KHS girls, GC boys advance to EC2A title games
Kinston sophomore guard Kahlia Hargett dribbles her way down the court during Wednesday’s 47-32 Eastern Carolina 2A conference tournament semifinal game at Viking Gym. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
The top seeds in the Eastern Carolina 2A basketball tournament held serve Wednesday night as the Kinston girls and Greene Central boys defeated South Lenoir and Ayden-Grifton, respectively, in the league’s semifinal contests at Kinston High School.
The Kinston girls (20-5) won their 15th straight game with a 47-32 win against the Blue Devils (13-11), while GC (19-6) used a big first half to roll past A-G (12-14), 80-62.
The victories set up Friday’s championship games, which will also be played at Viking Gym. Kinston will face third-seeded Washington (13-9) in the girls’ championship at 5:30 p.m., while the GC boys will play second-seeded Kinston (21-6) at 7 p.m. in the boys’ title game.
In Wednesday’s girls’ semifinal, South Lenoir took control early, leading 12-6 after one quarter. However, the Vikings held the Blue Devils to one field goal over a 22-minute stretch that started in the first quarter and ended late in the third to cruise to the victory.
Greene Central’s Hysaan Hudson (2) drives past the Ayden-Grifton defense for two of his 12 points in Wednesday’s game. Photo by William ‘Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
Senior guard Samantha Lee came off the bench to lead Kinston with 12 points, while junior guard Taliyah Jones added 11 for the Vikings. Senior center Taniejah Mitchell was virtually South Lenoir’s entire offense as she scored 18 of her team’s 32 points.
In the boys’ semifinal, Greene Central jumped out to a commanding 25-point first-half lead, survived an impressive Chargers burst in the third quarter and pulled away for the win. Three Rams finished in double-digit scoring, led by senior center Imajae Dodd, who 11 of his team-high 21 points in the fourth quarter. Junior guard B.J. Corbitt also had a huge fourth quarter, popping for eight of his 18 points in the frame, while senior guard Hysaan Hudson scored all 12 of his points in the first half for the Rams.
A-G was led by senior guard Jordan Atkinson, who had 16 of his 22 points in the first half. Sophomore forward Josh Wright (14 points), senior guard James Richardson (11) and junior forward Nathaniel Harris (10) also finished in double-digit scoring for the Chargers.
GIRLS
Kinston 47, South Lenoir 32
SL 12 1 8 11 -- 32
K 6 10 19 12 -- 47
SL: Taniejah Mitchell 18, Hall 3, Croom 3, Jenkins 3, Howard 3, Kopanski 2. K: Samantha Lee 12, Taliyah Jones 11, Rivers 6, Hargett 4, Dove 4, Cobb 4, S. Jones 2, Powell 2, Lane 2.
BOYS
Greene Central 80, Ayden-Grifton 62
A-G 12 14 19 17 -- 62
GC 21 27 7 25 -- 80
A-G: Jordan Atkinson 22, Josh Wright 14, James Richardson 11, Nathaniel Harris 10, Gunter 2, Connell 1. GC: Imajae Dodd 21, B.J. Corbitt 18, Hysaan Hudson 12, Taylor 8, Suggs 6, Johnson 6, Pridgen 4, Gay 3, Smith 2.
