Kinston Girls Basketball Stays Perfect with 72-52 Victory Over North Edgecombe
Kinston Girls Basketball Stays Perfect with 72-52 Victory Over North Edgecombe
The Kinston High School girls basketball team continued their impressive start to the season with a dominant 72-52 win over North Edgecombe in the Montrezl Harrell Hoopfest on Saturday at the Rocky Mount Event Center. The Vikings used a balanced scoring attack, relentless energy, and depth to pull away from a competitive first half and improve to 4-0 for the first time since their 2019-20 season, when they finished 27-4.
High-Scoring First Half Sets the Tone
Both teams came out firing in the first quarter, combining for 39 points. Kinston held a slim 20-19 lead after one, with the scoring pace remaining brisk in the second quarter. Sophomore America Lloyd led the charge for the Vikings, scoring 10 of her 16 points in the first half. The Vikings surged ahead in the second quarter, pouring in 24 points to take a 44-33 halftime lead.
The depth of Kinston’s roster was on full display, with all nine players contributing at least one bucket in the first half. “I thought our team settled in after the first quarter,” said head coach Christopher Bradshaw. “The depth of our team really helps us. It helped us take over the basketball game in the third and fourth quarters.”
Second Half Belongs to Kinston
In the second half, Aleah Hill took over, scoring 12 of her game-high 21 points after the break. Point guard Ariyonna Willis added 12 points, demonstrating consistency and control throughout the game. The Vikings’ balanced attack proved too much for North Edgecombe, who entered the game averaging 64.5 points per contest but were held to a season-low 52 points by Kinston’s suffocating defense.
North Edgecombe, now 3-2, came into the game riding a three-game winning streak and returned all key players from last season’s 16-9 campaign. The Vikings’ defensive effort and relentless pace disrupted North Edgecombe’s rhythm, preventing any chance of a comeback.
Madison Green Makes Key Contributions
Sophomore Madison Green provided a spark off the bench, grabbing four offensive rebounds and diving on loose balls to help Kinston maintain their energy and momentum. Coach Bradshaw praised Green’s versatility and effort, saying, “Madison wants to do everything well. She is the utility player we can trust to put in the basketball game to do the small things. Whether she’s coming off the bench or starting, she’s going hard all 32 minutes.”
Coach Bradshaw on the Team’s Resilience
Bradshaw also emphasized the importance of playing well away from home, noting how the game’s atmosphere mirrored the intensity of the playoffs. “It’s always good to play in a different gym and play well. At home, we always play good, but on the road, we don’t have the fans to help us with energy. Tonight, we still brought that energy, which gives us a playoff atmosphere that will hopefully get us ready for March.”
Player Insights
Willis, the team’s floor general, spoke about the experience of playing in a neutral setting. “I play here a lot during AAU games; it felt the same as those games, honestly,” she said. Willis also praised her team’s chemistry, adding, “We all play good. Everyone hustles, regardless if they are young or not. We all play good together.”
What’s Next
With the victory, Kinston sets up a thrilling matchup on Thursday against another undefeated team, Greene Central (4-0). But first, the Vikings will face J.H. Rose on Tuesday in a rematch of last week’s game, which Kinston won decisively.
As the Vikings aim to extend their unbeaten streak, Coach Bradshaw and his team are proving that depth, defense, and chemistry can drive their success, setting the stage for a potentially special season.
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