After going winless last season, Greene Central’s girls have already proven this year that they’re on the road back to contention.
On Friday, defending Eastern Plains 2A Conference champion Kinston proved that the road still runs through Viking Gym.
Kinston gave the upstart Rams a lesson in humility, building a 29-point lead before settling for a 72-53 victory to remain unbeaten in league play.
The loss dropped GC two games behind in the conference standings.
“We came to play,” Kinston coach Hubert Quinerly said. “We knew how important this game was. We had three excellent days of practice and then we came out and took care of business.”
Two big spurts propelled Kinston to victory.
Trailing 9-8 with 1:06 left in the first quarter, the Vikings (13-4, 6-0) reeled off 11 consecutive points bridging the end of the opening period and the first three minutes of the second frame.
The advantage grew steadily until intermission, reaching a high water mark of 32-15 when Alexis Williams found Xequoijah Washington for an easy layup at the 2:26 mark of the second period.
Williams finished with just five points but dished out a game-high eight assists.
The Rams (7-10, 3-2) ended the half on a 10-4 run and trailed by 11 at the break.
“We’re a young team and we have a tendency to get a little jittery when things don’t go our way,” first-year GC coach Meredith Franklin said. “We had several close calls go against us and I think it affected our mindset.”
That was even truer in the third quarter, which ultimately decided the outcome.
GC began the second half very tentative, committing seven of its 29 total turnovers and missing 12 of its 15 shot attempts in the third quarter.
Kinston, meanwhile, started hot and opened up a 51-27 margin on back-to-back 3-pointers by Hannah Vermillion, who came off the bench to score 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting.
“Hannah played lights out,” Quinerly said. “We got into some early foul trouble and she came in and really gave us a lift.”
The lead swelled to 58-29 in the final minute of the frame. With Quinerly substituting freely in the fourth quarter, the resolute Rams made a run of their own behind the dynamic freshman duo of Malaysia Lancaster and Dasheka Mason.
Lancaster tallied 14 of her game-high 26 points in the final eight minutes while Mason contributed seven of her 21 total markers.
Their energy forced Quinerly to reinsert his starters after the Rams closed to within 61-47 with 2:56 remaining.
“We were a little intimidated at times but I think we finally realized we could play with them,” Franklin said. “I’m proud of the way our girls battled back and didn’t quit.”
Brittany Drumgoole led three Vikings players in double figures with 15. Lydia Rivers collected another double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
“We played with a bit of an edge tonight,” Quinerly said. “We’re going to have to continue to play that way if we hope to stay in first place.”
Kinston travels to SouthWest Edgecombe on Tuesday while the Rams host Wilson Beddingfield.
KINSTON 93, GREENE CENTRAL 33
The boys game was as lopsided as the final score indicated.
Kinston scored the first nine points, led 26-3 after one quarter and 51-13 at halftime.
The Vikings (13-2, 6-0) outscored GC by at least 15 points in every quarter except the last when they emptied their bench.
“Obviously, we played very well,” Kinston coach Perry Tyndall said. “Offensively and defensively we were outstanding and every player contributed. As a coach, I couldn’t have been prouder of the effort.”
Denzel Keyes led four Vikings players in double figures with 15. Andrew Lopez added 14, Josh Dawson 12, and Brandon Ingram 10.
No GC player scored more than eight — Curtez Braswell.
“They (Kinston) come at you in waves,” said Rams coach Jim Cole, whose team fell to 3-14 overall, 0-5 in the league. “At least we kept working hard and didn’t quit. I told our kids that Kinston is the program we’re striving to be.”
BOYS
Greene Central 3 10 7 13—33
Kinston 26 25 22 20—93
RAMS (3-14, 0-5) — Braswell 8, Bynum 6, Rozelle 6, Harper 3, Jones 3, Bates 2, Biggs 2, Ormond 2, Batchelor 1, Parker , Lee-Jones, Evans.
VIKINGS (13-2, 6-0) — Denzel Keyes 15, Andrew Lopez 14, Josh Dawson 12, Brandon Ingram 10, Williams 7, Dunn 6, Jackson 6, Ham 5, Jones 5, Canady 5, Joyner 3, Taylor 2, Rouse 2, White 1, Hart.
GIRLS
Greene Central 9 16 6 22—53
Kinston 12 24 22 14—72
RAMS (7-10, 3-2) — Malaysia Lancaster 26, Dasheka Mason 21, Payton 4, Moore 2, Robinson, Stevens, Barrett, Campbell.
VIKINGS (13-4, 6-0) — Brittany Drumgoole 15, Hannah Vermillion 12, Lydia Rivers 12, Lofton 8, Clark 6, Addison 5, Williams 5, Washington 4, Harper 4, Tice 1, Thi.