Goldsboro boys improve to 2-0 against EPC opposition

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on January 18, 2009 2:00 AM

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SNOW HILL -- Greene Central answered the scoring spurts and seemed destined to erase a glaring 0-14 record in varsity boys basketball action this season.

Goldsboro refused to become the Rams' first victim.

Tyrelle Jackson ignited a 34-point, third-quarter outburst with stellar play in the paint and the Cougars returned home with a 82-73 triumph Friday evening. Goldsboro (11-5 overall) remained unbeaten in two EPC outings this season and entertains perennial league power North Lenoir on Tuesday.

Jackson led four Cougars in double figures with 21 points, including a 7 of 9 shooting performance from the floor in the third quarter.

"Tyrelle has been big all year and has become more of a vocal leader," said Goldsboro coach Chris Cherry. "The kids really feed off his energy every night. (At halftime), we told them it couldn't be the same guy every night (to score). We need someone different to step up and I thought we did everything connectively tonight."

Jackson's shooting propelled Goldsboro a 64-53 advantage after three periods.

Greene Central climbed within 66-60 midway through the final quarter, but could get no closer.

Michael Langston, who collected 16 first-half points, ended the game with 19. Donald Lewis and Demetrio Irby contributed 10 points apiece. Irby drilled a key 3-pointer late in the fourth period, which completely stalled the Rams' final comeback attempt.

"We got our legs back (tonight)," said Cherry. "Mike gave us a huge lift that first half. The second half we just played in the flow (of the game) so much better."

Desmond Sheppard paced the Rams' offense with 18 points. Bobby Waters and Rashan Edwards each tallied nine points, while Malcolm Dawson chipped in eight points.

Dawgs survive

CALYPSO -- Princeton avoided an 0-2 start in Carolina 1-A Conference play with a 55-53 victory over North Duplin on Friday evening.

David Gurganus led the Bulldogs with 19 points. Benton Myers delivered 13 points and Kameron Harrison scored 12.

North Duplin was paced by Devin Oliver's 18-point outburst. Blake King added 13 points and Quentin Graham finished with seven points.

The Rebels (0-10 overall, 0-2 CC) continue conference play at home Tuesday against Ayden-Grifton. Princeton (7-9, 1-1) entertains county archrival North Johnston on Wednesday.

Eagles soar

NORLINA -- Colton Woods notched a double-double -- 14 points, 10 rebounds -- as Wayne Christian eased past Norlina Christian 57-48 in their Carolina Christian 1-A Conference battle Friday.

Woods picked Norlina for four steals. Kyle Harrell contributed 11 points, while Dominic Arthur provided 11 points and six rebounds. Luke Howell added seven points, five assists, eight steals and six rebounds.

The Eagles (5-9 overall, 4-5 CCC) entertain Cape Fear Christian on Tuesday.

Rosewood falls

KENLY -- North Johnston limited Rosewood to three third-quarter points and rolled to a 52-28 win in Carolina 1-A Conference action Friday.

Cody Harris paced the Eagles' offense with 13 points, while teammate James Harris knocked down eight points.

Rosewood (3-10, 0-2 CC) is the guest of Spring Creek on Tuesday.

Warriors fall short

WILSON -- Junior Will White pumped in a team-leading 19 points, but Eastern Wayne dropped a 57-53 decision to Wilson Beddingfield in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play Friday evening.

Jeniri Cyrus complemented White with a 17-point effort, while center Colton Butler contributed seven points.

Eastern Wayne (2-11 overall, 0-2 ECC) visits Hunt on Tuesday.

Tigers escape

NEWTON GROVE -- Dontrill Hyman posted a double-double -- 27 points, 10 rebounds -- as James Kenan slipped past Hobbton 71-70 in Super Six 1-A Conference play Friday.

James Owens added 13 points and five rebounds for the Tigers, who improved to 2-6 overall this season. Dasmine Smith supplied nine points and a team-leading five assists.

The Tigers, who outscored the Wildcats 41-37 in the second half, had 19 team assists on 30 made field goals.

