Monique Lofton can flat shoot the basketball. Just ask the 27 teams that Kinston defeated on its way to the title.
The small senior guard led the Vikings in scoring at 13.1 points per game and shot an astounding 42 percent from behind the arc, which helped the small-in-stature team handle teams with a much larger front lines en route to their first state championship in school history.
At season’s end she was named the Eastern Plains 2A Conference Player of the Year, and she’s earning the same distinction from her hometown newspaper.
“She can shoot it, score it, defend it,” coach Hubert Quinerly said. “She does so many things and we were better for it.”
Lofton’s deadly range and accuracy was so prominent that many times after her release teams would begin migrating to the other end before it went in. Her shot ability also made it nearly impossible for opponents to defend the Vikings because as they were forced to respect Lofton on the perimeter that opened things up in the post.
Lofton, who is leaning towards attending Methodist College in Fayetteville, scored a career-high 27 points, including seven made 3s, in a 72-16 win over Tarboro in the conference tournament semifinals.
She leaves Kinston after scoring 1,067 career points as a four-year varsity starter.
“It’s been a fun career,” Lofton said. “I never thought I’d make it this far but I did, and I’m glad I did.”
Much like boys area player of the year Josh Dawson, after the Vikings went without a win in their Christmas tournament Lofton took it personally and decided she was going to do whatever she needed to make sure her team didn’t lose again.
Quinerly put his team through a rough week of practice following an 0-3 showing in the Bunn Christmas Classic, and his girls responded, especially Lofton.
The Vikings didn’t lose again, and ended the season winning their final 18 games.
“Mo’ gets it. She’s a leader and a great teammate and a great player to coach,” Quinerly said.
In her final game in a Kinston uniform Lofton struggled in the first half, but found her rhythm in the second and scored all 11 of her points in the decisive fourth quarter in Kinston’s 51-40 win over Canton Pisgah.
Ryan Herman can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Ryan.Herman@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KFPSports.