Balanced Attack Lifts Kinston Past South Lenoir, 69–13

Kinston girls basketball picked up right where it left off.

After waiting more than a week between games, the Vikings returned to the floor Tuesday night and delivered a 69–13 win over South Lenoir, improving to 2–0 on the season. South Lenoir fell to 0–4.

It marked Kinston’s second game of the year after opening the season with a 69–39 victory over Jacksonville on Nov. 20, while South Lenoir continued a challenging early schedule following conference realignment that moved the two programs into different leagues. Kinston now competes in the Eastern Plains 3A Conference, while South Lenoir is part of the East Central 3A/4A Conference.

Kinston controlled the game from the opening tip, holding South Lenoir scoreless in the second quarter while steadily building separation. The Vikings led 12–4 after the first quarter, then exploded for 31 points in the second quarter to take firm control at halftime.

Depth played a major role in that second-quarter surge, as all 10 Kinston players scored during the period. America Lloyd and Aleah Hill led the way with six points apiece in the quarter, setting the tone for a balanced offensive night.

Kinston added eight points in the third quarter before closing strong with 18 points in the fourth, fueled by K’Niyah Whitfield, who scored 10 of her game-high 12 points in the final period.

Whitfield finished with 12 points, while Aleah Hill and Madison Green each scored 10 points. Lloyd and Kiarah Pearson added eight points apiece, J’Riyana Edwards finished with seven, and Nasheyla Mason, Kelayza Ingram, and Willow Gardner each chipped in four points.

Kinston also capitalized at the free-throw line, going 9-of-15 from the stripe.

South Lenoir struggled offensively against Kinston’s pressure, managing four points in the first quarter, none in the second, six in the third, and three in the fourth. Makenzie Herring accounted for the final nine points for the Blue Devils, knocking down three three-pointers in the second half. Mariah Allison and Campbell Price each scored two points.

The two teams had shared the same conference for the past four seasons prior to this year’s realignment, making the matchup a familiar one despite the lopsided result.

Kinston will look to keep its early momentum going when it travels to face J.H. Rose on Dec. 19, while South Lenoir is set to play North Lenoir on Dec. 19 as it continues searching for its first win of the season.