McDuffie's quick-strike plays lift Goldsboro

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 16, 2007 2:26 AM

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Goldsboro High can check off one preseason goal -- thanks to Keovanta McDuffie.

A slashing guard, the 6-foot-1 junior pumped in a game-high 20 points as the Cougars turned back Southern Wayne 71-65 before a near-capacity crowd Friday evening. Goldsboro (6-3 overall) claimed its third regular-season sweep of a county opponent this season.

"I think our guys really wanted to get this one," said Goldsboro coach Tod Morgan. "One of our preseason goals was 'Wayne County champs.' It's really not legitimate because we haven't played every team in Wayne County.

"But the teams on our schedule, if we could have a winning record against them, that's what we'd consider as being Wayne County champs for us."

On the girls' scene, Shakoria Clark swished the game-clinching free throw with 10.5 seconds left and preserved the Saints' come-from-behind, 54-52 victory over Goldsboro. Clark collected a game-high 23 points, while Lynnesha Leonard recorded her seventh double-figure outing of the season with 17 points.

Turnovers and offensive inefficiency plagued both teams in the opening quarter. Goldsboro went five-plus minutes with just one field goal on the board, while Southern Wayne (1-7) committed seven miscues during that same stretch.

Meanwhile, McDuffie sat on the bench with two fouls.

When he finally re-entered the game, the Cougars discovered some much-needed energy and woke up a silent crowd. McDuffie constantly penetrated the Saints' defense and converted three consecutive field goals during a 10-2 run.

Demetrio Irby's 3-pointer, off McDuffie's assist, capped the surge and turned Goldsboro's precarious lead into a 26-17 cushion at the three-minute mark.

"When he got in a foul trouble, I thought 'man this is not good because we've got to sit him for awhile'," said Morgan. "He is a spark ... has a mentality for scoring. Sometimes you take the bad and the good with him because sometimes he'll make some great plays, and then some not-so-great plays.

"He's one kid who definitely leaves it all on the court. When he gets in the locker room, he's pretty beat because he plays hard on both ends of the floor. We definitely count on him to be a motor for us."

Once McDuffie's engine warmed up, he hardly cooled down.

Goldsboro claimed its biggest lead, 40-27, midway through the third quarter. But the Saints' Jon Hart powered his way inside for two baskets and Kendrick Thompson added a reverse layup to close the gap to 40-33. After exchanging field goals, McDuffie's driving layup off the glass put the Cougars comfortably ahead again 47-36.

"We knew McDuffie is a penetrater and a very good player in transition, so we wanted to make sure we turned him into a shooter tonight, instead of a driver," said Saints coach Russell Stephens. "We were ineffective on defense. It had to do with McDuffie's speed and his ability to attack the basket."

McDuffie converted two field goals to start the fourth quarter, but Southern Wayne wouldn't go away. Defensive lapses allowed the Saints to pull within single digits on several occasions.

The Cougars' lead crept into double digits again on Irby's 3-pointer and Tavon Murchison's two free throws. McDuffie added a field goal to make it 61-46 with three minutes left in regulation.

Southern Wayne climbed within 67-61, but Goldsboro sealed its mythical county title at the free throw line. Murchison and Doshamora Simms finished with 11 points apiece, while Irby chipped in 10.

"We didn't close out the game as well as I would have liked to," said Morgan. "We have to learn to do that on both the offensive end and the defensive end. (Our) handling the ball and decision making has to be better."

In the girls' contest, Goldsboro (4-5 overall) grabbed its biggest lead at 38-31 when Ki'ana Williams faked a pass and coasted to the basket for a layup. Clark buried two 3-pointers to keep Southern Wayne within striking distance at 42-38.

The teams traded scoring possessions during a four-minute stretch in the final quarter. The Saints pulled closer as the Cougars misfired on seven consecutive possessions, which included five turnovers.

Brianna Lofton's offensive putback created a 50-50 deadlock. Clarice Sherard's baseline jumper off Clark's inbounds pass boosted Southern Wayne ahead 52-50.

"That was a big shot," said Southern Wayne head coach Ricky Lofton. "(The play) was designed to go back to Shakoria. Clare couldn't find her, so she turned around shot the ball.

"I'm glad she did."

Clark added a free throw to give the Saints a 53-50 advantage.

Goldsboro put the ball in play and just as Lofton shouted "no foul" from the bench, reserve Kiera Ingram hacked Williams on a 3-point attempt. Williams drained two free throws to pull the Cougars within 53-52.

After Clark's game-winning charity shot, Goldsboro committed a turnover near midcourt against the Saints' trap. Lofton picked up the loose ball, got fouled and missed both free throws.

With no timeouts, the Cougars put the ball inbounds and time expired.

"They never gave up and they kept on fighting," said Lofton. "It seemed like they held their composure, especially at crunch time when there was about a minute to go in the game."

Williams flirted with a triple-double -- 17 points, eight rebounds and six assists -- for Goldsboro. Zeara McDuffie supplied a double-double -- 15 points, 10 rebounds. Victoria Williams contributed 10 points.

Boys

So. Wayne 9 12 14 30 -- 65

Goldsboro 15 15 16 25 -- 71

SOUTHERN WAYNE (1-7)

Justin Artis 0 0 0-0 0, James Jones 3 0 2-4 8, Montree Oates 0 0 2-2 2, Javaris McMillan 0 0 0-0 0, Rashadd Hill 3 0 0-1 6, Woody Woodard 1 0 0-0 2, Dwight Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Kendrick Thompson 7 0 3-3 17, Brandon Anderson 2 0 0-0 4, Jon Hart 5 0 6-6 16, Desmond Raiford 4 0 0-3 8. TOTALS -- 26 0 13-19 65.

GOLDSBORO (6-3)

Keovanta McDuffie 9 0 2-5 20, Donald Lewis 1 0 0-0 2, Tavon Murchison 2 0 7-9 11, Iveon Sprangle 0 0 2-2 2, Cortez Sprangle 1 0 0-0 2, Doshamora Simms 5 0 1-2 11, Demetrio Irby 0 3 1-2 10, Tim Hobbs 4 0 1-4 9, Aric Sinclair 2 0 0-0 4, Carlos Atkinson 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 24 3 14-24 71.

Girls

So. Wayne 8 13 17 16 -- 54

Goldsboro 10 9 23 10 -- 52

SOUTHERN WAYNE (5-3)

Keira Ingram 0 0 0-2 0, Shakoria Clark 2 5 4-9 23, Christina Glaspie 0 0 0-0 0, Octavia Lee 0 0 2-2 2, Brianna Lofton 2 0 2-6 6, Cassandra Jones 0 0 0-0 0, Brooke Dove 0 0 0-0 0, Carlotta Hagans 0 0 0-0 0, Lynnesha Leonard 3 3 2-4 17, Kayla Powell 1 0 2-4 4, Clarice Sherard 1 0 0-0 2, Kanesha Jones 0 0 0-1 0. TOTALS -- 9 8 12-28 54.

GOLDSBORO (4-5)

Lakiyah Campbell 0 0 0-0 0, Zeara McDuffie 3 1 6-7 15, Ki'ana Williams 4 2 3-5 17, Danielle Irby 2 0 1-2 5, Millicent Kornegay 1 0 2-6 4, Victoria Williams 5 0 0-0 10, Tiffany Pearsall 0 0 1-2 1, Johneisha Maye 0 0 0-0 0. TOTALS -- 15 3 13-22 52.