December 2012 archives

View Archive

Monday, December 31, 2012

MOC women beat Fayetteville State

MOUNT OLIVE -- Kirksten Mitchell scored a career-high 23 points and Tamara Nesmith came within one rebound of a triple-double as Mount Olive withstood a late rally for a 78-71 victory over Fayetteville State in non-conference women's basketball Sunday at...

MOC men upset Augusta State

MOUNT OLIVE -- Ewon Wright scored eight of his team-high 16 points in the final four minutes and his jumper with less than two minutes left put Mount Olive ahead to stay as the Trojans held off nationally-ranked Augusta State...

Cleveland claims Pilkington Duals

PIKEVILLE -- Cleveland edged Charles B. Aycock 42-40 in the finals of the Pilkington Memorial Duals on Saturday. Rams' heavyweight Bryer Rogers claimed a pivotal match against the Golden Falcons' Jorge Flores after an knee injury in the second...

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Local Preps Digest

Girls' basketball West Craven 59, Eastern Wayne 56 * VANCEBORO -- West Craven's Jamie Cherry converted a three-point play with 4.6 seconds to go and the Eagles hung on for a 59-56 win over Eastern Wayne on Friday evening. It...

Mount Olive alum Melton named to Philippines national team

MOC SPORTS INFORMATION MOUNT OLIVE -- Mount Olive College men's basketball alum Justin "Mouse" Melton was named to the 12-player Philippines National Team, as reported by Sports Interactive Network (Spin) Philippines. The team was announced via Twitter by National Team...

Friday, December 28, 2012

Local digest

Boys' basketball Leesville Road 61, Goldsboro 46 * RALEIGH -- Leesville Road used some stiff second half defense to put away Goldsboro 61-46 in the consolation game of the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational on Thursday. The Pride were led by Brandon...

Pinkowski resigns football job at C.B. Aycock

PIKEVILLE -- Friday nights at Hardy Talton Stadium next Fall will be missing a hint of "Pink" amongst all the powder blue and gold. Following 14 seasons as head football coach at Charles B. Aycock, Randy Pinkowski has officially resigned....

Spring Creek's Russo invited to U.S. Army combine

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Getting recognized on the football field can be a difficult task. There are so many high schools and so many players that it is hard to make an impression during the season. That is what makes Spring...

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Goldsboro-Garner box

Goldsboro 11 10 8 13 -- 42 Garner 24 23 18 6 -- 71 GOLDSBORO (5-5) Jalen Sprueil 0 0 0-0 0, Myron Carmon 1 0 0-0 2, Julius Murphy 2 0 0-0 4, Rasheen Artis 1 0 2-3 4,...

Goldsboro dropped by Garner

RALEIGH -- Three minutes. That's all Garner needed to separate itself from Goldsboro during opening-day action of the 47th annual HighSchoolOT.com Invititational on Wednesday afternoon. The Trojans scored the game's first nine points, constantly harrassed the Cougars with pressure defense...

Monday, December 24, 2012

MOC -- Cancer check

MOC Sports Information Mount Olive College raised more than $400 for Southeastern Cancer Care's "Cure for the Colors" during the month of October. Trojan assistant athletics director LaToya Lindsey presented a check for $427.45 to Dr. James Atkins of Southeastern...

CBA wrestling

BETHEL -- Senior Daniel Romo earned Most Outstanding Wrestler accolades and Charles B. Aycock finished runner-up during the team portion of the 2012 North Pitt Panther Invitational contested Saturday. Romo claimed the 132-pound division with a 2-minute, 30-second fall over...

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Local digest

Southern Wayne 53, Goldsboro 46 DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne avenged an earlier loss to Goldsboro, 53-46, on Friday evening. The Saints pulled ahead 8-6 late in the first quarter and never trailed again. "This was a big win for us...

Prep basketball boxes

BOYS Goldsboro 12 19 9 18 14 -- 72 So. Wayne 20 6 11 21 4 -- 62 GOLDSBORO (5-4) Jalen Sprueil 0 0 5-6 5, Julius Murphy 2 0 1-2 5, Rasheen Artis 3 0 11-14 17, Damarian Henderson...

Goldsboro outlasts Southern Wayne in overtime

DUDLEY -- The first time Southern Wayne faced former head coach Russell Stephens and his new squad at Goldsboro High School, the Saints used emotion to beat the Cougars. Goldsboro answered the challenge on Friday night in the rematch and...

Bulldog Christmas Classic boxscores

BOYS Cleveland 13 19 13 9 -- 54 Spring Creek 17 8 11 9 -- 45 CLEVELAND (3-10) Austin Jacobs 3 0 0-2 6, Darren Robinson 1 0 2-2 4, Chase Jackson 2 1 1-3 8, Alan-Michael Hales 0 0...

Cleveland boys turn back Gators

PRINCETON -- Cleveland's boys answered the challenge not once, but twice against pesky Spring Creek on Friday evening. All-tournament selection Jesse Olmstead collected a game-high 13 points for the Rams, who thwarted two rallies and dealt the Gators a 54-45...

Rosewood girls defeat Spring Creek

PRINCETON -- Rosewood turned its most unselfish performance of the season and rolled past county foe Spring Creek, 68-19, during the third-place game in the 2012 Bulldog Christmas Classic on Friday afternoon. The Eagles recorded 20 assists on 27 made...

Princeton girls take Classic title

PRINCETON -- Princeton showed tremendous respect for Cleveland's taller post players throughout the night, but finally decided enough is enough. The Bulldogs attacked. Attacked. And attacked some more. The strategy created foul trouble for the Rams and scoring opportunities for...

