordan. "This game is over and now it's time to move on. We've got Southern Wayne and hopefully we remember what they did to us.

"We've got to be prepared for that kind of defensive pressure that Southern Wayne is going to bring all game long."

Help-side defense proved fruitful for Goldsboro's girls in the second half.

Yasmine Washington hit a pair of third-quarter 3-pointers to keep the Warriors within striking distance of their county rival. Cougar coach Gladys McClary called timeout, and reminded her girls to pay attention to screens and keep a watchful eye on Washington.

Goldsboro's defenders limited Washington's touches from that point and the junior forward missed her final five field goal attempts. Sherelle Burt and LaNiece Sims combined for six fourth-quarter points for the Warriors.

McClary gushed over her team's defensive pressure, saying it was probably their best effort of the season. The Cougars forced 18 turnovers and converted half of the miscues into baskets, either in transition or in their halfcourt set with Jackson running the point.

"Having a guard like Chevoya just makes everyone around you that much better," said Eastern Wayne coach Brent Holland. "But I can't fault my girls' effort. They played hard and didn't quit. We just missed some open shots ... shots that I wanted us to take."

Washington paced Eastern Wayne with 15 points.

Boys game

Eastern Wayne 19 13 17 14 -- 63

Goldsboro 20 18 25 17 -- 80

EASTERN WAYNE (4-4)

Lamar Davis 4 1 2-2 13, Darryl Cowan 4 1 0-0 11, Monty Best 1 0 -0 2, Reco McCarter 6 0 3-3 15, Landon Downes 4 1 2-2 13, Floronta Wynn 2 0 0-0 4, Orlando Midgette 0 0 0-0 0, Jason O'Neal 1 0 1-1 3, D'Adrian Worrell 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 23 3 8-8 63.

GOLDSBORO (4-4)

Branden Herring 11 0 0-0 22, Burnie Best 0 0 0-0 0, Eric McLean 2 1 0-0 7, Tim Kornegay 5 0 2-2 12, Anthony Artis 4 0 0-0 8, Tim Hobbs 2 0 0-0 4, Treme Boone 0 0 3-4 3, Joe Houpe 1 0 -0 2, Mike Isler 1 0 0-2 2, DaQuan Joyner 9 0 2-2 20. TOTALS -- 35 1 7-10 80.

3-point goals -- Eastern Wayne 3 (Davis, Cowan, Downes), Goldsboro 1 (McLean). Turnovers -- Eastern Wayne 18, Goldsboro 18. Total fouls -- Eastern Wayne 7, Goldsboro 10. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.

Girls game

Eastern Wayne 7 10 10 6 -- 33

Goldsboro 11 14 8 11 -- 44

EASTERN WAYNE (0-8)

Noelle Kelly 2 0 -0 4, Dionne Smith 0 0 -0 0, Yasmine Washington 2 3 2-2 15, Eboni Reid 1 0 0-0 2, Sherrelle Burt 1 0 2-4 4, Jasmine McLamb 1 0 0-2 2, LaNiece Sims 3 0 0-0 6. TOTALS -- 10 3 4-8 33.

GOLDSBORO (4-3)

Angel Williams 3 0 0-0 6, Chevoya Jackson 8 0 5-6 21, Helga Bryant 1 1 1-2 6, Kianna Williams 0 0 3-5 3, Tiffany Burden 2 0 0-0 4, Johneisha Maye 1 0 -0 2, Victoria Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Kenretta Mewborn 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 16 1 9-13 44.

3-point goals -- Eastern Wayne 3 (Washington 3), Goldsboro 1 (Bryant). Turnovers -- Eastern Wayne 18, Goldsboro 23. Total fouls -- Eastern Wayne 12, Goldsboro 8. Fouled out -- Kelly. Technical fouls -- none.