Kinston Stuns Greene Central in Overtime Comeback, 65-60
KINSTON, N.C. — The Kinston Vikings overcame a 14-point deficit and executed many plays down the stretch to defeat Greene Central 65-60 in an overtime thriller on Thursday night. The win, Kinston’s 11th in the last 12 meetings between the teams, was fueled by a second-half surge, clutch shooting, and an electrified home crowd.
Greene Central (3-2) controlled the game early, jumping out to an 18-10 lead in the first quarter with six different players scoring. The Rams’ defensive intensity and ability to handle Kinston’s press paid off, forcing 14 first-half turnovers and generating 10 second-chance points. Senior guard Dontrez Evans, known for his defense and transition scoring, was pivotal in establishing the tone. Sophomore Jalin Sutton added a strong presence in the paint, while junior Nick Avent and DJ Williams contributed key baskets to extend Greene Central’s lead to 31-21 at halftime.
“It was important for us to establish the flow and tempo of the game,” Greene Central head coach Blue Edwards said. “I thought my guys did that very well in the first half. Defensively, we were strong, only allowing two open three-point shots.”
Kinston (4-2), however, adjusted after the break, cutting its turnovers to just five in the second half and finding rhythm offensively. Junior wing Tyreek Copper, who had a quiet first half, made a surprising halftime switch, trading his Jordans for Kobes and swapping his double socks for a single pair.
“I didn’t have the best first half, so I felt like if I changed something, I’d play better,” Copper said after the game. “And I think it worked.”
The change seemed to ignite both Copper and the Vikings. Sophomore guard Keyshawn Herring led the offensive charge, hitting four three-pointers in the second half, including what appeared to be the game-winner with 4.3 seconds remaining in regulation. His shot gave Kinston a narrow edge, but Greene Central answered in dramatic fashion. Evans, with time expiring, banked in a contested three-pointer to send the game into overtime, stunning the crowd.
“We got it to the guy we wanted, and he made the shot,” Edwards said. “That was a heck of a shot. Great execution by my guys.”
In overtime, Kinston took control, sparked by a thunderous one-handed dunk from junior Genesis Wiggins that sent the packed gym—known as “The Zoo”—into a frenzy. The Vikings locked down defensively in the extra frame, holding Greene Central to just five points. Copper played a pivotal role, scoring eight points in the fourth quarter and hitting a clutch baseline jumper over two defenders late in the game to help seal the win.
“It was never a mindset that we were going to lose,” Copper said. “I believed in my team, in me, in my coaches, and I just knew we had to bond together and go hard.”
Herring finished with 15 points, while Wiggins matched his total with 15, highlighted by his game-changing dunk. Copper added 14 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, and Jemarion Washington scored 11. Camir Fields chipped in with six points, and Okie Edwards contributed key defensive stops.
For Greene Central, Evans led the way with 14 points and a stellar defensive performance. Sutton added 11 points and dominated the boards, while Avent contributed 11 points with timely buckets. Williams added eight points for the Rams.
“We had 14 turnovers in the first half and gave up 10 second-chance points—that’s a recipe for a lot of problems,” Kinston head coach Perry Tyndall said. “In the second half, we cleaned up some things—set some good screens, got guys going downhill, and hit some shots too. Just a real gutsy performance to claw back out of a 14-point deficit and come out with the win.”
Edwards, while proud of his team’s effort, acknowledged the challenges in the game’s final moments. “With about four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, we started playing too fast,” Edwards said. “We had chances to win the basketball game, but we just didn’t close.”
The rivalry’s intensity was amplified by the electric atmosphere in Kinston’s gym. “This is a great place to play basketball,” Edwards said. “If you’re a real basketball player, you want this environment. If you’re a real basketball fan, you’d love to be in an environment like this.”
Kinston improved to 4-2 on the season, while Greene Central dropped to 3-2. Both teams demonstrated their potential for deep playoff runs, leaving fans eager for a possible rematch later in the season.