Rosewood boys win Bulldog Christmas Classic

PRINCETON -- Take your time. Get a quick shot. Dee Mabry followed Rosewood head coach Daniel Mitchell's instructions without hesitation and converted the game-winning, three-point play in a 56-52 triumph over archrival Princeton in the 2012 Bulldogs Christmas Classic boys'...

Friday, December 21, 2012

Rosewood's rally falls short against Cleveland girls

PRINCETON -- The rally fell short. Rosewood shaved Cleveland's double-digit deficit to a single possession in the fourth quarter, but endured a 47-43 loss on opening day of the 2012 Bulldog Christmas Classic contested at Princeton High School. The Eagles...

Prep basketball boxes

BOYS Greene Central 15 11 12 24 -- 62 C.B. Aycock 3 9 18 23 -- 53 GREENE CENTRAL (3-8) Jaylyn Haner 5 0 3-5 13, Tevin Bates 6 0 2-4 14, Brandon Belcher 3 0 2-5 8, Kevin Ormond...

C.B. Aycock boys miss chances to score at free throw

PIKEVILLE -- For the second time this season, Charles B. Aycock head basketball coach Steve Moats stood outside the team's locker room and tried to explain the unexplainable. Basic free throw shooting cost the Golden Falcons a win once again...

Eastern Wayne girls remain perfect on season

Girls' basketball Eastern Wayne 68, Havelock 49 * Eastern Wayne improved to 11-0 with a convincing 68-49 victory over Havelock on Thursday evening in New Hope. The Warriors opened the game with an 11-0 run and built a 39-20 lead...

Havelock boys capitalize on E. Wayne turnovers

Eastern Wayne head boys' basketball coach Glen Darden only needed to see one stat to know why his team came up short Thursday night. It wasn't the 32 points Havelock sharpshooter Zack Bruns poured in that ultimately did in the...

Bulldog Xmas Classic briefs

Cleveland 65 * The Eagles held a five-point advantage at halftime and opened the third quarter with a 7-2 run behind Raynor and slashing scoring guard Josh Davis. Cleveland responded with a 15-6 run that ended on Chase Jackson's second...

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Cougars win 3 events at indoor track meet

KENLY -- Goldsboro picked up three first-place finishes at the Carolina/Tri-County 1-A indoor track meet on Wednesday. James Clyde won the 55-meter dash in 6.58 seconds. Rasheid Mallette took first place in the high jump. On the girls' side, Kaylah...

Spring Creek girls fall to Jones Senior

TRENTON -- Alyssa Borja tallied 15 points during Spring Creek's 55-35, non-conference loss to Jones Senior. Borja pulled down two rebounds and collected two steals for the Gators, who return to action today against Princeton in the Bulldog Christmas Classic....

McCarty scores 10 points in Rebels' loss

CALYPSO -- North Duplin fell behind early and could not recover in a 46-22 loss to Union on Wednesday night. Shaily McCarty led the Rebels with 10 points. Jordan Jones and Deja Aycock each added four points in the defeat....

Union boys rally past North Duplin

CALYPSO -- Union scored 25 points in the fourth quarter and rallied for a 56-50 victory over North Duplin on Wednesday night. Daron Goodman paced the Rebels with 15 points. Cedrick Kornegay added 11 points and Tyler Royal finished with...

Eagles start quick, cruise past Cougars

Rosewood picked up 17 quick points and handed county foe Goldsboro a 65-18, non-conference loss at Norvell T. Lee Gymnasium on Wednesday evening. The Eagles' Matt Raynor and Samuel Drew collected back-to-back forfeits at 126 and 132 pounds, respectively, before...

Golden Falcons out-grapple Bulldogs

PRINCETON -- Charles B. Aycock recorded the initial takedown in 10 individual matches and rolled to a 70-11, non-conference triumph over Princeton on Wednesday evening. The Golden Falcons received pins from Daniel Romo (138 pounds), Jaret Paynter (152), Khaleil Owens...

MOC men halt six-game skid

MOUNT OLIVE -- His dress shirt untucked and his tie long gone, Mount Olive head men's basketball coach Joey Higginbotham lingered around Kornegay Arena for quite some time Wednesday night. He wanted to savor this one. The Trojans' 15-point, second-half...

Trojan women rebound from first defeat

MOUNT OLIVE -- Coming off a loss for the first time this season, the Mount Olive College women's basketball team responded in a big way Wednesday evening. The end result was a 65-30 blowout of Brevard College at Kornegay Arena....

Eastern Wayne matmen turn back Nash Central

A good work ethic during Tuesday afternoon's practice paid off for the Eastern Wayne wrestling team Wednesday evening. The Warriors emerged victorious in seven of 10 individual contested matches and handed Nash Central a 54-18 loss in the school's old...

E. Wayne-Nash Central wrestling box

Eastern Wayne 54 Nash Central 18 138 -- Kevon Tune (EW) wbf Jonquail Jones, 0:42; 145 -- Darian Adkins (EW) wbf Josh Melton, 1:06; 152 -- Devonte Johnson (NC) dec. Justice Johnson, 9-7; 160 -- Quadrick Williams (EW) wbf Dashawn...

What's the ACC's next move?

The sport that serves as the glue that bonds every conference together may ultimately prove to be the Atlantic Coast Conference's undoing. Last week's announcement by the Big East Conference's seven Catholic schools of their intentions to leave the league...

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Preps digest: JV roundup

JV sports * Girls' basketball: C.B. Aycock 44, Cleveland 16 -- Quanika Lofton led the Golden Falcons (4-5 overall) with 12 points. Madison Wildman added 10 points. * Boys' basketball: Eastern Wayne 50, New Bern 41 -- Jeremiah Miller...

