Vikings Defeat Rams Behind Strong First Half
The Kinston Vikings triumphed over the Greene Central Rams with a nail-biting 64-59 victory. Despite a resilient comeback from the Rams, the Vikings' early dominance and strategic play proved decisive in this much-anticipated matchup.
Kinston with a solid 5-2 record, asserted their dominance early, employing a relentless full-court press that caught the Rams off guard. This tactical game plan propelled the Vikings to an early 13-0 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Greene Central's Dre Garrett momentarily stemmed the tide, scoring five consecutive points, including a three-pointer and layup.
The first half was a showcase of Kinston's intensity, with the Vikings outscoring Greene Central 34-17. The spotlight was on sophomore Tyreek Copper, who dazzled with multiple steals and a total of 10 first-half points.
"Tyreek was really huge for us. He made runs by himself. He put on his back, in a key moment in the game when it was stagnant, he went out there and put us on his back and made big plays," Kinston Coach Perry Tyndall lauded Copper's impact.
Despite facing a daunting 17-point deficit at halftime, Greene Central displayed resilience. The Rams roared back in the second half, outscoring Kinston 42-30. Led by Kimez Coppedge and DJ Williams, who finished with 18 and 17 points respectively, Greene Central's effort narrowed the gap but could not overturn the first-half deficit.
Kinston's Coach Tyndall acknowledged the Rams' fight, stating, "Hats off to Blue (Edwards) and the kids at Greene Central. They continued to fight. We jumped on them and built a big lead, and they kept coming."
The game's climax was a thrilling affair, with Copper adding 8 crucial points in the fourth quarter, fending off a fierce comeback from Greene Central. Jamarion Washington also contributed significantly, emerging as Kinston's second top scorer.
Reflecting on his team's performance and the intense nature of the game, Tyndall emphasized the need for smart play. "The next step for us is to find a way to separate when we need to, play smart basketball, not passive," he remarked.
In a nod to Kinston's basketball ethos, Tyndall praised his team's hard play throughout the game, while also recognizing the need for improvement.
"Our foundation is 'You play hard', and our kids did that. We just have to make sure we are playing smart and valuing possessions," he explained.
This latest chapter in the Greene Central versus Kinston rivalry, a event that has pulled local communities for the past decade, did not disappoint.
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