Kinston Girls Pull Away in Second Half to Defeat North Lenoir 57-48 in Rivalry Matchup
Kinston Girls Pull Away in Second Half to Defeat North Lenoir 57-48 in Rivalry Matchup
WHEAT SWAMP, N.C. – Rivalry games rarely disappoint, and Wednesday night’s clash between Kinston and North Lenoir was no exception. The Vikings, coming off just their second loss of the season the night before, found themselves in a battle against a determined Hawks squad before pulling away late for a 57-48 victory.
North Lenoir (5-12) came in looking to defend its home court and showed early that they weren’t backing down. Freshman J’Riyana Edwards gave Kinston (14-2) a first-quarter spark with six points, but the Hawks responded behind Cassidee Fraser and Kennedi Starkie, who both knocked down key three-pointers. After one quarter, Kinston held a slim 13-11 advantage.
The Hawks continued to push in the second, executing their defensive game plan to make the Vikings work for every shot. Fraser and Starkie hit timely shots, and by halftime, North Lenoir had taken a 21-20 lead, setting the stage for a thrilling second half.
Kinston, however, flipped the script in the third quarter. The Vikings exploded for 22 points in the period, fueled by big shots from Nasheyla Mason, who buried two crucial three-pointers, and K’Niyah Whitfield, who added another from beyond the arc. America Lloyd chipped in five points in the frame, helping Kinston outscore North Lenoir 22-12 to reclaim control.
Despite the Vikings’ surge, North Lenoir’s Ta’Sheena Lynch was determined to keep the Hawks in the fight. The sophomore was nearly unstoppable in the second half, scoring 16 of her game-high 20 points after the break. But Kinston’s depth proved to be the difference.
In the fourth quarter, Whitfield hit another clutch three-pointer, and Madison Green provided valuable minutes off the bench. Perhaps the biggest difference-maker was Aleah Hill’s performance at the free-throw line. Hill knocked down 6-of-7 free throws down the stretch to help seal the win.
Mason led Kinston with 14 points, while Hill finished with 10. Lloyd added nine points, Edwards scored seven, Whitfield had six, and Ariyona Willis contributed eight.
Fraser and Starkie each finished with 11 points for North Lenoir, which had won six of the last eight meetings against Kinston after the Vikings dominated the rivalry for more than a decade, winning 26 straight games from 2009 to 2021.
Coaches Reflect on the Battle
North Lenoir head coach Howard Wooley praised his team’s effort, saying they executed their defensive strategy well against Kinston’s top scorers.
“I thought it was a good game. We came out with a good plan—we wanted to make them work for shots, we didn’t want to give them anything easy,” Wooley said. “We defended well, especially against Mason and Aleah (Hill). We knew they were going to get some points, but overall, I thought our girls played hard.”
The Hawks struggled at the free-throw line, making just 12-of-27 attempts, something Wooley believes made the difference.
“The second half, we knew they were going to come out and make a run, and we wanted to match their intensity. I thought we did, but when you go back and think about it, it was just a couple of plays here and there. We gave up two threes on inbounds plays and missed a lot of free throws. If we make our free throws, it’s a different basketball game.”
Wooley also acknowledged the significance of the rivalry.
“They know each other. They’re friends, some are related, some go to church together. They know each other’s game well. Coach Bradshaw and I are friends as well, so anytime North Lenoir and Kinston play, you can throw the records out—we’re both going to play hard.”
Kinston head coach Chris Bradshaw admitted his team was sluggish in the first half but credited their adjustments for the turnaround.
“I thought we played flat in the first half. A lot of times, coming off dead legs, they were on a five-day break, and we were coming off a game last night. But there are no excuses. In the second half, we made big adjustments and played better basketball,” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw also emphasized the importance of free throws, where Kinston finished 13-of-21.
“I always say free-throw shooting wins or loses you a basketball game. We shoot free throws every day at practice, and I thought Aleah (Hill) shot the ball very well tonight.”
At the three-minute mark of the fourth quarter, Bradshaw made a bold move, subbing out his two leading scorers, Mason and Hill, both of whom had four fouls.
“That tells my bench, ‘Coach believes in me.’ Mason and Hill had four fouls, and the girls who came in played big minutes. K’Niyah (Whitfield) came in and played really well tonight.”
Looking ahead, North Lenoir will host Wallace-Rose Hill on Friday, while Kinston returns home for a crucial conference matchup against Southwest Onslow.
Bradshaw expects another intense contest, especially given the history between Kinston and North Lenoir.
“That’s what it is yearly,” he said. “Coach Wooley and I are really good friends—we’ve known each other since we were young. North Lenoir and Kinston games are always big, emotional games. You don’t see blowouts in this rivalry.”