Preps digest: JV, middle school roundup

JV sports * Boys' basketball: Eastern Wayne 60, Southern Nash 48 -- Jaylin Thomas contributed 16 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots for the victorious Warriors. Zeke Martin supplied 15 points and seven rebounds. Dameko Artis logged seven...

Goldsboro-Hunt, Cleveland-Aycock boxes

BOYS Hunt 16 16 15 16 -- 63 Goldsboro 19 8 11 7 -- 45 HUNT Jaylen Gilliam 2 0 1-2 5, Keenon Tabron 1 0 4-4 6, Dwanya Sutton 2 0 2-3 6, Isaiah White 3 1 0-0 9,...

Southern Wayne matmen sweep tri-meet

BEULAVILLE -- Southern Wayne continued its path to maturity with non-conference victories over Pender (54-21) and East Duplin (45-30) on Monday evening. The Saints got individual wins from Nick Kennan, O'Khanye Wallace, Wynn, Deonta Hayes, Zach Buff, Chase Horon, Chris...

Princeton girls drop road game

WENDELL -- Princeton fell behind early and could not recover in a 51-17 defeat at Corinth-Holders on Monday night. Cyarra Pierson paced the Pirates with 20 points. Maddy Gladwell added 11 points in the win. Savanna Massengill led the way...

Faith Christian boys defeated by Hilltop Christian

FUQUAY-VARINA -- Aaron Hill registered his fourth consecutive double-double, but it was not enough to lift Faith Christian past Hilltop Christian on Monday night. Hill led the Conquerors with 23 points and 11 rebounds. Derek Forest added 17 points in...

Princeton boys fall to Corinth-Holders

WENDELL -- Princeton never got its offense in gear in a 78-29 loss to Corinth-Holders on Monday night. Tanner Woodard led the Bulldogs with eight points. Princeton plays host to Spring Creek in the Bulldog Christmas Classic on Thursday. Tip-off...

Warrior boys answer Firebirds' third-period surge

Southern Nash made the quick run. Eastern Wayne adjusted and claimed the non-conference win. Quavus Holloman pumped in a game-high 17 points and Malik Richard just missed recording a double-double during Eastern Wayne's 62-56 triumph over Southern Nash on Monday...

Beddingfield beats Greene Central in EPC play

WILSON -- Greene Central saw a three-point halftime lead slip away in a 79-61 loss at Eastern Plains 2-A foe Wilson Beddingfield on Tuesday evening. The Rams held a 35-32 advantage at halftime but were outscored 47-26 during the final...

Fike boys ease past Saints

WILSON -- Ronnell Outlaw poured in 22 points to go with six steals, but it wasn't enough in Southern Wayne's 63-56 loss to Wilson Fike on Tuesday evening. Tarvis Bradshaw supplied nine points for the Saints and Jalen Bennett had...

Warrior boys endure double-OT loss to Bears

Eastern Wayne was haunted by turnovers in a 75-68, double-overtime loss to New Bern in New Hope on Tuesday evening. The Warriors (4-6 overall) entertain Havelock on Thursday....

EW girls pick up pace in 3rd quarter

Eastern Wayne outscored New Bern 16-2 in the third quarter and rolled to a 60-43, non-conference win Tuesday evening at New Hope. The teams entered halftime tied at 26-all. "We played a bit sluggish in the first half," Eastern Wayne...

Southern Wayne girls fall to Wilson Fike

WILSON -- Southern Wayne fell behind early and never recovered in a 56-39 loss on Tuesday evening at Wilson Fike. Zaria Atkins led the Saints with 16 points. Southern Wayne (4-4 overall) plays host to Goldsboro on Friday....

Cleveland girls edge Aycock, 48-47

PIKEVILLE -- Cleveland nearly let a late lead slip away but managed to recover just in time to hold off C.B. Aycock 48-47 in Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play Tuesday evening. The Rams led nearly the entire game until the...

Goldsboro girls drop third straight game

Goldsboro suffered its third consecutive loss, 57-40, against Wilson Hunt on Tuesday evening. The Warriors led 24-20 at halftime and broke open the game in the second half. The Cougars pulled to within 42-35 on Tyona Moses' layup early in...

Hunt boys capitalize on Goldsboro mistakes

Goldsboro's quest for offensive efficiency continues to be a work in progress eight games into the Russell Stephens era. Turnovers and empty possessions, and a five-point deficit turned into a 63-45 loss to Wilson Hunt inside Norvell T. Lee Gymnasium...

Muhammad's running shot preserves Warriors' unblemished record

An ugly, lucky win. Eastern Wayne will certainly take it. Nijah Muhammad's game-winning, running shot bounced around the rim and fell through, lifting the unbeaten Warriors to a 50-48, non-conference triumph over Southern Nash on Monday evening. "The horseshoe is...

Eastern Wayne-So. Nash boxes

BOYS Southern Nash 16 8 13 19 -- 56 Eastern Wayne 15 18 16 13 -- 62 SOUTHERN NASH (1-7) Jordan Newkirk 1 0 1-1 3, Marques Wright 4 0 3-4 11, Chi-Ali Bunn 5 0 2-4 12, Desmon Jackson...

Moats sends message, players respond

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock head coach Steve Moats felt like he needed to send a message to his team Tuesday night. Moats came across loud and clear when he sat down his starters in the second quarter against Eastern...

Monday, December 17, 2012

Cougars' Durham posts 3-0 record

BUNN -- Goldsboro grapplers combined for 10 individual victories during a four-team meet contested Saturday at Bunn High School. Senior Kurtis Durham remained unbeaten in seven outings this season. he pinned Nash Central's Matt Masney, Bunn's Chris Smith and...

