2-A playoffs: Goldsboro upsets No. 1-ranked Northside

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 21, 2007 2:17 PM

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JACKSONVILLE -- Northside men's basketball coach Tony Marshburn admitted he didn't follow the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference too closely this season.

He did, however, keep an eye on Goldsboro since he's good friends with head coach Randy Jordan. But Marshburn couldn't understand how the Cougars, with two McDonald's All-American nominees in their lineup, finished fifth overall in the six-team EPC.

Marshburn got his answer Tuesday evening. The two McDonald's candidates, Tim Kornegay and Daquan Joyner, each posted a double-double as Goldsboro convincingly upset Northside 69-54.

The Cougars (15-12) travel to South Lenoir in a second-round, N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A Sectional No. 1 playoff game Thursday. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

The Monarchs, ranked No. 1 in the NCPreps.com 2-A poll, concluded their year 23-3 overall.

"How they finished fifth in their conference really baffles me," said Marshburn. "If that's the fifth-place team, I hate to see the first one. I don't know what's going on, but they've got a good basketball team."

Kornegay supplied a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds in 30-plus minutes of action. The 6-foot-7 Joyner provided 15 points and 13 rebounds, and forced the Monarchs to alter numerous shots underneath the basket.

Joyner blocked eight shots, Reco McCarter swatted away two shots and Antonio Green added one block.

"I think they put us on our heels early with their size and I was hoping that wouldn't happen," said Marshburn. "They blocked a couple of shots early where we double-pumped or clutched the shot instead of just taking it to the rim."

Jordan said three days of preparation helped break down the Monarchs' deliberate half-court offense. Northside prefers to take 40 or more seconds off the clock each possession and work the ball until it creates an open lane to the basket. Marshburn felt scoring in either the high 40s or low 50s would favor his team.

Goldsboro, meanwhile, didn't gamble in its 2-3 zone. Jordan's team played solid perimeter defense and Joyner blocked shots from behind if the Monarchs got loose in the paint.

"We just dissected everything they like to do," said Jordan. "You take advantage of every opportunity you can get. Our seniors decided what they should have decided a month ago.

"They really did a great job and didn't want it to end tonight."

Kornegay and Joyner combined for 11 of the Cougars' 14 points in the opening quarter. Fellow seniors Treme Boone and Tim Hobbs assisted Joyner on the boards, while Tavon Murchison handled point-guard duties when Eric McLean took a short break.

The Cougars built a 10-point lead midway through the second period and Jordan thought a four-point swing might change the game's momentum. McLean misfired on a wide-open layup and the Monarchs' Tre Parker answered with a short jumper.

Goldsboro closed out the quarter with a 13-6 run and led 33-16 at the break. Jordan warned his team not to get too complacent and added that he expected Northside to make a second-half run.

"I know Tony and he's just like me," said Jordan. "I'm sure he was calling them everything but the child of God at halftime. We knew we were going to have to withstand their run."

Kornegay erupted for 11 points in the third quarter and helped Goldsboro extend its lead to 20 points on two occasions. The Cougars could have extended their lead, but missed two free throws and the ensuing possession on an intentional foul.

Northside responded with an 11-2 run and carried the momentum over into the fourth quarter. Tyler McDaniels' turnaround jumper in the lane closed the gap to 51-42 with 3:36 left in regulation.

"When we cut it to nine, I thought we'd be able to make that final push," said Marshburn. "When you're pushing, several things have got to happen. You've got to convert on your end, either baskets or free throws and you can't turn the ball over.

"On the other end, you've got to squeeze tight on defense."

After McDaniels' jumper, Murchison reversed the ball and dribbled around the press. He darted inside and pulled up for the jumper, which fell short. Murchison followed his shot not once, but twice, and it slipped through the net.

On the next Goldsboro possession, Murchison got free and dished off to Joyner. The Monarchs failed to rotate on defense and Joyner converted a conventional three-point play after getting fouled on a layup.

"Tavon is a good compliment to Eric," said Jordan. "Eric is the waterbug ... fast and gets up and down the floor. Tavon is a step slower, but bigger and stronger."

Once Goldsboro re-established its double-digit advantage, it spread the floor offensively and stretched Northside's defense. On the other end, the Cougars confused the Monarchs with their zone and man defensive schemes.

Jordan's team, while in man-to-man mode, switched to zone after the first pass. The Cougars went with a zone look after the first pass in man-to-man. The strategy worked effectively and sparked a game-ending 11-2 run.

"We defended for 32 minutes," grinned Jordan. "It's just one step, but it's a great win for us and our program. I'm so proud of these kids. They just did a great job."

2007 N.C. High School

Athletic Association

Class 2-A Sectional No. 1

Men's Basketball Playoffs

(at Northside HS, Jacksonville)

Goldsboro 14 19 13 23 -- 69

Northside 6 10 17 21 -- 54

GOLDSBORO (15-12)

Reco McCarter 1 0 0-0 2, Tim Kornegay 8 1 2-5 21, Tavon Murchison 3 0 0-3 6, Eric McLean 1 1 2-2 7, Kevonta McDuffie 1 0 2-2 4, Tim Hobbs 3 0 0-0 6, Treme Boone 2 0 2-4 6, Brandon Sampson 0 0 0-0 0, Daquan Joyner 5 1 2-3 15, Antonio Green 1 0 0-0 2. TOTALS -- 25 3 10-19 69.

NORTHSIDE (23-3)

Emilio Mason 2 1 2-4 9, Joe Womack 3 0 5-10 11, Vincent Sanders 1 0 0-0 2, Tyler McDaniels 4 1 4-4 15, Rashawn Breas 1 0 2-2 4, Keith Ferguson 1 0 1-2 3, Tre Parker 2 1 3-4 10. TOTALS -- 14 3 17-26 54.