Cougars' offense misfires in final 60 seconds

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on February 25, 2014 1:48 PM

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It won't be the ugly three quarters from Monday night that will haunt Goldsboro during the offseason, it will be the missed opportunities in the final 60 seconds.

The Cougars failed to convert those late chances in a 64-63 loss to Randleman in first-round play of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 2-A state playoffs.

Jayln Moore led Goldsboro with 15 points and seven rebounds. Myron Carmon contributed 13 points. Rasheed Jackson added 11 points and Rasheen Artis finished with 10 points.

The Tigers' Juval Molette and Bobby Gibbs each scored 19 points.

Randleman took its biggest lead of the game, 47-32, on a pair of Gibbs' free throws midway through the third quarter.

The Cougars turned up their defense, pressured the basketball and denied the passing lanes. Their full-court pressure sped up the tempo and disrupted the Tigers' offense.

Artis sank two free throws to pull the Cougars to within 64-62 with 32 seconds left. Following a Randleman turnover, Jackson was fouled on Goldsboro's next possession and made one of two free throws.

Two Randleman turnovers gave Goldsboro (16-9 overall) two chances to take the lead. Artis's jump shot wouldn't fall and the Cougars watched their season end on a turnover.

Randleman picked up the loose ball as the final seconds ticked away.

"We had our opportunities," Cougars' head coach Russell Stephens said. "That's playoff basketball. We got behind and the kids fought back all night. We had several opportunities there and just didn't cash in on them.

"Over the last two minutes we definitely had our opportunities to win."

The Tigers scored 10 of the game's first 12 points and led 36-27 at halftime. Randleman's ability to beat Goldsboro defenders off the dribble led to easy baskets at the rim.

The Tigers' tenacious ball pressure bothered a Cougars' squad that typically shoots well at home. Goldsboro finished the game just 4 for 16 from 3-point range and 9 for 16 at the free throw line.

"We usually don't have off shooting nights here at home," Stephens said. "We've been averaging close to 72 points a night here at home. You've got to give credit to them and their defense. They played man-to-man, but they kind of mixed up their man and denied the wings and set some traps there."