Aycock grapplers thwart Eastern Wayne

Too close for comfort. But Charles B. Aycock prevailed again. The Golden Falcons used a 22-0, match-ending run to thwart county archrival Eastern Wayne, 40-34, on the wrestling mat Saturday afternoon at New Hope. The Warriors prevailed in seven...

Sunday, December 16, 2012

Preps digest: Eastern Wayne girls climb to 8-0 overall

Girls' basketball Eastern Wayne 73, Goldsboro 46 * Unbeaten Eastern Wayne created havoc on defense and converted turnovers into points during a 73-46 rout of county foe Goldsboro on Friday evening. "We have to play up tempo and make our...

Friday's prep basketball boxes

BOYS Corinth-Holders 16 13 11 17 -- 57 Princeton 11 10 9 14 -- 44 CORINTH-HOLDERS Khalil Larry 0 0 1-2 1, Kiyon Walden 6 0 1-2 3, Hampton Smith 1 0 0-0 2, Kenneth Collins 3 3 2-2 17,...

Coker women upset MOC; Trojan men lose 6th straight game

HARTSVILLE, S.C. -- Siblings Amber and Autumn Lau, who finished with a game-high 24 points, scored 19 of Coker's final 34 points in a stunning 78-64 upset of previously-unbeaten Mount Olive College on the Conference Carolinas women's basketball scene...

Defensive switch helps Tigers ease past Rebels

WARSAW -- James Kenan scrapped its man-to-man defense, switched to a 2-3 zone and found its rhythm against county foe North Duplin on Friday evening. Frontcourt mates Kinder Georges and Nick Taylor combined for 16 second-half points and nine rebounds...

Goldsboro boys rally late, takes season series against EW

In a game that featured a number of wild plays, the finish was what everyone in the standing-room-only crowd at Eastern Wayne High School expected on Friday night. It was a thriller. Goldsboro scored the final seven points of the...

Pirates' defensive pressure bothers Bulldogs

PRINCETON -- Corinth-Holders may have been the visiting team, but there was little the Pirates weren't in complete control of Friday night inside the "Dog House." Corinth-Holders dictated the game's tempo, the type of defense Princeton was forced to play...

Friday, December 14, 2012

EW girls improve to 7-0 with road win

AYDEN -- Eastern Wayne built a 15-point lead in the first half and never looked back in a 62-40 win over Ayden-Grifton on Thursday night. Tianna Christopher led the Warriors with 14 points. Elondia Grant added 12 points and Tamiya...

Ayden-Grifton upends Eastern Wayne boys

AYDEN -- Eastern Wayne came up just short in a 51-49 setback to Ayden-Grifton on Thursday night. Malik Richardson led the Warriors with 20 points and 17 rebounds. Quavius Holloman added 12 points in the defeat. Eastern Wayne (3-4 overall)...

Aycock accounts for North Duplin's offense

CALYPSO -- North Duplin was shut out for three quarters in a 63-4, non-conference loss to Lejeune on Thursday night. Daja Aycock scored all four of the Rebels' points in the fourth quarter. North Duplin (1-6 overall) travels to James...

Royal scores 20 points in Rebels' home defeat

CALYPSO -- Lejeune rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit and earned a 75-67 win over North Duplin on Thursday night. Ryan Evans and Chucky Murdock each scored 15 points to lead the Devilpups. Tyler Royal paced North Duplin with 20...

Preps digest: JV, middle school roundup

JV sports * Boys' basketball: Eastern Wayne 60, Ayden-Grifton 47 -- Jaylin Thomas led the Eastern Wayne attack with 17 points. Zeke Martin added 10 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors. Eastern Wayne (5-2 overall) plays host to...

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Preps digest: JV, middle school roundup

JV sports * Girls' basketball: Goldsboro 42, Southern Nash 29 -- Joniere Simmons led the Cougars with 10 points. Deja Moore, Marlhia Gardner and La'shiya Lofton each added eight points in the win. Goldsboro improved to 4-1 overall. *...

Wednesday's prep basketball boxes

BOYS Southern Nash 12 8 18 17 -- 55 Goldsboro 14 11 5 5 -- 35 SOUTHERN NASH Jordan Newkirk 1 0 0-0 2, Chi-Ali Bunn 7 0 1-2 15, Marques Wright 5 0 0-0 10, Desmon Jackson 0 0...

Golden Falcons handle Rams in girls' hoops

SNOW HILL -- Charles B. Aycock cruised past Greene Central 51-30 on Wednesday evening. Ashley Darden paced the Golden Falcons with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Myleah Jones contributed 10 points and 20 rebounds. Quanika Artis added seven points. Aycock...

Ladybirds rally, defeat Cougars

Southern Nash got hot at the right time offensively and rallied for a 66-56, non-conference win over Goldsboro on Wednesday night. The Firebirds scored 30 points in the final quarter to complete the comeback from a double-digit deficit. Kadejah Manning...

Warriors take pair of road wins

FOUR OAKS -- Eastern Wayne launched its Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference season with a 51-23 thrashing of South Johnston on Tuesday evening. The Warriors (6-3 overall, 1-0 ECC) also defeated perennial 2-A powerhouse North Johnston for the second time this...

Rocky Mount matmen stop Princeton

ROCKY MOUNT -- Rocky Mount triumphed in the final three individual bouts and turned back Princeton, 45-36, on Wednesday evening. The Bulldogs (2-2 overall) built a nine-point advantage on the strength of six pins during the non-conference affair. Jesse Tomljenovich...

