SB/MOPWC: Goldsboro sticks pitchfork in Blue Devils

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 30, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Stay focused.

Be on point offensively.

Learn from the little things.

Goldsboro worked the simple gameplan to near perfection against Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference foe South Lenoir on Tuesday evening.

Myron Carmon led four Cougars in double figures with 18 points during a 91-68 conquest of the Blue Devils in semifinal-round play of the third annual Southern Bank/Mount Olive Pickle Winter Classic

The victory sets up a meeting between two former University of Mount Olive teammates and Hall of Fame members. GHS head coach Russell Stephens squares off against Wells Gulledge, whose Parrott Academy stunned Eastern Wayne, 50-49, in the other semifinal.

Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.

"Back in the saddle again with one of my best friends," a grinning Stephens said. "That's going to be interesting. I don't know if this arena is going to be able to contain either one of us tomorrow because when we've coached against each other, win or lose, we've always brought the best out of each other.

"That's going to be fun."

Nakia Atkins provided 17 points for the Cougars, who scored 80 or more points in a game for eighth straight time and ninth overall this season. Jalin Thomas added 12 points and reserve Tyzhaun Claude contributed 10 points -- all in the fourth quarter.

In all, 10 Goldsboro players scratched in the scoring column.

The Cougars had 16 assists on 37 field goals, including a combined 12 dishes from Kisheem Faison, Carmon and Atkins.

Stephens attributed that unselfish play to two factors -- his team's ability to drive and score in the opening half, and then draw defenders in the second half, which allowed the "bigs" to get involved offensively.

"Claude, Jyrek Robinson and Ronnie (Tookes) ... they all had a good night inside," Stephens said. "I thought we played as well we could possibly play in the second half. But there were also things we saw that we can improve on. We missed a lot of easy passes, missed some open shots that we might could get the next time against them.

"They're going to be tough to beat the next time."

Defensively, Goldsboro (10-0 overall) prevented South Lenoir senior Jonte Midgette from getting into an offensive flow. One day after hanging a tournament-high 29 points on Southern Wayne, the 6-foot-1 guard didn't convert his first field until the second quarter.

Midgette finished with 11 points.

"Our guys took it as a challenge to contain him and not let him get everybody involved in the offense when he wasn't shooting the basketball," Stephens said.

Shykiem Wooten and Desmond Moore emerged as the Blue Devils' top scorers with 12 points apiece. Moore had just one basket in the second half.