It’s the moment young champions have awaited since March.
The ring ceremony for both Kinston High School’s varsity basketball teams will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Kinston-Lenoir County Performing Arts Center on the school’s campus.
“It’s the first one ever, and it’s a big accomplishment for our school,” said Hubert Quinerly, head coach of the girls’ team. “It’s big for our community as well. We’re very excited and kind of ready for it.”
The Kinston High girls won the team’s first state championship this year, going 27-4. They defeated Canton Pisgah, 51-40, with 23 points in the last quarter.
It was also Quinerly’s first title as the team’s head coach.
“You’ve got to have more than just basketball to win and that’s something that we had,” he said. “We were a very close-knit group. If nobody else ever (does) it again, they’ll be the first ones.”
Boys head coach Perry Tyndall has experienced the championship and ceremony before as an assistant, but it’s also his first win coaching the Vikings.
“It won’t be any different to me because I’m happy for the kids,” he said. “Anytime you can get to that point and your last game be a win — not a loss — it’s always special. Anytime you can win a state championship, it’s a big accomplishment.”
The boys went 28-2. They beat Waxhaw Cuthbertson High School in a thrilling 56-53 victory. It was the second year Kinston High faced Cuthbertson.
The Vikings won back-to-back titles and their fourth in a six-year stretch (2008-13).
An hour before the ceremony begins, the players will be signing 8 X 10 photos, which will be sold for $5. Any remaining championship T-shirts also will be available for purchase.
“It’s a memory that they’re all going to have collectively, together,” Tyndall said. “Individually, they’ve won a state championship, but it unites us all the rest of our lives, too.”
He added he had personal goals to become a head coach and win a title.
“I’m just blessed that it happened all in one year,” Tyndall said. “It was an incredible year for the kids, and it’s really all about the kids, it’s not about us. There’s been a lot of highs, it’s been an exciting team to watch (but) I can’t say there’s one thing that just stands out.
“Of course winning it all is a great memory.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.