Cleveland out-grapples short-handed Aycock

CLAYTON -- Short-handed Charles B. Aycock prevailed in the final four individual bouts, but Cleveland escaped, 41-36, in the Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference opener for both teams Wednesday evening. The loss snapped the Golden Falcons' eight-match win streak. The Rams,...

WCDS boys suffer 1st loss of the season

Deshar Thomas emerged the lone player in double figures with 15 points in Wayne Country Day's 81-64, non-conference loss to Trinity Christian of Fayetteville on Tuesday evening. The Chargers entered the game unbeaten and ranked No. 5 in the latest...

Hungry Firebirds hold Cougars to 10 second-half points

Southern Nash was the hungrier team at Norvell T. Lee Gymnasium on Wednesday night. The Firebirds held Goldsboro to 10 points in the second half and rolled to a 55-35 victory -- their first of the season. "You have an...

Spring Creek upends Hobbton

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Spring Creek placed eight of its 10 players in the scoring column and held off Hobbton, 49-41, on Wednesday evening. The Wildcats tied the game at 38-38 midway through the fourth quarter, but the Gators made plays...

CBA boys knock off Greene Central

SNOW HILL -- Charles B. Aycock bounced back from a loss to conference foe North Lenoir on Tuesday evening with a 66-47 win on Wednesday night at Greene Central. Michael Williams finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds for the...

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Preps digest: JV, middle school roundup

JV sports * Boys' basketball: C.B. Aycock 63, North Lenoir 54 -- T.J. Morrow finished with 20 points for the Golden Falcons. Jamere Pryor added 18 points and Jimmy Ellis supplied 11 points. Aycock (6-3 overall, 1-0 ECC) travels...

Third-quarter field goal drought hurts SW boys

DUDLEY -- The Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference boys' basketball title race came down to two games played between Southern Wayne and Triton a year ago. If the teams' first meeting of 2012 was any indication, the league title may again...

Wayne County swimmers fare well in home meet

Wayne County swimmers ruled the pool Tuesday evening. And the usual suspects continued their season-long domination in a multi-team meet contested at B.G. Darden Natatorium inside the Goldsboro Family Y. Charles B. Aycock's foursome of Taylor Bradshaw, Kylie Robertson,...

North Lenoir erases deficit, wins ECC 3-A boys' opener

PIKEVILLE -- With his team trailing by 12 points at halftime on the road in its Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference opener, North Lenoir head coach Anthony Lofton pleaded with his players to get stops defensively. The Hawks cranked up their...

Faith Christian boys nip Friendship Christian

Aaron Hill poured in 24 points and pulled down 15 rebounds to lead Faith Christian to a 56-54 victory over Friendship Christian on Tuesday night. Richard Sasser provided 11 points for the Conquerors and Blake Floars had seven points. Faith...

Hobbton drains game-winning 3-pointer at buzzer

PRINCETON -- Hobbton hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer at the end of regulation and escaped with a 66-63, double-overtime win against Princeton on Tuesday evening. Michael Wooten led the Bulldogs with 17 points. Colby Lewis supplied 10 points and...

Lakewood boys defeat North Duplin

SALEMBURG -- Lakewood opened a big lead in the first half and cruised to an 89-50 win over North Duplin on Tuesday night. Daron Goodman led the Rebels with 19 points. Trey Pate added eight points and Taylan Lewis had...

Stroud, Tigers handle Jones Senior

TRENTON -- Jahlane Stroud scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to help James Kenan pick up a 48-37, non-conference victory at Jones Senior on Tuesday evening. John Brooks contributed nine points and eight rebounds for the Tigers. Wu Hooper...

Mitchell leads Rosewood boys to road win

SMITHFIELD -- Rosewood placed four scorers in double figures and picked up a 73-51 win at Neuse Charter on Tuesday evening. Dennis Mitchell finished with 24 points for the Eagles. Victor Jenkins scored 15 points and Jyonte Raynor had 14....

Eastern Wayne boys prevail in ECC opener

CLAYTON -- Malik Richards tallied 19 points and Eastern Wayne opened Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play with a 68-53 victory over Cleveland on Tuesday evening. Richards pulled down five rebounds and dished out two assists for the Warriors, who improved...

Lakewood girls roll past North Duplin

SALEMBURG -- Lakewood held North Duplin scoreless in three of four quarters and rolled to a 72-10 non-conference win Tuesday evening. The Rebels scored all 10 of their points in the second quarter. Shaily McCarty led North Duplin with seven...

South Lenoir girls defeat Spring Creek

DEEP RUN -- Spring Creek endured a 63-27 loss at South Lenoir on Tuesday evening. The Gators play host to Hobbton tonight....

Princeton girls fall to Hobbton

PRINCETON -- Sasha Martin and Michaela Wilson combined for 43 points to lead Hobbton to a 57-47 win on Tuesday evening at Princeton. Savanna Massengill scored 15 points to go with 13 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Tori Paul provided 10...

Defending state champs defeat WCDS girls

FAYETTEVILLE -- Defending state champion Trinity Christian of Fayetteville turned back Wayne Country Day 50-31 on Tuesday evening. Hannah Pearson paced the Chargers with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Sarah Best supplied 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Bailee...

Rosewood girls dominate Neuse Charter

SMITHFIELD -- Rosewood play solid defense and built a 30-4 lead by halftime on its way to a 64-7 win on Tuesday evening at Neuse Charter. Alicia Burns led the Eagles with 12 points. Lexi Mercer scored 10 points and...

