2A GIRLS
KINSTON HIGH SCHOOL Vikings
Location: Kinston
Colors: Forest Green and Vegas Gold
Conference: Eastern Carolina
Principal: Tina Letchworth
Athletic Director: Perry Tyndall
Head Coach: Chris Bradshaw
Record: 19-10
Kinston makes its second trip to the NCHSAA women's basketball championship game, and second visit in the last three years.Kinston beat Canton Pisgah 51-40 in '13 state final. The Vikings are an seven seed, but have put it together at the right time, rolling past previously undefeated North Pitt 63-52 in Eastern Regional championship game and winning all but one playoff game by double digits.Injuries have hurt Kinston, as it wasn't until February 6 that the team's expected starting lineup was able to play together.TOP PLAYERS:
Lydia Rivers and Jada Faison lead Kinston attack each with 10 ppg, with Rivers also getting 7 rpg and blocking 3 shots. Rivers was MVP of '13 state championship and had nine blocks in that one. Faison was named Most Valuable Player of Eastern Regional with 20 points and 11 boards in title game and Rivers also made all-tournament. Malaysia Lancaster is also key player (9 ppm, 5 rpg, 4 steals).Dashieka Mason scores 8 ppg in balanced attack.NOTES: The Vikings won Eastern Carolina Conference regular season crown and have made five straight trips to Eastern Regional. Kinston was not ranked in final 2-A women's regular season poll by NCPreps.com.
WILKES CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL Lady Eagles
Location: Wilkesboro
Colors: Green and Gold
Conference: Mountain Valley
Principal: Michelle Sheppard
Athletic Director: Greg Davenport
Head Coach: Scott Waugh
Record: 25-4
Wilkes Central makes second trip all-time to NCHSAAA women's championship, but second trip in last four years. Wilkes Central lost to Siler City Jordan-Matthews 56-39 in 2-A title game in 2012 and finished 30-2 overall. The Lady Eagles upended perennial power and 2014 state runner-up Bandys in Western Regional title game 49-40. TOP PLAYERS:
Senior Laken Blackburn, who leads in points (12.3 ppg) and gets 8.8 rpg. She made all-conference and will continue her career at Emory & Henry.Senior Amber Godfrey scores 9.6 ppg and pulls down 8.7 rpg to go with team-high 4.2 assists. She was selected as MVP of Western Regional and was an all-conference selection. Kailey McNeill, an all-conference performer who comes off the bench, averaged 8.9 ppg, team-high 10.3 rpg. Sophomore Kamre Gibbs averages 8.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg, and hits 33 percent FG from 3-point line).NOTES: The team had three non-conference regular season wins over playoff teams (Surry Central, South Iredell and North Iredell) and won MVC regular season crown behind a balance attack. Wilkes Central was honorable mention in NCPreps.com final 2-A regular season poll and fifth-seeded in 2-A West bracket.
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2A BOYS
KINSTON HIGH SCHOOL Vikings
Location: Kinston
Colors: White, Forest Green, Vegas Gold
Conference: Eastern Carolina
Principal: Tina Letchworth
Athletic Director: Perry Tyndall
Head Coach: Perry Tyndall
Record: 25-4
Perennial power Kinston returns to the NCHSAA men's championship. The Vikings are back in championship for an amazing 21st time and seventh time in nine seasons.The three-time defending state champ with 10-10 mark in previous state title games, and it has played in all four classes.Kinston downed North Rowan 67-57 in 2014 final, with Brandon Ingram the MVP. They beat Cuthbertson in close games for 2-A titles in '12 and '13, and won '10 crown over West Caldwell 51-29 behind 15 points by Reggie Bullock. They also earned state titles in 1950,'55, '56, '64 and '65. Kinston beat Fairmont 86-59 for Eastern Regional crown, led by regional MVP Ingram as Vikings made 5th straight regional appearance and had five in double figures in final.TOP PLAYERS:
The highly recruited Ingram was Eastern Carolina Conference Player of Year and has great numbers (21.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.9 assists, 2.3 blocks).Darnell Dunn, an all-conference player, chips in 13.6 ppg and gets 9.1 rebounds.Mykel Hart was named all-conference and averages 12.7 ppg and 7.9 rpg.Jaquan Artis adds 7.2 ppg and 8.6 rpg. Dy'Quan Waters knocks in 8.4 ppg and pulls down 5.2 rpg.NOTES: The Vikings had a 23-6 record in 2011, losing in regional final, 28-4 in 2012, 28-2 in '13, 26-4 in '14. Kinston was the third-ranked team in final 2-A regular season poll by NCPreps.com, third seed in 2-A East bracket. Coach Perry Tyndall in 3rd year at helm.
EAST LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL Mustangs
Location: Denver
Colors: Green, Orange
Conference: Southern District Seven
Principal: Samantha Campbell
Athletic Director: Mike Byus
Head Coach: Neil Hodges
Record: 24-0
East Lincoln qualifies for the NCHSAA men's hoop championship for the first time.East is pursuing a historic achievement, because rarely has an NCHSAA school going unbeaten in football and men's basketball. East did that in '14 football season in winning state title as Ayden only other achiever in 1966-67.The Mustangs outlasted tough Smoky Mountain 52-50 in Western final. TOP PLAYERS:
Junior point guard Chazz Surratt was named Player of the Year in the Southern District 7 and was selected as MVP of Western Regional. He was QB for the football team and MVP of that state final. He shoots 39% from beyond the arc and scores 20.5 ppg with 6.5 rpg and whopping 9.2 assists.Chazz's brother, sophomore small forward Sage Surratt (team-leading 24.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg) was named to all-conference team.Sophomore center Cameron Dollar averages 13.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg. Connor Ashley is the only senior in the Mustang starting line-up.NOTES: East Lincoln has been in NCHSAA playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons and has won 20 or more games for three consecutive seasons and 7 out of the last 10 years. The Mustangs are averaging over 84 points per game and shoot 54% from floor as team for season. East Lincoln was rated first among state 2-A men's teams in final regular season poll by NCPreps.com and were seeded second in 2-A West bracket.
