Kinston stayed unbeaten in its return to the floor Tuesday night as Keyshawn Herring and Jamarion Washington combined for 43 points in a 67–55 home win over Southwest Onslow.
Kinston boys basketball earned its first win of the season with an 87–56 home victory over South Lenoir, snapping the Blue Devils’ three-game winning streak. Vikings Jamarion Washington led all scorers with 25 points.
GC Middle School boys basketball used a decisive second-quarter run to defeat Frink 44–24 and head into the Christmas break 7–1 overall and unbeaten in conference play. Photo by William Hardy
North Lenoir senior Hallie Fowler, a key piece of last year’s state championship team, has signed with Chowan University after a decade-long journey defined by daily work, elite production, and a deep love for the game.
Kinston returned to the state championship stage for the first time in a decade, watched Tyreek Copper deliver the greatest receiving season in North Carolina history, and pushed the scoreboard into the record books — but Shelby’s quarterback had just enough time and firepower to turn a historic night into a heartbreaking one.
After a 3–3 start, Kinston made key offensive line changes that fueled an 8–1 surge to the state championship game — a reminder that superheroes don’t wear capes, they line up in the trenches.
Kinston’s journey to the state championship is the story of a relentless, blue-collar defense that crushed five straight playoff offenses, held every contender far below its season averages, and forged an identity ready to challenge 12-time champion Shelby.
A packed week of local sports features Neuse News Sports live shows, key basketball and wrestling matchups across the county, and Kinston’s 3A State Championship showdown with Shelby on Saturday.
Tyreek Copper isn’t just breaking records — he has became one of the greatest receivers in North Carolina history, and now he enters the 3A State Championship with a chance to finish a legendary 50-game career in unforgettable fashion.
Brennan Chambers, a former basketball-first athlete turned standout 6’5 receiver, has emerged as a Marshall signee and one-half of one of North Carolina’s top receiving duos while leading Kinston to the state championship in just his second year ever playing football.