TARBORO —
After a subpar season, the Tarboro Lady Vikings earned a spot in the 2-A NCHSAA state basketball playoffs Saturday. They will travel to Reidsville to play the No. 1 seeded Rams in the Mideast bracket tonight. The Rams are 21-3 from the Mid State Conference.
Tarboro head coach Jamie Willoughby was shocked when she found out her 11-15 Vikings were given the last spot in the playoffs as a wild card team as the No. 16 seed.
Willoughby saw the projected playoff brackets Friday and knew her Vikings may have a chance to get in as the wild card, so she called her team and told them they were going to practice Saturday.
During practice, Willoughby told her team that they were one of 32 teams chosen to play in the 2-A girls playoffs and everyone's record goes back to 0-0.
"We just have to show up and be ready to play," Willoughby said. "We are given the chance to play and I want us to be ready."
Willoughby doesn't know much about the Rams, but what she knows from the past is that they have a lot of speed and are athletic. The Rams won their conference after posting a 10-2 record.
The Vikings have struggled this season with handling the ball. They have turned it over, because of careless mistakes. They are averaging over 25 miscues a game and are coming off of one of their worst losses of the season. They lost in the second round of the conference tournament 72-16 Wednesday night to Kinston, which was given the No. 3 seed in the East bracket.
Willoughby wants her team to look past that loss and head in the right direction going into the playoffs. She has faith in her team and knows that anything is possible in the playoffs.
For the Vikings to be successful, Willoughby said they have to worry about what they do and not the other team. She wants her team to try and cut down on the careless turnovers and not let that be the main reason for them to struggle tonight.
"Our turnovers have led to our opponents scoring easy baskets this season," Willoughby said. "When we turn it over a lot we seem to get frustrated and lack focus on the court."
Willoughby thinks her Vikings can be successful tonight, but they have to play up to their potential and stay focused the entire game and play four full quarters. She said the small things are what is going to matter most in the outcome of the game.
"We have to take care of the ball and box out," Willoughby said. "We have to defend the shooters and get a hand in their faces."
Willoughby believes if her team can follow her keys, then they can play with the Rams and possibly upset them.
Juniors Lisa Jones and Nyasha Savage have to be productive. They are the Vikings leading scorers and Jones is leading the team in rebounds. She is averaging over 10 boards per game. Two more players who have to show up and play are A'Jah Williams and Kharlil Perry. They have to become instrumental on the boards with Jones and have to give the Vikings some scoring out in transition and in their set plays. Quadasha Ruffin needs to be a big presence on the inside and score when she can. She needs to be big so she can draw the Rams attention early on and get Jones some good looks at the basket.
"We are not going to be able to win if just one or two people step up – it will take a team performance," Willoughby said. "It is going to have to be a total team effort."
Willoughby isn't looking for just her five starters to play big, she thinks it has to be the entire team, whether it is bench players or starters.
"Everyone has to be prepared and mentally ready to take care of business," Willoughby said. "It is going to take a team effort to beat a good team like Reidsville."
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Tarboro Lady Vikings head coach Jamie WIlloughby talks to her team during a timeout in a recent game. The Lady Vikings travel to Reidsville tonight to play the No. 1 seeded Rams in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state playoffs. Photo/Van Holland
Lady Vikings earn playoff bid despite subpar season
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Pinetops 300
PINETOPS – With the threat of rain during the weekend, it put a little damper on the Pinetops 300 Tractor and Truck Pull attendance. Friday night there was a large crowd in attendance, but not the amount it has been the last several years. There was 500 less people in attendance Friday then there was a year ago, but it didn't stop the pullers from slinging mud everywhere. The fans in one section even had a chance to see what it looked like when a belt breaks on a fine tuned machine. During the Mini Modified run, Thomas Coleman, of Stoneville, had a belt break on his KB 526 Pure Hell ride and the belt slung into the crowd. No one was injured.
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Vikings, Cougars compete in 2-A state meet
The Tarboro Vikings and SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars had six girls apiece competing in the NCHSAA 2-A state track meet in Greensboro Friday at North Carolina A&T State University.
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Six Tarboro girls to compete in track finals
Motivation is a big part of the Tarboro Viking girl's track team's success this season. They enjoy working hard during practice for their coach Rickie Dozier and get fulfillment when they compete in events. Friday will be no different for the six girls that are headed to Greensboro to compete in the NCHSAA 2-A state championship meet at North Carolina A&T State University. They will compete in three relay events and the long jump.
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BIG FISH
Camden Grant and her boyfriend Ricky Davis, Jr. caught a 10 pound carp at a state wildlife pond Wednesday morning off of Highway 33 just outside of Tarboro. Grant said she caught the fish on a piece of shrimp around 10:30 a.m.
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Vikings ousted from playoffs by Jaguars
CARRBORO – After defeating the No. 1 seed in the playoffs Friday, the Tarboro Vikings forgot one thing, they had to hit the ball again Tuesday against the Carrboro Jaguars or their season would be over.
Tarboro failed to be productive at the plate and were eliminated from the NCHSAA 2-A playoffs after losing 8-0 in the second round. Tarboro never gave in after getting down early, but they just couldn't catch a break offensively and get anything going after trailing by five runs after the second inning. -
Cougars finish 7th in state golf match
The SouthWest Edgecombe Cougars went through the regionals and won by four strokes. They just couldn't get it going in the state golf championships Monday or Tuesday at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines. The Cougars finished seventh as a team after shooting 658 over the two day period.
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Vikings advance to second round after defeating Bunn
BUNN – The Tarboro Vikings brought their "A" game and some lively bats with them Friday night when they defeated the Bunn Wildcats 7-5 in the first round of the 2-A NCHSAA state baseball playoffs. The last time the Vikings won a playoff game it was at the same location five years ago.
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Bess hired as new Vikings basketball coach
The Tarboro Vikings have made a coaching change in boy's basketball. They hired Reggie Bess as the new Vikings skipper April 26. Bess is a former Viking basketball star who played for Tarboro in 1995-96. He was part of a team that went to the Eastern Regional finals in 95.
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Tarboro native inducted into Wilmington Sports Hall of Fame
Tarboro native and Tarboro High graduate Martin "Glenn" Sasser was inducted into The Greater Wilimington Sports Hall of Fame Sunday.
Sasser was named to the All-Conference and All-State teams during his high school career. He was also selected to play in the Shrine Bowl game in 1960 and then played in the East-West game in 1961. -
16 under softball tryouts
The Tarboro Parks and Recreation Department and Edgecombe County Girls Softball League will be holding tryouts for 16-under girls fast-pitch softball. The tryouts will takes place Monday and wednesday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Indian Lake Sports Complex on field three.
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