Goldsboro girls can't avoid scoring drought

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 22, 2014 11:21 PM

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RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

KINSTON -- Goldsboro's deliberate tempo did the job for one quarter against state-ranked Kinston on Friday evening.

The Cougars moved the ball efficiently, worked off screens, crashed the boards and built a three-point lead.

The Vikings responded with a strong second-quarter effort and rolled to a 63-27 victory in the inaugural Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference tournament championship game. It was Kinston's third straight tournament title to go along with three consecutive regular-season titles.

Second-seeded Goldsboro (12-12) had its modest string of two straight tournament crowns snapped that it won on the Carolina 1-A Conference scene.

Nickie Tyler's free throws and Alexus Davis' layup off of Destini Covington's assist pushed the Cougars in front, 12-9, late in the opening quarter. Brittany Drumgoole, who has verbally committed to South Carolina State, knotted the game at 12-all with her first basket -- a 3-pointer just moments before the period expired.

Drumgoole's bucket sparked a 22-8 run that encompassed the entire second quarter. The Vikings deflected passes that led to steals and easy transition points.

The Cougars managed just three field goals, including Tyler's offensive putback, during that stretch. Tyler finished with six points.

Kinston led 31-20 at halftime and 43-26 after three quarters.

Drumgoole and Goldsboro sophomore Tyona Moses shared game-high scoring honors with 13 points apiece. Shika Mason added 12 points for the Vikings, who compiled 14 team assists on 25 made field goals.

The Cougars scored just one point in the final quarter of play.