Jackson sparks Lady Cougars to first round win

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 14, 2006 2:28 PM

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FARMVILLE -- Fifth-year Goldsboro High women's basketball coach Gladys McClary finally got to see the passion, determination and hustle that's been missing from her team Monday evening.

And it came from one player -- senior Chevoya Jackson.

"She must have had it hidden," said a grinning McClary. "Chevoya played tonight just like she should have been playing all season. She played such a well-balanced game.

"It's not all about the points you score, it's how you accumulate those points."

Jackson scrambled for every loose ball on the floor, used her smaller frame to edge out taller players on the boards and harrassed the Rams with her quick hands on defense. By game's end, Jackson had tallied 27 points, eight rebounds, six assists and eight steals.

But -- more importantly -- Goldsboro seized a 60-37 win and advanced to the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference semifinals. The fifth-seeded Cougars (11-13) entertain regular-season champion Farmville Central (17-3) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Jackson's motivation was simple. She wanted one more home game.

"I told the girls that if they didn't know already, if we lost, we were going home," said Jackson. "I asked everyone if they wanted the season to be over and they said 'no.' I didn't want to go home. It was time to play."

Goldsboro realized after the first quarter that Greene Central (8-16) didn't want to pack up the uniforms, either. The fourth-seeded Rams, behind the play of Briana Stanton, built a 12-6 lead after eight minutes of action.

Cassandra Suggs drained back-to-back 18-footers early in the second quarter, pushing Greene Central's lead to 17-8. McClary refused to burn a timeout and wanted to see if her team could answer the challenge.

The Cougars did.

Jackson and Danielle Irby combined for 10 points as Goldsboro climbed within 19-18 late in the first half. Helga Bryant buried a 3-pointer off Irby's assist to give the Cougars their first lead, 20-19.

Ashley Simmons' offensive putback put the Rams ahead for the last time at 21-20. Jackson followed with two free throws to put Goldsboro ahead 22-21 at intermission.

"We just didn't want to go home," said Jackson.

Goldsboro broke the game open with a 13-4 run in the third quarter. Jackson dished out three assists during that span and five Cougars scored at least one basket.

Mikeda Graham's fade-away, one-hander on the baseline and Jackson's short jumper in the lane put Goldsboro ahead 40-27 after three periods. Carmille Early's basket off Tiffany Burden's assist and Angel Roberts' layup underneath gave the Cougars a 44-29 lead just one minute into the final quarter.

"As a team, we distributed the ball so much better than what I have seen in the last couple of games," said McClary, whose team recorded 17 assists on 24 field goals. "We ran the floor so much better and were talking on the floor. They did tonight what I've been asking them to do all season.

"Tonight, they went out and played their game."

With Jackson in the lead.

2006 Class 2-A

Eastern Plains Conference

Women's Basketball Tournament

(at Farmville Central HS)

Quarterfinals

Goldsboro 6 16 18 20 -- 60

Greene Central 12 9 6 10 -- 37

GOLDSBORO HIGH (11-13)

Carmille Early 1 0 0-0 2, Angel Roberts 3 0 3-6 9, Chevoya Jackson 7 3 4-5 27, Helga Bryant 0 1 0-0 3, Kianna Williams 1 0 0-0 2, Tiffany Burden 2 0 0-1 4, Danielle Irby 3 1 0-0 9, Johneisha Maye 0 0 0-0 0, Mikeda Graham 1 0 0-0 2, Victoria Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Kenretta Mewborn 1 0 -0 2. TOTALS -- 19 5 7-12 60.

GREENE CENTRAL (8-16)

Tempest Pettaway 0 0 0-0 0, Cassandra Suggs 2 0 0-0 4, Shatilla Joyner 0 0 0-0 0, Briana Stanton 5 1 2-5 15, April Jones 2 0 0-0 4, Kwanella McPhail 0 0 0-0 0, Shawon Daniels 3 0 2-6 8, Natasha Williams 0 0 0-0 0, Ashley Simmons 2 0 0-0 4, Darneka Waters 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 15 1 4-11 37.

3-point goals -- Goldsboro 5 (Jackson 3, Bryant, Irby), G. Central 1 (Stanton). Turnovers -- Goldsboro 15, G. Central 23. Total fouls -- Goldsboro 10, G. Central 12. Fouled out -- none.