Goldsboro girls break free in 4th quarter

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 17, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- A three-time All-Area selection and certain Division I recruit, Tyona Moses finally took control of the game during third-period play Monday evening.

The senior's NBA-range 3-pointer broke a tie and sparked Goldsboro to a 47-37, season-opening win over county rival Charles B. Aycock. Moses dropped in a game-high 21 points and continued her charge toward 1,500 points for her career.

Tawanna Jones came off the bench to score 10 points for Cougars, who held the Golden Falcons to five second-half field goals while playing a stingy man-to-man defense.

"I liked the effort they gave towards the end when we came out after halftime," GHS head coach LaTina Bullock said. "The effort from McKayla Roberts, who is a freshman, got some key rebounds for us. Tawanna Jones, the same way, got some good rebounds and putbacks.

"(Tyona) that's expected every time from her. I try to keep her from handling the ball so much and be able to move more, but it's one of those things that I have to give a little to get a little."

Aycock couldn't get much at all.

Facing a height disadvantage throughout the game, the Golden Falcons (0-1 overall) became impatient in the fourth quarter. They rushed their shots and converted just two field goals -- both by Tanika "Mookie" Powell -- in the final eight minutes of play.

Powell finished with nine points.

Moses' 3-pointer broke a 34-34 tie and sparked a game-decidiing 11-1 run that lasted 21/2 minutes.

"We were only down one after three and I think with two or three minutes to go in the third, we were up 31-25 ... they hadn't even scored yet," second-year CBA head coach Roy Harrell. "Then they reeled off seven straight to end the quarter. We just didn't recover.

"We can't get impatient. We don't have the big girls to pound it down in like we did last year, muscle up (in the paint). We've got to be more patient with the ball, move it around and make them work.

"We didn't do that."

Moses and Roberts combined for 17 rebounds for the Cougars, who led 47-34 on the boards. Jones ended up with 10 points, while Roberts collected seven.

Taylor Daniels and Hannah Vinson tallied eight and seven points, respectively, for the Golden Falcons.

It was the season-opening game for both teams.