Kinston’s fast start, defensive edge overpower South Lenoir on the road
Kinston’s fast start, defensive edge overpower South Lenoir on the road
The formula continues to hold for Kinston: strike early, defend relentlessly, and let the numbers tell the rest.
Facing a South Lenoir team that entered the night on a three-game win streak and leading its conference, the Vikings delivered their most complete road performance of the season, pulling away for a 58–44 victory. The win pushed Kinston to 7–1 overall and reinforced its standing as one of the top programs in the state, entering the night ranked No. 3 in the 3A RPI among all 3A teams east and west.
The tone was set immediately.
Kinston exploded for 28 points in the first quarter, nearly equaling South Lenoir’s entire first-half output. The early surge proved decisive, as the Vikings’ defense locked in the rest of the way, holding the Blue Devils to 31 points over the final three quarters and just six in the fourth.
South Lenoir made a push in the second quarter, trimming the deficit behind a 15-point frame, but Kinston answered by slowing the pace and controlling the glass and perimeter defensively after halftime.
Through eight games, Kinston’s résumé has been built on separation, not survival.
The Vikings’ seven wins have come by an average of 20.9 points, with five victories decided by at least 20. Tuesday’s 14-point road win marked their third double-digit victory away from home, following dominant efforts at Southwest Onslow and Ayden-Grifton.
Kinston has now outscored opponents by 146 total points in its seven wins, consistently creating margin through defensive pressure and balanced scoring.
Tuesday followed that same script.
Keyshawn Herring led all scorers with 18 points, while Brennan Chambers added 14, turning in his most productive performance since transferring from Spring Creek. Genesis Wiggins finished with nine.
For South Lenoir, Gavin Brock paced the Blue Devils with 12 points. Jaylyn Mills scored nine, TJ Harvey added eight, and Kamarion Graham finished with six.
Quarter-by-quarter, the contrast was stark:
Kinston: 28, 14, 7, 8
South Lenoir: 13, 15, 10, 6
Kinston’s first-quarter output alone accounted for nearly half of South Lenoir’s total points.
The win also continued a pattern of poise away from home. Kinston has now collected road wins at Southwest Onslow, Ayden-Grifton, and South Lenoir — three environments where early runs and defensive consistency removed late-game doubt.
Head coach Perry Tyndall pointed to that approach afterward.
“Anytime you can go on the road and get a win is a big deal. We know South Lenoir is playing good basketball. They were on a three-game win streak, first in their league, and Vance is doing a great job and those kids are embracing what he’s teaching and coming together. We knew it was going to be tough coming in today.”
South Lenoir, led by first-year head coach Wade Vance, dropped to 7–5 but remains firmly in the conference race after an impressive early-season stretch that included wins over Jones Senior, Heide Trask, and Clinton.
Kinston now turns its attention to a conference matchup with rival Greene Central, which enters the week at 9–3 and ranked No. 6 in the 3A RPI. The Vikings have won three straight against the Rams as they prepare for another key test.
South Lenoir will look to bounce back Saturday at the Brandon Ingram Invitational, where the Blue Devils face Ashley High School in a nonconference showcase.