Eastern Wayne girls escape Cleveland

CLAYTON -- Eastern Wayne hung on for a 38-30 win at Cleveland on Tuesday evening. It was the Eastern Carolina 3-A opener for both teams. Nijah Muhammad led the Warriors with nine points. Jasmine Covinton and Elondia Grant each provided...

Southern Wayne girls build early lead, hang on

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne opened the game red hot from the field and built an early lead that proved to be too much for Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference rival Triton on Tuesday night. The Saints raced ahead with a 22-1...

Aycock girls storm past North Lenoir

PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock scored 12 unanswered points to close the third quarter, and opened Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference play with a 58-36 win over North Lenoir on Tuesday evening. The Hawks pulled to within 32-26 midway through the...

Gary leads MOC women; Trojan men fall in OT

MOC Sports Information RICHMOND, Va. -- Joneiqua Gary pumped in 20 points and Mount Olive College remained unbeaten with a 65-46 triumph over Virginia Union on Tuesday evening. The Trojan women improved to 6-0 overall this season. Gary hit five...

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Rosewood, Goldsboro separated by 1 point in conference Cup chase

staff reports CHAPEL HILL -- Rosewood holds a one-point advantage in the Wells Fargo Carolina 1-A Conference Cup competition after completion of the fall sports season. The Eagles lead Goldsboro 20-19 despite not winning a regular-season championship. The Cougars won...

Preps digest: Middle school roundup

Middle schools * Girls' basketball: Wayne Christian 34, Faith Christian-RM 24 -- Kasey Norris and Georgia Parnell tallied 13 and 12 points, respectively, for the Eagles. Wayne Christian improved to 6-0 overall this season....

Goldsboro quartet claims medley relay in annual SEIC meet

Goldsboro emerged victorious in the men's 200-yard medley relay, and a trio of swimmers took home individual gold medals from the eighth annual Southeastern Intercollegiate Championship meet contested at the Family Y. The Cougars' foursome of Logan Cole, Victor...

Burns, Mercer lead Eagles' attack

SPIVEYS CORNER -- Rosewood used a stellar defensive performance to hold back Midway 54-41 on Monday night. Alicia Burns led the Eagles with 18 points. Lexi Mercer added 14 points and Holly Heath finished with 10 points. Rosewood (3-3 overall)...

Mabry paces Rosewood to road win

SPIVEYS CORNER -- Rosewood started its week off with a 60-53 win over Midway on Monday night. Dee Mabry led the Eagles with 21 points. Jyonte Raynor added 19 points and Dennis Mitchell scored 10 points in the win. Rosewood...

Monday, December 10, 2012

17th Eagle Invitational: Quillen runs table, earns MOW honors

The lone returning state champion in a bracket loaded with returning state qualifiers, Nick Quillen answered the challenge in dominating fashion Saturday afternoon. Quillen ran the table in the 132-pound weight class, earned Most Outstanding Wrestler accolades and helped Rosewood...

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Local Preps Digest

Girls' basketball Goldsboro 48, Southern Wayne 30 * Goldsboro opened up a 25-12 lead at halftime and never looked back in a 48-30 win over Southern Wayne on Friday night. Cougars' freshman Tyona Moses led all scorers with 14 points...

Saints use late run to finish off Cougars

Southern Wayne needed fewer than two minutes to deliver a decisive knockout punch to Goldsboro and quickly empty out a jam-packed Norvell T. Lee Gymnasium. The Saints used an 11-1 late in the fourth quarter to put the finishing touches...

Southern Wayne-Goldsboro boxes

BOYS Southern Wayne 12 15 22 21 -- 70 Goldsboro 11 18 13 20 -- 62 SOUTHERN WAYNE (5-1) Andrew Matthews 0 0 2-3 3, Ronnell Outlaw 4 5 1-2 24, Tarvis Bradshaw 2 0 4-4 8, Drake Shaw 0...

Tigers accept roles, compile 13-1 record

There are many ways to define what makes a coach successful on the football field. Some are great motivators. Some are great strategists. And others are great game managers. James Kenan head coach Ken Avent Jr., who has been named...

Uncertain freshman blooms in final season

A raw and wide-eyed Asunji Maddox became the first freshman to make the varsity team during Eric Reid's tenure as head football coach at Goldsboro High School four years ago. Maddox is leaving as a well-respected team captain who...

Signal caller meets expectations

For years the expectations of quarterbacks at Goldsboro High School largely centered around turning around and handing the ball off. Julius Murphy changed that perception forever in two seasons as a starter. He finished his career with 3,356 passing yards,...

Friday, December 7, 2012

Pacers turn back Trojans

MOC Sports Information AIKEN, S.C. -- Darrell Patterson scored a season-high 22 points and helped Mount Olive rally from 15 points down in the first half, but host USC Aiken closed out the contest with a 25-10 run and cruised...

Stevens: Notre Dame's Te'o epitomizes characteristics of Heisman winner

Excellence was once defined as not a destination, but a continuous journey that never ends. Manti Te'o's journey as a highly-coveted high school linebacker from Laie, Hawaii, to a Heisman Trophy finalist at Notre Dame has taken many twists and...

Local preps digest

Girls' basketball North Duplin 37, Neuse Charter 17 * SMITHFIELD -- North Duplin picked up its first win of the season with a 37-17 victory at Neuse Charter on Thursday evening. The Rebels' Deja Aycock led all scorers with 14...

Talented grapplers headline county's longest-running event

There's not too many places where you can enjoy quality wrestling and good food at the same time. Rosewood is definitely one of them. More than 20 teams and 300-plus wrestlers will vie for 42 medals in 14 weight classes...

