Kinston High School continued its dominance over Greene Central on Thursday night, defeating the Rams 56-33 to secure their 28th consecutive victory in the series. Sophomore forward J’Riyana Edwards set the tone early with her aggressive play in the paint, leading the Vikings to a commanding performance on both ends of the court. The win keeps Kinston undefeated at 6-0, while Greene Central drops to 4-1.
KINSTON, N.C. — The Kinston Vikings overcame a 14-point deficit and executed man plays down the stretch to defeat Greene Central 65-60 in an overtime thriller on Thursday night. The win, Kinston’s 11th in the last 12 meetings between the teams, was fueled by a second-half surge, clutch shooting, and an electrified home crowd.
As Kinston and Greene Central prepare to face off in a highly anticipated basketball doubleheader on Thursday night, local coaches, former players, and community figures have shared their thoughts on what promises to be a thrilling evening of high school basketball. With intense rivalries, electric atmospheres, and plenty of talent on display, opinions vary on who will come out on top.
When Greene Central travels to Kinston on Thursday night, fans can expect another thrilling chapter in this storied rivalry. The Vikings and Rams have a history of hard-fought contests, with Kinston winning 10 of the last 11 matchups. Greene Central’s last victory came on February 23, 2021, when they upset the Vikings in the playoffs on Kinston’s home court. With packed stands and an electric atmosphere guaranteed, both teams will look to make a statement early in the season.
Kinston (5-0) and Greene Central (4-0) clash in a highly anticipated matchup, featuring Kinston’s defensive dominance and three-point shooting against Greene Central’s rebounding strength and efficient defense.
The NCHSAA’s first draft of the 2025-2029 conferences places Greene Central, Kinston, and South Lenoir in a competitive 2A/3A conference, North Lenoir in a 3A/4A conference, and Jones Senior in a 1A conference, sparking anticipation and feedback across the state.
Hill is averaging an impressive 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2 assists, 4.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game this season. Her standout performance came during the Montrezl Harrell Hoopfest last Saturday, where she delivered a season-high 21 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting, along with 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 steals, and a block.
Chase Jones, averaging 19.5 points per game, has led the Arendell Parrott Academy Patriots to a strong 9-2 start and has been named Athlete of the Week, sponsored by the Kinston/Lenoir Parks and Recreation Department.
Check out all the standings from our local basketball teams.
The Kinston Vikings boys’ basketball team showed resilience on Tuesday night, edging J.H. Rose 69-67 in a closely contested game at home. The victory comes just days after a disappointing 74-63 loss, giving Kinston a much-needed momentum boost as they improve to 3-2 on the season.
The Kinston Vikings girls’ basketball team is off to an electrifying start, racking up their fifth consecutive win of the season with a dominant 68-26 victory over J.H. Rose on Tuesday night. This marks the second time Kinston has bested the Rampants this season, having defeated them 56-41 in Greenville earlier this month. With this victory, Kinston is now 8-4 against J.H. Rose since 2017 and has won the last four matchups between the two programs.
South Lenoir High School will tip off its inaugural Deep Run Girls Basketball Christmas Tournament on Dec. 17-18, offering a competitive two-day showcase for area teams and an opportunity to celebrate the holiday season with high school basketball.
The Kinston High School girls basketball team continued their impressive start to the season with a dominant 72-52 win over North Edgecombe in the Montrezl Harrell Hoopfest on Saturday at the Rocky Mount Event Center. The Vikings used a balanced scoring attack, relentless energy, and depth to pull away from a competitive first half and improve to 4-0 for the first time since their 2019-20 season, when they finished 27-4.
After a tough 58-51 loss at home to Beddingfield earlier in the week, Greene Central bounced back in emphatic fashion, defeating North Pitt 66-51 on the road Friday night in their Eastern Plains Conference opener. The Rams, now 3-1 on the season, used a trademark second-half surge to overcome a hot-shooting Panthers squad that led at halftime.
After 5,435 days, Greene Central girls’ basketball team has rewritten the record books. On Friday night, the Rams defeated North Pitt 49-46, securing their first victory over the Panthers since January 26, 2010. The win not only ended a 14-year drought but also propelled Greene Central to a 4-0 start for the first time since records began being kept on MaxPreps in 2004.
As the holiday break approaches, both the boys' and girls' varsity basketball teams at Arendell Parrott Academy are heading into the festive season with reason to celebrate. After a series of strong performances this season, both squads have shown significant improvement over last year’s struggles, setting the stage for what could be their best campaigns in recent memory.
The Greene Central JV boys basketball team secured an impressive 81-74 victory over previously unbeaten Garner in the championship game of the JV Invitational at Tarboro High School. With the win, the JV Rams improved to 6-0, handing the Trojans (4-1) their first loss of the season.
NNS Basketball Teams Standings as of 12/12
