2A PLAYOFFS: Kinston girls knock out Goldsboro

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on February 26, 2016 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

KINSTON -- Goldsboro fans -- and Kinston fans -- clapped as Cougars' senior Tyona Moses walked to the bench with 21 seconds left in the game.

She didn't have five fouls.

She finished her career in a GHS uniform.

Moses scored 24 points the Cougars' season-ending, 69-58 loss to Kinston in the second round of the N.C. School Athletic Association Class 2-A girls' basketball playoffs Thursday evening.

"I told all our seniors, you know, that I was proud of them, and that we made it as far as we did," Cougars head coach LaTina Bullock said. "A lot of people didn't expect it, but we did.

"And for Tyona and my other seniors, I just wished them well in their future endeavors whether they're playing basketball or whatever they are doing. I always tell them, 'there's life after basketball'."

The Cougars trailed 31-16 at halftime.

Kinston centers blocked shots under the basket. Goldsboro guards such as Moses and sophomore Destiny Lucas missed key layups as they penetrated the defense.

Lucas, senior Khamyrn Brown and freshman Ruby Cannon answered.

Brown buried a 3-pointer to start the third quarter. Lucas hit a 3 in the corner, and the Cougars trailed by 13 points.

Brown assisted Cannon with a 3, but Kinston senior point guard Jada Faison passed the ball to runners in transition. Senior Jazlyn Grimes sprinted down the court twice for a layup. Senior Malaysia Lancaster received the ball from Faison and broke out in transition for two more points.

Moses drove the lane and drew a foul. She sank both free throws. Brown assisted senior Tawana Jones with a field goal. The Cougars ended the third quarter down by eight.

Moses ran the length of the court for a layup. She then stole the ball under the basket and scored. Brown launched another 3 and Goldsboro was down 63-52 with three minutes left in regulation.

Faison took over.

She drove the lane three times in the final minutes to end Goldsboro's hopes of playing in the third round of playoffs. Lancaster led all scorers with 24 points, and Faison ended the game with 22 points. Grimes added 10 points for the 27-1 Vikings.

Moses was 10 of 11 from the free throw line. Jones ended the game with 11 points. Brown collected 10 points, while Lucas added nine points.