Goldsboro won its second straight game as the Cougars cruised past Spring Creek 53-9 on Thursday evening.
The Cougars opened the first quarter on a 9-1 run and led 17-3 after the opening eight minutes. Back-to-back three-pointers from Akiyah York and Kalia Bell extended the margin to 30-6 midway through the second quarter, and Goldsboro took a 36-6 lead into halftime.
“I told the girls that games like this come sparingly, but it’s those other games that we have coming that we have to make sure that we play harder and give more effort,” Goldsboro head coach Latina Bullock-Thomas said. “There should never be a time where you take a break, but we’re thankful for the win.”
Goldsboro outscored Spring Creek 10-0 in the third quarter as a pair of free throws from Amaya Lucas stretched the cushion to 46-6.
Bullock-Thomas was able to rely on her bench in the fourth quarter in hopes getting of vital minutes for the players coming off the bench, and back-to-back three-pointers from Madison Baily and Evelina Cronk gave Goldsboro a 51-9 lead.
“This was an opportunity for the bench to play, and all of them did well,” Bullock-Thomas said. “They did exactly what I knew they were capable of doing, but unfortunately, you can’t play everybody all the time, so when you get your opportunity, you have to take advantage of it.”
Mary Archibald finished with a game-high 12 points. Bell scored seven points, while Kyrah Davis contributed six points.
Despite winning the game by 44 points, Bullock-Thomas said she wanted to see more from her team during the season’s final two games.
“I put a new defense in, and it’s simple defense. It was effective in spurts, but it was not consistent,” Bullock-Thomas said. “I just felt like that the girls could’ve played a little better and with a little more intensity.”
Goldsboro (6-4 overall) hosts Clinton (7-3) on Monday. The Cougars host Wallace-Rose Hill (2-7) in their regular-season finale on Wednesday.
