Goldsboro rode the wave of momentum created by a fast start and grabbed a 75-33 East Central 2A Conference victory against Spring Creek on Thursday evening.
The Cougars also snapped their two-game losing streak, and Goldsboro head coach Jamal Croom said Goldsboro did a good job sharing the basketball throughout the game.
“Coming off a two-game losing streak, I told the guys ‘what’s behind us is behind us, and all we can control is what’s in front of us’ so I’m really happy how responded and shared the basketball,” Croom said.
Jaikir Fowler and Tajmari Joyner both scored five points in the first quarter. After the opening eight minutes, the Cougars held an 18-6 lead.
A three-pointer from Joyner to open the second quarter extended Goldsboro’s lead to 21-6. Spring Creek did cut Goldsboro’s lead down to 23-10, but the Gators could not stop the Cougars, who built up a 38-12 lead at halftime.
Goldsboro kept its foot on the gas pedal in the second half.
Led by Xavion Atkinson and Deontae Hooker, who both scored five points in the third quarter, Goldsboro pushed its lead to 32 points at the end of the third quarter.
Trailing by 38 points in the fourth quarter’s opening minutes, the Gators held off a running clock until a layup from Atkinson gave Goldsboro a 70-29 lead with five minutes left to play.
“We did a good job of being unselfish and sharing. We didn’t care who scored basketball,” Croom said. “I think when you take some bumps, it knocks home things that we’ve been preaching all season long as coaches.”
With the running clock going, Croom was able to empty the bench.
Joyner paced the Cougars with 18 points. Fowler added 15 points, Atkinson finished with 13 points, while Hooker added eight points.
Goldsboro entertains Clinton on Monday and will host Wallace-Rose Hill on Wednesday for its regular-season finale.
“If we play the type of basketball we played in this game next week, then we’ll be fine,” Croom said.
