PLAYOFFS: Goldsboro boys end Kinston's 4-year reign as 2A state champ

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

• Print
• Email

bdavis@newsargus.com

KINSTON -- 13.9 seconds.

That's the time it took for Goldsboro to seal a 63-59 victory over four-time defending N.C. High School Athletic Association 2-A state champion Kinston on Thursday evening.

The Cougars tied the first quarter at 11-all, but ran away from the Vikings in the second quarter at 33-25. Senior Myron Carmon ran the court in transition and made a quick layup. Senior Nakia Atkins stole the ball under the basket off of an inbounds pass and added two points.

Senior Kisheem Faison stole the ball and drove the court. His shot bounced off the rim, and Atkins grabbed the rebound. He drew a foul and went to the free throw line.

Kinston head coach Perry Tyndall argued the call and was assessed his first technical foul as the Vikings' head coach. Atkins swished both free throws and Carmon sank both of the technical FTs.

Carmon then posted up for a 3, but Kinston sophomore Taji Moore answered back with consecutive 3s to end the third quarter. Moore fired two more back-to-back 3s to close the gap to 50-47.

Goldsboro head coach Russell Stephens called a timeout with seven minutes left in regulation.

Carmon took the ball from the Vikings at half court and drove the lane for a layup. Carmon ran back on defense and hounded Kinston guards. Senior Jaylin Thomas drove the lane for a basket, but senior Jaquan Artis answered with a field goal for the Vikings.

The Cougars led, 58-56, with 1:20 on the clock.

Carmon swished two free throws, but Moore buried another 3-pointer with 13.9 seconds on the clock.

Stephens called his final timeout.

Faison drew a foul, but missed both free throws.

The Vikings gained possession.

Kinston guard Dominic Williams ran the baseline for a possible 3 to tie the game. He went to the corner, but Thomas lifted his arms and defended the perimeter.

The ball went out of bounds off Williams' leg.

Atkins received the ball off of an inbounds pass and took the ball to the other side of the court. He drew a foul and missed his first free throw. Atkins bent his knees, slightly, and released the ball. He sank the second one.

Carmon ended the game with 20 points. Atkins added 12 points and Thomas collected eight points.

"I knew it was going to be a tight one," Stephens said. "I thought in the third quarter, we played some really good basketball, got some good shots. They (Kinston) got a kid (Moore) that ran hot, man, I mean, that type of stuff happens. I told our guys to stay focused.

"A guy like that, that is shooting like that will take you out of your game. We got refocused. Myron hit a big one. Jaylin was big down the stretch. (We) got to the free throw line, and it was a roller coaster ride.

"Tip your hat off to Kinston. Great program over here, great champs (and) they've held the conference up so well for so many years.

Goldsboro travels to unbeaten and second-seeded Fairmont on Saturday.