#12 Kinston vs #21 NCSSM: Durham: Playoff Preview

Kinston vs. NCSSM: 2A State Playoff First-Round Preview

The North Carolina 2A State Playoffs tip off with an intriguing first-round matchup as Kinston (18-5, 11-1) hosts the NC School of Science and Math (15-8, 10-2). Both teams enter the postseason looking to rebound from losses in their respective conference tournaments, with Kinston falling by one point and NCSSM suffering an 86-51 defeat to Franklin Academy.

Kinston’s Road to the Playoffs

Kinston finished second in the 2A East Central Conference with an 11-1 record, averaging 64.4 points per game while allowing 52.5. The Vikings were dominant at home, posting an 11-1 record, with three of their five losses coming out of conference play. Their last loss, a critical one to Southwest Onslow, cost them the top overall seed in the conference playoffs and secured SWO’s position as the No. 2 overall seed.

Kinston is a high-flying, athletic team led by sophomore Keyshawn Herring, sophomore Jemarion Washington, junior Tyreek Copper, and junior Genesis Wiggins. Their ability to play in transition is a key factor in their success. While Kinston can be dangerous from beyond the arc, they have struggled with consistency at times. However, Herring and senior Isaiah Parson are fully capable of knocking down key shots when needed. The Vikings will look to feed off the energy of Herring, who has been the catalyst for their offense throughout the season.

Kinston and NCSSM have met once before in the playoffs, with Kinston winning their 2015 matchup by a dominant 90-49 score. In that game, Brandon Ingram led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds, while Mykel Hart added 15 points and seven boards.

Kinston head coach Perry Tyndall is keeping the focus simple heading into the postseason.

"The playoffs are here, and the goal is simple: win and advance," Tyndall said.

NCSSM’s Road to the Playoffs

The Unicorns secured third place in the 1A/2A Super Six Conference with a 10-2 record, averaging 59.6 points per game while allowing 54.4. They struggled on the road this season, finishing with a 7-7 record, which could be a factor in a tough environment at Kinston.

Before their conference tournament loss to Franklin Academy, NCSSM was on a four-game winning streak and had won nine of their last ten games. They are led by senior Ethann Burkett, who averages 12.5 points, 3.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. Junior Chris Chen adds 12.4 points per game while shooting 41 percent from three, making 37 three-pointers on the season. Junior Alex Caza is another key player, averaging 11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.4 steals per game. The Unicorns also have additional three-point threats in Nikhil Nanduri and Jay Peng, both of whom have hit at least 20 threes this season while shooting over 37 percent from deep.

NCSSM’s biggest concern will be their free throw shooting, as they have converted just 60 percent from the line as a team. In a playoff atmosphere where every possession matters, they will need to capitalize on their opportunities at the charity stripe.

Matchup Outlook

Kinston’s athleticism and ability to push the pace in transition will be a significant test for NCSSM’s defense. The Unicorns will need to limit turnovers and find their rhythm from three-point range to keep up with the Vikings’ scoring ability. The battle on the boards will also be key, as Caza’s rebounding presence will be tested against Kinston’s athletic frontcourt.

With Kinston’s home-court advantage and firepower on both ends of the floor, NCSSM will need a near-flawless performance to pull off the upset. If Kinston can control the tempo and get contributions from their key scorers, they should be in a strong position to advance to the next round.

The opening-round showdown will set the tone for both programs as they look to make a deep playoff run.