Goldsboro boys need OT to win first-ever EPC 2-A contest

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 8, 2006 2:17 AM

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Welcome to the EPC!

Goldsboro High opened a new era on the varsity basketball scene in scintillating fashion Friday evening. Tim Kornegay recorded his fourth consecutive 29-point outing and paced the Cougar boys to an 80-68, overtime victory over Tarboro High.

Meanwhile, the Cougar girls didn't fare as well in their Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference opener. The Vikings dominated the inside in a 56-41 win and handed Goldsboro its first home league defeat in two years.

"I would never have expected this," said fifth-year Goldsboro boys coach Randy Jordan. "That was a great conference-opening game and we're glad to come out of it with a win."

Jordan didn't anticipate sluggish play from his team, either.

Tarboro High employed a 1-2-2 zone and trapped in the corners, which caused trouble for a banged-up Cougar backcourt. Turnovers fueled the Vikings' offense and led to an eight-point deficit less than four minutes into the game.

Jordan admitted that his guards had trouble avoiding the trap, but quickly added that no one stepped up to provide help. The Vikings (3-10) used the defense effectively throughout the first half and gained their biggest advantage -- 31-22 -- just two minutes into the second period.

Tarboro High, 1-5 in road games this season, maintained the lead until the final minute. Treme Boone tallied seven consecutive points, including a traditional three-point play, to give Goldsboro a 41-39 lead at halftime.

"I thought Treme gave us a big lift the last three minutes of the half and really put us on his back," said Jordan. "Burnie (Best) did a great job defensively and had three steals in a row, which led to six points for us.

"Give our guards credit. They're learning to be patient and learning when to push the ball ... pull it back. They're looking for the right people."

Jordan and his staff made a slight adjustment against Tarboro High's zone in for the second half. McLean, who received rare breaks in the third and fourth quarter, avoided the trap better and threw skip passes to open teammates against the Vikings' defense.

Once Goldsboro (8-7) adapted to that change, it matched the Vikings bucket for bucket in the third quarter. Kornegay's three-point play off a turnover gave the Cougars their biggest lead -- 56-52 -- with less than a minute to go.

The teams battled through three fourth-quarter ties and Tarboro High took its last lead -- 65-64 -- on Tyre Dancy's offensive putback. Kornegay followed with a layup off McLean's assist, which set up a gut-wrenching final two minutes of regulation.

Goldsboro committed five turnovers on eight possessions and missed the front end of two one-and-one opportunities. Jontae Sherrod, who pumped in 26 points for the Vikings, knotted the score at 66-66 with a free throw at the 14.3-second mark.

Kornegay missed a short baseline jumper as time expired.

"The last two minutes of regulation (play), we did not execute," said Jordan. "I think we thought they (Tarboro) would make the mistake, and they didn't. We did.

"Fortunately, we were mature enough to regroup and put them away when we had to do it. We're getting better and these are the only 10 (conference) games that matter."

Kornegay and Joyner combined for 11 points in overtime to give the Cougars their fifth home victory in six tries. Joyner provided a double-double -- 23 points, 15 rebounds -- to go along with seven blocked shots. Boone finished with eight points.

The girls' contest started at a blistering pace.

The teams combined to hit 10 of 12 shots in the first four minutes. Tarboro High capitalized on its height advantage and constantly pushed the ball inside for either short jump shots or layups.

The Cougars (8-6) failed to shut down the passing lanes and couldn't keep the Vikings (8-5) off the offensive glass when they missed -- which was rare in the opening period.

"Not knowing anything about Tarboro, the only thing you can do is stress fundamentals of the game," said Cougar coach Gladys McClary. "We seemed to hang in there. But at some point, I have to let them play through this and let them learn the importance of boxing out (on rebounds).

"We went over all these things in practice."

Goldsboro played from behind and pulled within 31-29 on Kianna Williams' 3-pointer off Chevoya Jackson's assist. The Vikings collected eight of the next 10 points and eventually claimed a double-digit lead early in the final period.

Jackson recorded 21 points, six rebounds and seven assists for the Cougars. Williams added 11.

Kanesha Mercer spearheaded a balanced Tarboro High attack with a double-double -- 12 points, 10 rebounds. She also dished out four assists and blocked four shots. Takeria Thorne and Cassandra Jones each chipped in 11 points.

Goldsboro takes a week for first-semester exams and visits EPC foe Greene Central next Friday. McClary is aware the first half of conference play might be challenging for the youthful Cougars, but she's certainly not waving the white flag of surrender.

"As the conference goes on, we'll get better," said McClary. "As we play these teams the first round, my goal is that when we play them the second time, we're going to look a whole lot better."

Boys game

Tarboro High 19 20 13 16 2 -- 68

Goldsboro 18 23 15 10 14 -- 80

TARBORO HIGH (3-10, 0-1)

LaMichael Harrell 3 0 1-2 7, Chadwick Barnes 0 2 0-0 6, Franklin Smith 0 0 2-2 2, Sadarrius Lewis 0 0 1-4 1, Jontae Sherrod 5 3 710 26, Kelly Evans 0 0 0-0 0, Tyre Dancy 8 0 0-2 16, Donald Tabron 3 0 0-0 6, Anquan Randolph 2 0 0-0 4. TOTALS -- 21 5 11-20 68.

GOLDSBORO (8-7, 1-0)

Branden Herring 1 0 0-0 2, Burnie Best 2 0 0-1 4, Eric McLean 0 2 0-2 6, Cliff Lawson 0 0 0-0 0, Tim Kornegay 12 0 5-7 29, Anthony Artis 0 0 0-0 0, Tim Hobbs 0 0 0-0 0, Treme Boone 3 0 2-4 8, Brandon Sampson 1 0 0-0 2, Joe Houpe 1 0 0-0 2, Daquan Joyner 6 2 5-6 23, Antonio Green 2 0 0-0 4. TOTALS -- 28 4 12-20 80.

3-point goals -- Tarboro High 5 (Sherrod 3, Barnes 2), Goldsboro 4 (McLean 2, Joyner 2). Turnovers -- Tarboro High 24, Goldsboro 26. Total fouls -- Tarboro High 18, Goldsboro 18. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.

Girls game

Tarboro High 22 9 8 17 -- 56

Goldsboro 14 10 7 10 -- 41

TARBORO HIGH (8-5, 1-0)

Takeria Thorne 4 1 0-0 11, Cassandra Jones 5 0 1-4 11, Chandra Hussey 1 0 0-1 2, Shanae Thorne 1 0 0-0 2, Nicole Thomas 2 0 1-2 5, Courtney Jarrell 3 0 0-0 6, Javanisha Battle 2 0 1-2 5, Keoasha Harrell 1 0 0-0 2, Kanesha Mercer 6 0 0-0 12. TOTALS -- 25 1 3-9 56.

GOLDSBORO (8-6, 0-1)

Angel Roberts 1 0 0-0 2, Chevoya Jackson 8 1 2-2 21, Helga Bryant 1 0 0-0 2, Kianna Williams 4 1 0-0 11, Tiffany Burden 0 0 0-0 0, Danielle Irby 0 0 0-0 0, Johnesha Maye 0 0 1-2 1, Victoria Williams 2 0 0-0 4. TOTALS -- 16 2 3-4 41.

3-point goals -- Tarboro High 1 (Thorne), Goldsboro 2 (Jackson, Williams). Turnovers -- Tarboro High 16, Goldsboro 26. Total fouls -- Tarboro High 10, Goldsboro 7. Fouled out -- none. Technical fouls -- none.