Lady Vikings Dominate J.H. Rose, Extend Undefeated Streak to 5-0
The Kinston Vikings girls’ basketball team is off to an electrifying start, racking up their fifth consecutive win of the season with a dominant 68-26 victory over J.H. Rose on Tuesday night. This marks the second time Kinston has bested the Rampants this season, having defeated them 56-41 in Greenville earlier this month. With this victory, Kinston is now 8-4 against J.H. Rose since 2017 and has won the last four matchups between the two programs.
From the opening tip, Kinston set the tone. The Vikings stormed out to a 28-13 halftime lead, with sophomore Aleah Hill nearly matching Rose’s total with 11 first-half points, while center J’Riyana Edwards added six. Kinston doubled down in the third quarter, outscoring Rose 27-11 as Ariyonna Willis, Nashayla Mason, and Hill each delivered key baskets. Mason’s trio of three-pointers, including a highlight-reel sequence featuring a crossover that sent a Rose defender to the floor followed by a mid-range jumper, electrified the crowd.
“Most of the time when I cross people, I miss,” Mason admitted. “So, I just stopped thinking about it and played ball.”
Hill, who transferred to Kinston this year and reunited with former Frink Middle School teammate Mason, reflected on her decision to join the Vikings. “It feels amazing. Coming to K-High is the best decision I ever made,” Hill said. “My teammates make me better in practice and in the game.”
Hill finished with an all-around stellar performance, tallying 21 points, five rebounds, eight steals, and two blocks. Mason contributed 16 points, including four three-pointers, along with four steals. Willis added 12 points, five assists, and four steals, while Edwards chipped in nine points and four rebounds.
Coach Chris Bradshaw credited the team’s depth for their explosive third quarter. “When you can play multiple girls, multiple minutes, a lot of the time the starters are fresh coming out in the third,” Bradshaw said. “I always tell them you can steal the third quarter, and if you steal the third quarter, you’ve got a good chance of winning the basketball game.”
While the Vikings have looked sharp early in the season, Bradshaw emphasized there’s still room for improvement. “They still had 16 turnovers and went 6-for-19 on the free throw line,” he said. “We’ve still got things to work on and still got to come to work every day.”
As the Vikings gear up for a cross-town rivalry matchup against Greene Central on Thursday, their strong start and team chemistry suggest this season could be something special.