Thursday, December 6, 2012

C.B. Aycock grapplers take two

Wrestling Golden Falcons sweep dual * BAILEY -- Matt Teachey's pin at heavyweight switched the momentum in Charles B. Aycock's favor and led to a 40-30, non-conference triumph over perennial Class 3-A power Southern Nash on Wednesday evening. Zack Howard's...

Local Preps Digest

Girls' basketball Rosewood 51, C.B. Aycock 39 * PIKEVILLE -- Rosewood jumped out to an early lead and never looked back against Charles B. Aycock on Wednesday night. The Eagles opened up a 13-6 advantage in the first quarter and...

Saints collect pair of victories

DUDLEY -- Two programs eager to restore their respective winning traditions continued to experience growing pains Wednesday evening. But Southern Wayne did scratch in the win column -- twice. The Saints handed Wilson Beddingfield a 42-36 defeat and topped county...

Prep basketball boxes

BOYS C.B. Aycock 8 14 14 10 -- 48 Rosewood 9 7 7 9 -- 32 ROSEWOOD (3-2) Josh Davis 0 1 0-0 3, Dee Mabry 1 1 0-2 5, Victor Jenkins 2 0 1-2 5, Jyonte Raynor 4 0...

Golden Falcons ground Eagles' attack

PIKEVILLE -- It was never pretty, but Charles B. Aycock will take it. The Golden Falcons used excellent team defense to hold back county rival Rosewood 48-32 on Wednesday night. C.B. Aycock swept the season series. "Some nights you have...

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Preps digest: JV, middle school roundup

JV sports * Boys' basketball: Eastern Wayne 55, Goldsboro 41 -- Jaylin Thomas led a balanced Eastern Wayne attack with 13 points. Zeke Martin contributed 10 points. Darion Applewhite and Dameko Artis supplied nine and eight points, respectively. D'Onta...

Rosewood's Scout Anderson signs with MOC

The process of selecting a college is tough for any high school student. Throw in the tense days spent hoping for a potential scholarship offer to arrive and the wait can seem unbearable. Rosewood High School softball standout Scout Anderson...

Saints use late offensive surge to beat Jones Senior

DUDLEY -- For the second time in as many weeks, Southern Wayne and Jones Senior staged a thriller on the hardwood. And for the second time, the Saints came out on top. Southern Wayne used a 14-5 run over the...

CBA girls fall to Hunt

WILSON -- Charles B. Aycock fell behind early and could never close the gap in a 49-36 loss on Tuesday evening at Wilson Hunt. Myleah Jones led the Golden Falcons with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Quanika Artis finished with...

North Duplin girls struggle against Union

ROSE HILL -- North Duplin failed to score in both the first and third quarters of a 51-23, non-conference loss Tuesday evening at Union. Casey Thornton paced the Rebels with seven points. Deja Aycock contributed six points. North Duplin (0-3...

Wooten leads Princeton boys past Midway

SPIVEY'S CORNER -- Michael Wooten poured in 20 points and Princeton hung on for a 50-44, non-conference win Tuesday night at Midway. Colby Morris and Nick Cobb both contributed 11 points for the Bulldogs. Princeton (2-1 overall) visits Hobbton tonight....

Mabry, Eagles knock off Lakewood

SALEMBURG -- Rosewood placed four scorers in double figures and rolled to a 67-39, non-conference win Tuesday night at Lakewood. Dee Mabry finished with 13 points for the Eagles. Victor Jenkins supplied 11 points and Jyonte Raynor and Dennis Jones...

Ivey paces Rebels' offense in loss to Union

ROSE HILL -- North Duplin trailed by 18 points at halftime and never recovered in a 72-52, non-conference loss Tuesday night at Union. Cody Ivey led the Rebels with 17 points. Tyler Royal and Cedrick Kornegay both added nine points...

Hunt rolls past CBA boys

WILSON -- Charles B. Aycock endured a 71-35, non-conference loss Tuesday night at Wilson Hunt. Neil Clark and Cameron Johnson each scored seven points for the Golden Falcons. Michael Williams added six points. Aycock (3-3 overall) entertains Rosewood tonight....

Lee Christian defeats Wayne Christian boys

Wayne Christian fell to 0-5 in Carolina 1-A Christian play with a 57-34 loss to visiting Lee Christian on Tuesday night. Dylan Smith scored 13 points for the Eagles to go with seven rebounds, four steals and a block. David...

WCDS boys climb to 5-0 with win over Harrells Christian

Joel Davis led three Wayne Country Day players in double figures with 20 points in an 81-41, non-conference rout over Harrells Christian Academy on Tuesday evening. Lee Atkinson and Deshar Thomas contributed 16 and 15 points, respectively. The Chargers (5-0...

Tuesday's prep baseball boxes

BOYS Eastern Wayne 21 10 14 18 -- 61 Goldsboro 18 15 19 20 -- 72 EASTERN WAYNE (2-2) Malik Richard 4 0 2-2 10, Dayshawn Pridgen 1 0 0-0 2, Micah Smith 3 0 3-5 9, Tavarise Hall 5...

'Phantom' horn gives Eastern Wayne girls a 2nd chance

Eastern Wayne's Tamiya Dortch toed the free throw line, bounced the ball a couple of times and misfired on a free throw attempt. A substitute entered the game. Then a controversial conference took place near midcourt. One referee walked back...

Southern Wayne girls rout Jones Senior

DUDLEY -- Southern Wayne completed its regular-season sweep of Jones Senior with a 53-31 triumph Tuesday evening. The Saints overcame a slow start in the first quarter and raced out to a double-digit lead by halftime, thanks to 12 second-quarter...

