Poised Golden Falcons extend win streak to 4 games

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 10, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- One is a win.

Two is a trend.

Three is a streak.

And what is four? You just might call it a confidence booster.

Cameron Kornegay poured in 17 of his game-high 25 points in the second half as Charles B. Aycock claimed its fourth consecutive victory -- a 56-48, non-conference conquest of Ayden-Grifton on Wednesday evening.

"We knew we had the talent at the beginning of the year, but we didn't have the team chemistry," said Kornegay, who pulled down 10 rebounds and dished out two first-quarter assists.

"After that first game against South Johnston that we won, we kind of started to find it there. In practice, we started telling ourselves 'we have it, we've just got to start putting it to use.'

"We've started to build more confidence we've gone on."

The Golden Falcons (4-4 overall) played their best defensive game of the season and dictated the tempo on the offensive end of the court. The Chargers used either a 1-2-1-1 zone press or 2-1-2 halfcourt trap to force the tempo and utilize their athleticism.

Aycock didn't rush offensively and Ayden-Grifton settled into either a 2-3 or 1-2-2 zone, or man-to-man defense in halfcourt play. Kornegay and his teammates worked the ball around the perimeter and attacked when the opportunity presented itself.

The patience paid off in the third.

Kornegay and Ian Best each drained a 3-pointer off assists from Chandler Matthews to open the third quarter. Kornegay and Keyshawn Cobb converted on drives to the basket, which extended the Golden Falcons' lead to 35-28 -- its biggest of the game.

"I hammer all of the time to do your job on the defensive end and when we get that lead, make sure we're patient, we're unselfish and we share the basketball," said second-year CBA head coach David Elmore, whose team had 12 team assists on 19 made field goals.

"It starts on the defensive end and the offense will come from that. If we can play a good, 100-percent all-out effort on the defensive end, then on the offensive end we have to slow it down and be patient."

Baskets from Cobb and Kornegay pushed the advantage to 39-31 before Ayden-Grifton made one last charge in the fourth quarter. DJ Suggs scored seven consecutive points as the Chargers pulled with 39-38 barely 90 seconds into the period.

Suggs finished with 18 points.

Aycock kept its poise against the pressure. Best found Kornegay open for a 3-pointer, which he drained in front of the Golden Falcons' bench.

"In the mornings with my man Ian, we just go and just shoot and shoot and shoot until on the court until we feel like we don't miss no matter what we put up," Kornegay said.

"It seems to work."

The Chargers never threatened after Kornegay's 3-pointer and the Golden Falcons sealed the outcome at the free throw line. Matthews provided 11 points, three assists and five rebounds. Best scored 10, including three from behind the arc.