Kinston Boys Hold Off J.H. Rose in Thrilling 69-67 Victory
The Kinston Vikings boys’ basketball team showed resilience on Tuesday night, edging J.H. Rose 69-67 in a closely contested game at home. The victory comes just days after a disappointing 74-63 loss, giving Kinston a much-needed momentum boost as they improve to 3-2 on the season.
Kinston had previously beaten Rose 76-56 earlier in the season on December 10, but Tuesday’s game proved to be a tougher battle. Trailing 34-31 at halftime and 52-47 entering the fourth quarter, the Vikings caught fire in the final frame, scoring 22 points and locking down defensively to seal the win.
Tyreek Copper led the charge with 18 points, while Jemarion Washington contributed 13. Keyshawn Herring added nine points, all in the second half, including Kinston’s only two three-pointers of the night. Camir Fields and Okie Edwards each chipped in eight points, with their hustle and defensive efforts proving pivotal.
“When you can get a win, especially after being extremely disappointed in the way we played last Saturday, it’s big,” head coach Perry Tyndall said. “We made it interesting, but we found a way to win, and I’m proud of them for closing the game in the fourth quarter.”
Tyndall highlighted the team’s defensive urgency in the second half as a key difference-maker. “We had moments where we were really aggressive on the defensive end. I think it was the guys stepping up that didn’t get big minutes last Saturday.”
Senior Camir Fields earned praise for his smart play and energy on both ends of the court. “Camir could easily be a starter,” Tyndall said. “He’s a smart player who understands the game, and his senior leadership was big for us tonight.”
Okie Edwards also stood out, with Tyndall calling him “the game-changer” for his contributions. “His athleticism is starting to take over. He’s blocking shots, getting big rebounds, and making plays that don’t always show up on the stat sheet. His minutes are increasing because we’re all seeing the same thing—he’s making an impact.”
Since MaxPreps began keeping records in 2004, Kinston is a perfect 12-0 against J.H. Rose. However, this was the closest the Rampants have come to a victory in the series.
Next up for the Vikings is a marquee matchup against 3-1 Greene Central at home, a game sure to test Kinston’s growing chemistry and resolve.
