SB/MOPWC: Goldsboro boys top Parrott, win 2nd tourney crown

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on January 1, 2016 1:48 PM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

MOUNT OLIVE -- Once Goldsboro increased its defensive intensity and converted plays in transition, the pipes finally burst for Parrott Academy on Wednesday evening.

The Cougars needed a halftime "talk" first.

"I don't know if maybe we're spoiled a little bit, but we're up by 15 at halftime and we're 'like, hey man we're not playing well'," GHS head coach Russell Stephens said. "(We're) in the championship game and the other team can play that's here, so you have to be focused."

Goldsboro seized control in the third quarter.

Jalin Thomas' basket in transition and Nakia Atkins' conventional three-point play sparked a 17-2 run, and the Cougars seized their second Southern Bank/Mount Olive Pickle Winter Classic championship in three tries with a 78-47 conquest of the Patriots.

Atkins and Kisheem Faison combined for 26 points, and each garnered first-team all-tournament recognition. Despite some foul trouble senior point guard Myron Carmon took home the Most Valuable Player award.

Parrott's defense held Carmon to a season-low six points.

"We played all right in the first half, but the second half we came out and picked it up," Carmon said. "Coach, in the locker room at halftime, told us to pick up our 'D'. At the end of the day, we got it done and brought the championship home."

The Patriots, as expected, attempted to dictate the tempo and play one quarter at a time against the more-athletic Cougars. Parrott's players constantly worked into position to get offensive rebounds and forced Goldsboro into some turnovers, but trailed by 15 points after the opening quarter.

"We knew going in it was going to be an uphill battle," APA head coach Wells Gulledge said. "Goldsboro is so athletic, they're well-coached and they've got a lot of great athletes that can shoot the ball and get to the basket at any moment's time.

"We wanted to take it one quarter at a time, but we shot ourselves in the foot way too early against their pressure. We were just fumbling and our guys were on their heels which is exactly where Goldsboro wanted to put us.

"That was something that worried us."

The Cougars (11-0 overall) maintained their double-digit lead, but encountered foul trouble. Faison, Thomas, Atkins, Tyzhaun Claude, Jyrek Robinson and Isaiah Wilder joined Stephens on the bench with two fouls apiece.

Parrott, however, couldn't capitalize and missed an uncharacteristic 10 free throws in the first half.

After the break, Goldsboro scrambled for loose balls and managed to flourish in its transition game. Carmon's basket capped the 17-2 run and a wide-open Faison later buried a 3-pointer to give the Cougars their biggest advantage, 56-26, toward the end of the third period.

"Goldsboro is a team of spurts and runs, and  you've got to find a way to make stops," Gulledge said. "I thought our kids did a great job. They sacrificed their bodies, we had five charges that we picked up against them.

"Myron didn't have a typical Myron game tonight, but it showed that Goldsboro has the pieces to make a really good (playoff) run."