New year, new start for Goldsboro hoops teams

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on January 8, 2016 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

A new year doesn't always bring in something completely new.

The Goldsboro girls' new year resolution is to develop more confidence heading into tonight's Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference opener at North Lenoir.

The Lady Cougars ended 2015 with a 59-53 loss to county rival Eastern Wayne, but Goldsboro head coach LaTina Bullock believes a developed mindset will reap new benefits.

"I'm hoping and believing they have learned to play all the time. We can't just play in spurts," she said. "We came (in) second last year in our conference, (but) I did have a lot of returners to come back, so with the experience I have, I'm hoping it will be more confident this year."

Goldsboro finished 7-3 behind Kinston, which has played for the last two N.C. High School Athletic Association state title and won it all in 2013.

Bullock looks for senior Tyona Moses to lead the Cougars to the top of the conference in 2016. Moses averaged 25.7 points per game during non-conference play.

"She (Moses) is working hard," Bullock said. "She knows that the conference is important, and we're going into the conference 6-5 which is not a bad record. She's one of the leaders on the team, and I'm pretty sure for her it's more of a leadership thing, a mental thing. She'll kinda have to carry the team a little bit.

"We do have several girls that can contribute, so I really want them to see that and understand that. And know that's what's needed for everyone to contribute, not just her."

Bullock also realizes that her entire Cougar squad must avoid overconfidence when playing the Hawks, who are 1-14.

Overconfidence could pose a threat for the boys' team going into conference play. The Cougars (12-0) won the 2015 Southern Bank/Mount Olive Pickle Winter Classic last week.

"I'm real pleased with the way our team is playing right now," Goldsboro head coach Russell Stephens said. "We've been playing real hard the first part of the preseason. Our kids are really enthusiastic about playing, (and) we're playing great team ball.

"I think the sky's the limit for us right now if we just continue to play hard and continue to be humble when we play."

Stephens needs his two captains, seniors Jaylin Thomas and Myron Carmon, to continue to lead the Cougars. Goldsboro handed Kinston its lone league loss a year ago and finished 7-3 in ECC play.

NL is 7-6 so far this season.

"We have a pretty stout conference," Stephens said. "Kinston is always going to be tough in the conference along with Greene Central (and) North Lenoir -- all the teams really. You have to step up and be ready to play.

"At this point beginning tonight, everybody's even. You can throw your record out the door."