Kinston converts key buckets against Goldsboro

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 5, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Everything fell into place for two-time defending state 2-A champion Kinston on Tuesday evening.

Goldsboro didn't experience the same fortune.

North Carolina recruit Brandon Ingram pumped in a team-high 21 points and the No. 4-ranked Vikings dropped the Cougars, 63-55, in a sweltering Norvell T. Lee Gymnasium. It was Kinston's first appearance in the historic building in 10 years.

"This is like the rivalry of old here," Kinston head coach Perry Tyndall said. "I've played in it. It's intense. To come here and play is tough. We're really happy to get out of here with a win. You have to find a way to get one on the road, and this was a big one."

The Vikings (13-5 overall) remained unbeaten in five Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference outings this season. Goldsboro (11-6) endured its third league defeat in five tries and is the guest of Greene Central today.

Ingram fouled out with 2:08 remaining in regulation, but his teammates compensated for his absence. Guard Andrew Lopez collected six of his 10 points in the fourth quarter, Darius Dunn drained three critical free throws and Tiquan Canady provided a huge offensive putback.

Rasheen Artis, who led all scorers with 22 points, carried Goldsboro offensively in the fourth quarter. Joe Baker scored five of his nine points during that stretch, but the shots -- especially at the free throw line -- just wouldn't fall for the Cougars.

Goldsboro missed seven FTs and shot 16 of 29 for the game.

Kinston converted 21 of 30 at the line, including eight shots in the final period.

"I think we had our opportunities tonight," GHS head coach Russell Stephens said. "The free throw line, especially, I thought was big for us. We were able to get there and we did not cash in. You're not going to stop a team like Kinston every down the court, so I thought our defense was fairly good.

"Against a good team, you've got to have everything falling in line for you."

Similar to their first meeting, the teams battled through five ties before Darius Dunn completed a traditional three-point play with 1:43 left in the third quarter. Qwarri Ham's steal and layup extended the Vikings' margin to 42-36.

Baker's spinning layup that drew shouts of "walk" from the Kinston faithful closed the gap to 48-45 midway through the fourth quarter. Canady's free throw and Lopez's offensive putback on Canady's second free throw miss pushed the margin to 51-45.

Canady's offensive rebound and Anthony Berry's steal made it 55-47 with less than three minutes remaining in regulation. Goldsboro never threatened again.

"The first one (meeting) was a grind, this one was a grind," Tyndall said. "Brandon goes out with some foul trouble (and) we had some guys step up and make some plays for us tonight. We had some key buckets at some key times."