Southern Wayne’s Jaylen Bowden (21) defends a shot by Goldsboro’s Jae’Quan Green during first-period play Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Jayden Hardy (15) knocks the ball away from Goldsboro’s Nyrese Williams during second-half play Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Ty Williams, left, and Goldsboro’s Andre Williams scramble for a loose ball in front of the Saints’ bench Tuesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Jayden Hardy walked down the hallway just as teammate Chris Carmon emerged from the locker room.
Disappointment shrouded the sophomore’s face.
“Three points,” Hardy said to Carmon.
Carmon stopped and re-opened the door.
It creaked shut behind them.
While the post-game conversation couldn’t be heard through the thick brick wall, one factor prevailed – Southern Wayne let a signature victory slip away in a playoff-like atmosphere.
Jae’Quan Green torched the nets for a game-high 31 points as cross-county rival Goldsboro escaped, 64-61, Tuesday evening. The Cougars extended their win streak to seven in a nail-biting contest played before a packed house.
“We had an opportunity to finish the game,” SW head coach Brian West said. “We didn’t earn the right to be victorious tonight.”
Goldsboro handed SW a 23-point loss on Nov. 17.
In the rematch, the Cougars clicked on both ends of the court and built an eight-point advantage after one period.
However, unlike their previous meeting, the Saints responded.
Kairel Evans’ 3-pointer from downtown Dudley gave Southern Wayne its first lead, 25-24, around the three-minute mark before halftime. Hardy and Carmon also got involved in the offensive uprising – a 22-6 surge capped by Evans’ third trifecta on the night.
Goldsboro regained the lead, 38-37, in the third.
The teams engaged in a back-and-forth affair that nearly resembled a backyard brawl. Lead changes and ties highlighted the final period until the Cougars (6-2 overall) seized control with six minutes to go.
Ty Williams’ traditional three-point play created a 50-50 deadlock.
Green, junior guard Nyrese Williams and junior Jeremiah McNair spearheaded an 11-4 run. The visitors’ advantage shrank to a single possession on three occasions — the last at 64-61 with 29.9 seconds on the clock.
Four seconds later, the Saints turned the ball over on an inbounds pass.
“[Not] protecting the basketball, calling a play, running a set … basketball IQ on the floor,” West said. “X and O [scheme], you can’t help that. It’s actually paying attention in practice, focusing in practice, focusing before the game.
“It’s preparation [that] you have to attack with game speed and game intentions. I tell them every day you have to do that in order for us to rise.”
Hardy and Evans tallied 17 points apiece for the Saints, who dropped to 2-4 heading into Friday’s home battle against Eastern Wayne. Williams added 14 points, while Carmon contributed nine.
