Kinston muscles past Goldsboro's boys

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 18, 2014 11:08 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

KINSTON -- North Carolina recruit Brandon Ingram and backcourt specialist Andrew Lopez have received most of the sports writers' ink for two-time defending 2-A state champion Kinston this season.

Darnell Dunn stole the headlines Friday evening.

The 6-foot-4 junior poured in a game- and career-high 31 points, and helped the state-ranked Vikings dispatch Goldsboro, 72-59, on the Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference boys' basketball scene.

The two storied programs, separated by 25 miles, met on the hardwood for the first time since Feb. 19, 2004.

"I just tried to play hard, rebound and score," said Dunn, who converted 10 field goals, snared seven rebounds, dished out two assists and shot 11 of 14 from the free throw line.

"It was just my time to step up for my team."

Step up, indeed.

Dunn tallied 21 points in the third and fourth quarters combined as Kinston's height advantage and transition game started to take its toll on Goldsboro. Ingram's 6-foot-8 frame and length caused the smaller Cougars to alter their shots around the basket.

Ingram dominated the glass and Dunn benefited in the transition attack. He knocked down six field goals, but also drained nine free throws.

Kinston's five-point lead with 4:06 remaining in regulation quickly ballooned to double digits within a 21/2-minute span.

"We knew they had a size advantage in there and we knew he (Dunn) was pretty good," second-year GHS head coach Russell Stephens said. "(Our) defensive philosophy was we were going to try to slow down their backcourt, and I think our guys for the most part did a good job of that.

"Dunn was big all night (and) he plays hard."

Goldsboro (10-4 overall, 1-1 ECC) displayed its transition game in the opening half. The Cougars built an eight-point lead 41/2 minutes into the opening quarter.

Kinston (10-3, 2-0) closed to within 14-9 before Goldsboro warmed up from the outside. Sophomore guard Myron Carmon, Joseph Baker and Taylin Davis each buried a 3-pointer to extend the Cougars' lead to 23-11.

Ingram started to control the glass and the Vikings scored 17 of the next 22 points to forge a 28-28 tie. After ties at 30-30 and 32-32, Kinston took the lead for good on a Dunn layup.

"Russell's kids play so dag-gone hard and they had us kind of wound tight early," Kinston head coach Perry Tyndall said. "I thought we were impatient, took quick shots. Late in the game, Darnell was the difference and we were patient on offense.

"And we knocked down some free throws."

Kinston shot 25 of 36 from the line compared to 13 of 18 for Goldsboro. Ingram finished with 15 points, 17 rebounds and five blocked shots. Lopez added 12 points.

Rasheen Artis paced the Cougars' attack with 20 points, including a 10 of 13 effort at the charity stripe. Carmon and Baker provided 11 points apiece.