Golden Falcons rally for win

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on November 21, 2007 1:49 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Having endured a winless season a year ago, Leonard Compton was going to make sure the streak didn't go any further.

Charles B. Aycock trailed Goldsboro 45-30 entering the fourth quarter on Tuesday night. That was of course, before Compton caught fire.

Compton hit 3-pointers on four consecutive possessions and his final three gave the Golden Falcons a 53-52 lead they wouldn't relinquish. He finished with a game-high 28 points and helped Aycock snap a 28-game losing streak with a 60-52 victory over the Cougars.

"In the game I wasn't hitting my shots," Compton said. "Coach (David) West and my family kept telling me to just keep shooting. I get in a rhythm every now and then. It was awesome. I think after I hit that first three and I got a rhythm, I said, 'no more losing, it's gotta stop.'"

For head coach David West, witnessing a comeback from his team that went winless last season, made him a believer in just how far his club has come.

"Last year we got down that far, and we didn't really give up, but we lost our concentration," West said. "I found out tonight that some of these kids have grown up in a year's time. They didn't lose their concentration, they didn't lose their focus.

"We had some kids step up, and really stay with it and get the other guys going."

While Compton caught fire, the Cougars (0-1) went stone cold at the worst possible time. Goldsboro didn't score over the final three minutes, 36 seconds of the ballgame, and committed six costly turnovers during that stretch. The Cougars were outscored 30-7 during the fourth quarter.

"We were very undisciplined in the fourth quarter," Cougars first-year head coach Tod Morgan said. "Once you have a lead, you have to understand how to play with discipline and in control of the game. I just think we lost a little bit of focus, and it seemed like we couldn't get it back."

The Cougars used a 14-5 spurt in the second quarter to open a 21-12 lead, before taking a 25-17 advantage into halftime. Their lead swelled to 39-21 after they opened the second half with a 14-4 run. Tim Hobbs had eight of his 13 points during the third quarter.

Keovanta McDuffie finished with a team-high 14 points for the Cougars.

Turnovers plagued both teams, with Aycock giving the ball up 26 times, while Goldsboro had 36 turnovers.

Compton and the Falcons have plenty of more basketball to play, but for now, getting win number one out of the way in dramatic fashion couldn't feel better.

"This feels good," Compton said. "I dreamed about it all last year. It's awesome now that I got it."

Aycock will face Wayne Country Day on Friday in the Charles B. Aycock Invitational. Goldsboro will also participate in the Charles B. Aycock Invitational on Friday, squaring off with Western Harnett.

C.B. Aycock -- 7 10 13 30 -- 60

Goldsboro -- 7 18 20 7 -- 52

GOLDSBORO (0-1)

Taylor Murchinson 7 0 0-0 14; Doshamora Simms 0 0 0-2 0; 6 0 1-4 13; Keovanta McDuffie 6 0 2-4 14; Demetrio Irby 1 0 1-2 3; TOTALS -- 24 0 4-14 52.

C.B. AYCOCK (1-0)

David Gurganus 1 0 0-0 2; Issac Royals 0 0 2-2 2; Tyheim Pitt 2 1 1-2 8; Leonard Compton 4 5 5-6 28; Devon Newsome 1 0 0-0 2; Jordan Riley 0 0 1-2 1; Jonathan Williams 5 0 0-0 10; Kyle LaFlamme 0 0 2-2 2; Khendra Reid 2 0 1-2 5; TOTALS -- 15 6 12-16 60.

Three point goals -- Goldsboro -- None, C.B. Aycock 6 (Compton 5, Pitt 1). Fouled out -- None.