Girls' basketball

Hunt drops CBA

PIKEVILLE -- Wilson Hunt jumped out to a 20-2 lead after one quarter and rolled past Charles B. Aycock 60-27 on Friday evening.

The Golden Falcons made just five field goals and failed to score double-digit points in a quarter.

Hunt (9-4 overall, 2-0 ECC) led 32-10 at the half and knocked down seven 3-pointers including three from Shantia Creech who scored a game-high 13 points. Alisha Barnes added 11 points.

Camille Williams led Aycock with 10 points and Courtney Sheeks had six.

The Golden Falcons (3-13 overall, 0-2 ECC) travel to Kinston on Tuesday.

Saints stumble

DUDLEY -- Kinston broke a six-game losing streak by beating Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference rival Southern Wayne 48-45 on Friday night.

The Saints lacked intensity in the first quarter as Kinston kept pace through the first eight minutes. The Vikings built a 26-18 lead halftime lead thanks to a decisive rebounding advantage.

A stagnant third quarter on both sides kept the Saints within striking distance, but the home team took too long to awake from its slumber.

Lynnesha Leonard pulled the Saints within two on a driving layup with two minutes left in regulation. After a failed possession on both ends, Viking guard Marquel Powell seized the limelight.

Powell scored her first two points of the night from the foul line with 40 seconds to play. The little-used reserve locked up the Kinston victory with a second pair of free throws 12 seconds later.

Southern Wayne (7-9 overall, 1-1 ECC) was paced by Octavia Lee's 17-point effort. Leonard added 11 points and Clarice Sherard finished with eight points.

Rosewood topped

KENLY -- Shantal Johnson emerged Rosewood's top scorer with nine points in a 52-20 loss to defending Carolina 1-A Conference champion North Johnston on Friday.

Christina Bruton added four points.

The Eagles (2-11 overall, 0-2 CC) travel to Spring Creek on Tuesday.

Bruins too much

WILSON -- Junior Tia Jones paced Eastern Wayne's offense with 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but three-time defending Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference regular-season champ Beddingfield prevailed 74-37.

The Bruins claimed their 32nd consecutive ECC regular-season victory.

Senior Lindsey Frederick added 10 points for the Warriors, who surrendered a game-opening 21-0 run. Beddingfield led 23-4 after one quarter and 43-17 at intermission.

Eastern Wayne visits Hunt on Tuesday.

Gators fall short

LITTLEFIELD -- Amy Parker tallied 12 points as Spring Creek endured a 45-43 loss at Carolina 1-A Conference foe Ayden-Grifton on Friday evening.

Melanique DeVeaux contributed a double-double -- 10 points, 10 rebounds -- for the Gators, who fell to 1-7 overall and 1-1 against league opposition this season. Norma Valentin added six points and six rebounds.

Machaila Jordan recorded eight points, three rebounds and four steals.

Ayden-Grifton led 25-17 at halftime and 37-26 after three quarters. Spring Creek tied the game with nine seconds to go, but the Chargers converted a second-chance scoring opportunity to ice the outcome.

Spring Creek welcomes county rival Rosewood on Tuesday.

JV sports

* Boys' basketball: Goldsboro 64, Greene Central 56 -- Adan Hobbs pumped in a game-high 21 points for Goldsboro, which improved to 2-0 in Eastern Plains 2-A Conference play. Mike Sykes contributed 10 points, while Robert Kornegay and Mike Sawyer supplied seven points apiece. Radamez Green and Kevonta Speight paced the Rams' attack with 14 and 12 points, respectively. The teams combined to shoot 60 free throws. Goldsboro entertains North Lenoir on Tuesday.

* Girls' basketball: Wayne Christian 44, Wayne Country Day 22 -- Courtney Barrow and Brooke Barfield each scored 12 points respectively for the Eagles as they bested county rival Wayne Country Day. Nikki Fitzmorris added eight points and pulled down six rebounds.

* Girls' basketball: Wilson Hunt 46, C.B. Aycock 19 -- The Golden Falcons (7-3 points, 1-1 Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference) visit Kinston on Tuesday.