On the same day Kinston High School basketball teams won boys’ and girls’ state championships in March, another Kinston hoop club won the city’s first title.
Yes, there were three basketball state championships out of Kinston this year.
On the morning of March 16, the undefeated Orange Crush, Kinston’s Special Olympics basketball team out of Caswell Center, won the North Carolina 3-on-3 tournament.
Head coach Donna May said the contest came down to the wire. The Crush were down 6-0 at the beginning of the game, eventually reaching a tie at 16-all. However, it was Jamison Wilfong who made the last bucket for the Crush’s 20-18 victory.
Jamison’s dad, Dave Wilfong, who has been active in Jamison’s basketball career, said the team knew the Kinston High School teams were playing in Chapel Hill that day.
“I think the quality of the play out of both our boys and girls teams here at Kinston High really was very inspiring for these young men,” Dave Wilfong said of the Crush. “They were motivated. They didn’t want to let the city down (and) wanted to make it a clean sweep.”
The Crush improved to an undefeated 12-0 record this year, coming off 10-2 results last year. All teams competing in the state championships were broken into divisions; the Crush beat eight teams in its division.
“It’s not so much about whether they win the game,” Wilfong said of the six-man squad. “I think it’s more about sportsmanship and playing together as a team.”
May, who’s been a basketball coach since 1977, said the difference was how well the players gelled together this year.
“They really played as a team,” said May, who was assisted by Stephen Sacro, Ashley Lamb and Crystal Bennett. “In the game, they had a pass, cut and passed back. It was beautiful, layup after layup.”
She said in practice, the team was required to pass the ball three times before taking a shot.
Additionally, the two rookies on the team mastered fundamental skills with the help of their teammates.
The Crush companionship architected a season ending with a perfect record and ultimate title out of a Smithfield recreation center.
“You don’t have good sports teams in cities where the adults don’t show a great deal of interest in sports for their young people,” Wilfong said. “It takes caring coaches and caring adults. You’ve got to have fans in the stands.
“It’s a real credit to the Kinston community.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-550-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.