Kinston moves to 3-0 with win over J.H. Rose, continues strong early-season start
Kinston moves to 3-0 with win over J.H. Rose, continues strong early-season start
KINSTON — Through three games, Kinston High’s boys basketball team has done exactly what it set out to do: win, grow, and set an early standard.
The Vikings remained unbeaten Thursday night with a 72-64 victory over 6A J.H. Rose, improving to 3-0 on the season while handing the Rampants their second loss. The win continued a long-standing trend, as Rose fell to 0-13 all-time against Kinston.
From the opening tip, Kinston played with balance and confidence, leaning on a backcourt duo that has quickly become one of the most effective pairings in the area. Jamarion Washington and Keyshawn Herring each finished with 21 points, answering runs, setting the tempo, and creating opportunities for those around them.
“They complement each other so well,” Kinston head coach Perry Tyndall said. “That’s what makes them so dangerous — how complementary they are of each other.”
Washington sparked the Vikings in the third quarter, scoring 11 points as Kinston turned a tight game into a two-possession advantage with a 20-point period. Herring took over late, scoring nine points in the fourth quarter as the Vikings continued to apply pressure.
Genesis Wiggins added 13 points and made his presence felt in multiple ways, particularly without the ball.
“I thought Genesis had some of the best off-the-ball cuts tonight, just off the attention Baby Key and Pop were drawing,” Tyndall said.
Kinston also received important contributions from Brennan Chambers, who finished with five points but impacted the game defensively by altering shots and controlling the paint, and Jhayeir Koonce, who added six points.
“I thought Brennan altered a lot of shots around the rim and grabbed some big rebounds,” Tyndall said. “Gen had some great rebounds and great defensive stops too.”
One of the night’s biggest momentum moments came just before the end of the third quarter, when DeJabriel “Pap” Brown buried a buzzer-beating three-pointer while drawing contact, converting the and-one and stretching the lead.
“Pap had an incredible shot that really expanded the game,” Tyndall said. “It was a big moment.”
J.H. Rose stayed competitive throughout, scoring 15 points in the first quarter behind eight from Caleb Knight and mounting a final push in the fourth quarter when Kasyn Chase scored 13 points. Rose finished 15-of-20 at the free-throw line, keeping the pressure on until the closing minutes.
While the victory kept Kinston perfect, Tyndall pointed to late-game execution as an area that must improve. The Vikings went 3-of-7 from the free-throw line in the final two minutes and missed several close looks at the rim, allowing Rose to remain within reach.
“We missed a lot of easy layups and free throws at the end of the game — we have to do better,” Tyndall said.
Even so, with several football players just beginning their transition back to the court, Tyndall believes the best basketball is still ahead.
“Those guys are going to keep getting better and better,” he said.
Kinston will look to continue its early-season momentum Friday when it hosts North Lenoir, with tipoff scheduled for approximately 5:30 p.m.
