Kinston Falls to Southwest Onslow in Hard-Fought 2A Playoff Battle
Kinston Falls to Southwest Onslow in Hard-Fought 2A Playoff Battle
KINSTON – The 2A state playoffs delivered a thrilling battle, but No. 14 Kinston’s season came to an end after a 51-45 loss to No. 19 Southwest Onslow in the first round Wednesday night.
Despite entering the contest with two regular-season victories over the Stallions, the Vikings struggled to contain Southwest Onslow’s star guard Oriyanna Galloway, who proved to be the difference-maker. The senior guard was relentless, pouring in 34 points despite being double-teamed on inbounds and pressured full court for all four quarters.
“We knew stopping No. 12 [Galloway] from getting to the basket was the key,” Kinston head coach Christopher Bradshaw said. “We didn’t execute that. Sometimes that happens. You get your wins and losses, but if you don’t execute your game plan, you end up in a dogfight until the end, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Back-and-Forth Battle
Southwest Onslow came out with high intensity, both on the court and from the bench, setting the tone early. The Stallions jumped out to a 14-9 lead after the first quarter before Kinston responded, outscoring SWO 15-10 in the second to tie the game 24-24 at halftime.
The third quarter remained tight, with Kinston grabbing a one-point advantage heading into the final frame, but Galloway took over down the stretch. She scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, proving unstoppable even against a relentless defensive focus from Kinston.
“We’re a young team, very talented, but we have to learn how to juggle talent and the failure part,” Bradshaw said. “The best players understand that they’re going to lose games, and it’s going to hurt, but you have to learn how to handle those losses with the wins.”
Stat Leaders
Kinston sophomore standout Aleah Hill led the Vikings with 21 points, showcasing her ability to get to the line by going 10-of-11 on free throws. The Vikings, who have struggled at the stripe this season, put together one of their best performances, finishing 11-of-14 as a team.
Ariyona Willis and J’Riyana Edwards each added seven points for Kinston, but the offense struggled to find a rhythm late.
On the other side, Galloway’s 34-point effort overshadowed everything. Even with constant defensive pressure, she found ways to score and went 7-of-13 from the free throw line. Southwest Onslow’s physical play and energy proved too much as the Stallions closed the game strong to advance.
Season Reflection
For Kinston, the loss marks the end of a promising season for a young team that finished 21-4 overall. With no seniors on the roster, the Vikings will return an experienced core next year