Lakewood cruises past Rosewood girls

SALEMBURG -- Lexi Mercer led three players in double figures with 15 points in Rosewood's 63-48, non-conference loss to perennial Class 1-A powerhouse Lakewood on Tuesday evening. Alicia Burns and Krystal Yelverton chipped in 14 and 10 points, respectively. Holly...

Princeton girls defeat Midway

SPIVEY'S CORNER -- Princeton outscored Midway 36-17 in the second half on its way to a 53-39, non-conference victory on Tuesday evening. Savanna Massengill finished with a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs. Charley Cox contributed 11...

Goldsboro boys rally, improve to 3-1 this season

Eastern Wayne capitalized on Goldsboro's foul trouble, Quavis Holloman's hot-shooting start and all-around physical play during the first eight minutes Tuesday evening. Then Goldsboro got warmed up. The Cougars erased the early deficit, grabbed a two-point lead at halftime and...

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Preps digest: Middle school sports

Middle schools * Girls' basketball: Norwayne 39, Grantham 14 -- Tanika Powell led the Cobras with nine points. McKenzie Wheeler added eight points in the win. Norwayne improved to 3-1 overall....

Glass paces Chargers in the pool

Wayne Country Day junior Robert Glass posted a pair of top-four individual times and helped the 200 free relay place fourth overall during an independent schools meet contested at the Goldsboro Family Y on Monday evening. Glass took fourth...

Hill leads Conquerors on the road

DURHAM -- Faith Christian used a 29-point second quarter to pull away from Liberty Christian on Monday night. Aaron Hill led the Conquerors with 25 points. Faith Christian (5-2 overall) plays host to Raleigh Christian on Friday....

Mount Olive, Cary get extension to co-host NCAA Division II CWS

MOUNT OLIVE -- The NCAA has announced that Mount Olive College and the Town of Cary will co-host the NCAA Division II College World Series in 2014 and 2015. The two-year extension will mark seven consecutive years that the...

A new Gator in "The Swamp" -- Basketball is Cotten's game

Charlie Cotten waited and trusted his opportunity would come at the right time. His patience has paid off. Cotten, who has been involved with basketball nearly his entire life, was recently named the new varsity girls' basketball coach at Spring...

Monday, December 3, 2012

Eastern Wayne girls knock off Southern Nash

BAILEY -- Elondia Grant led three players in double figures with 17 points in a 70-56, non-conference triumph over Southern Nash on Friday evening. Jasmine Covington and Nijah Muhammad added 12 points apiece. Muhammad shot 8 of 8 at the...

Mercer leads Rosewood past Midway

Freshman Lexi Mercer pumped in a career-high 37 points and Rosewood easily defeated Midway, 63-40, on Friday evening. Rosewood travels to Lakewood on Tuesday and is the guest of county rival Charles B. Aycock on Wednesday....

MOC indoor track competitors break school records

WINSTON-SALEM -- The Mount Olive College men's and women's indoor track and field teams combined to break four school records during the College Kickoff Classic on Saturday. The record-setting efforts were among 14 personal-best marks set by Trojan competitors....

Three CBA grapplers medal in invitational

ROCKY MOUNT -- Banged and bruised Charles B. Aycock put some new faces on the mat and finished seventh overall during the Grant Wilder Wilson Invitational contested Saturday at Rocky Mount High School. Newcomer Jacob Dickenson emerged the runner-up...

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Local digest

Girls' basketball Goldsboro 49, C.B. Aycock 41 * PIKEVILLE -- Goldsboro looked out of synch in the first half against county rival Charles B. Aycock on Friday night. Luckily for the Cougars, they found their tempo in the second half...

WCDS rallies past Wayne Christian girls

Sarah Best wiped her sweaty cheeks on the towel, threw it toward the bench and walked back onto the court. She stood beside Wayne Christian's Brooke Barfield and waited for play to resume. "Don't let her get it," Wayne Country...

WCDS downs Wayne Christian boys

Ball-hawking pressure defense and speed. Unbeaten Wayne Country Day used both to its advantage during a 91-39, non-conference triumph over county foe Wayne Christian on Friday evening. Senior guard Deshar Thomas poured in a game-high 22 points for the Chargers,...

Prep basketball boxes

BOYS Goldsboro 4 15 17 20 -- 56 C.B. Aycock 8 10 17 11 -- 46 GOLDSBORO (2-1) Jalen Spruiell 1 0 4-5 6, Julius Murphy 3 0 0-2 6, Raseen Artis 2 1 5-5 12, Jalin Moore 1 0...

MOC women defeat Flying Fleet

MOUNT OLIVE -- Once Mount Olive focused on its defense and didn't agonize over missed scoring chances, it proved difficult to stop Saturday afternoon. Kirksten Mitchell pumped in a career-high 21 points, while Tamara Nesmith and Jasmine McDonald each posted...

MOC men fall to Erskine

MOUNT OLIVE -- Opposing teams rarely experience victory at Kornegay Arena. It's like the Bates Motel -- guests check in, but they don't check out. Erskine College enjoyed its one-day stay this time. The Flying Fleet held the Trojans to...

MOC receives Game Environment Award

MOC Sports Information MOUNT OLIVE -- For the second year in a row, Mount Olive College is among the winners of the annual NCAA Division II Game Environment Award, which recognizes schools for outstanding game-day activities and promotions. One of...

Goldsboro defeats C.B. Aycock boys

PIKEVILLE -- In a game that featured a pair of high-flying dunks, a much simpler play took center stage. The fundamental foul shot was all either coach could talk about after the final buzzer sounded. Goldsboro made 26-of-30 free throw...