Lady Vikings Sweeps FCA Christmas Tournament
Photos by: William Hardy
The Kinston High Lady Vikings emerged triumphant in Division II of the FCA Christmas Tournament, showcasing their progress and team spirit under the guidance of Coach Chris Bradshaw. The Vikings, led by freshman Nasheyla Mason, the tournament MVP, displayed an unbeatable streak, concluding the tournament with an impressive 3-0 record.
Their journey began with a thrilling 47-43 victory over Havelock. Reflecting on the game, Coach Bradshaw remarked, "It went well, as game as going, girls are supposed to grow and they grew. They are getting better as the season going on."
In a critical matchup against North Lenoir, a well-known conference/cross-town rival, the Vikings managed a 43-33 win, despite a challenging third quarter. Coach Bradshaw acknowledged the tough competition, saying, "It definitely was a good game, North Lenoir is always a well-coached team. Coach Wooley always has his girls prepared. I think both the Lynch girls played well."
He further highlighted the collective effort of his team, "It was a great team effort, Nashayla Mason shot the ball well, and they ended up putting a box-1 on her, Aukeyvia Keys, Carmin Davis, Saniyah White-Wooten, Kyonna Kelly, all the girls produced and everyone gave solid minutes."
The tournament concluded with a strategic 37-29 win against Wayne Prep. Coach Bradshaw's admiration for the event was evident as he stated, "I enjoyed the FCA Christmas tournament. The hospitality is the best out of all the Christmas tournaments I've been to, even over the John Wall. They take care of the girls every day, they feed them, they come in and talk to them after the game."
This marked Kinston's third year in the FCA Christmas tournament, a testament to their consistency and dedication. Spearheaded by Chris Parker and Mike Jenkins, the tournament has become a hallmark event for the team.
Looking ahead, Coach Bradshaw remains optimistic about the team's potential, "The team is getting better. They played solid defensively one through 12 and we still haven't played our best basketball. The sky is the limit, we still haven't played our best basketball."
With an 8-4 start, surpassing last year's 5-6, the Lady Vikings are echoing their 2019-20 season's success. Coach Bradshaw's vision for the team's future is clear, "Going into the new year, it brings positivity to me as a coach and the team but like I told the girls, we still got some work to do, gotta come back Tuesday and work hard and get better but I like where we are at, let's keep going!"
The Kinston Lady Vikings' victory in the FCA Christmas tournament is a story of growth, teamwork, and resilience. As they move forward, their journey continues to inspire and promises even greater achievements in the future.
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