The Sports Guy

Here is the ballot for what you think were the top sports stories from 2008 that affected The Free Press coverage area. You may vote for 15, and from all the votes cast, the top 10 readers’ selections will appear in the New Year’s Day edition of The Free Press, along with the “experts’” picks. You may vote via comments, or e-mail them to rherman@freedomenc.com. Voting ends at 5 p.m. on Monday. Thanks and enjoy.

Top sports stories of 2008 ballot 

KHS star Reggie Bullock makes verbal commitment to North Carolina

 

KHS hires Battle Holley to lead its football program

 

Jason Wade returns home to lead KHS baseball team

 

KHS head boys’ basketball coach Wells Gulledge earns 200^th career win

 

SL teacher Joseph Noble wins state disc golf title

 

Quinton Coples selects UNC over FSU, UT and NCSU

 

Pirates sign 18 to 2008 football season, a season in which the Pirates won the C-USA title and a trip to a bowl game

 

Helana Davis’ buzzer-beater gives North Lenoir girls the EP2A tournament title

 

GC’s Jim Bob Bryant leaves school for Havelock after a 42-21 record in five seasons

 

10 area prep basketball teams makes state playoffs

 

KHS, SL, JS boys all reach regionals

 

SL boys reach regionals for first time

 

KHS downs Trinity 60-58 for state 3A championship

 

SL football coach Casey Corey resigns

 

APA’s Doug Parker wins state swimming title

 

SL baseball begins season 9-0

 

KHS’ Bo Ingram, Reggie Bullock named to the AP’s All-State teams

 

KHS’ Wells Gulledge named AP’s N.C. Coach of the Year

 

KHS’ Bo Ingram named AP’s Co-State Player of the Year

 

KHS’ Bo Ingram named MVP of state All-Star game

 

SL wins its fourth straight EC2A baseball title

 

Kinston, NL swap conferences after statewide realignment is unanimously approved

 

Kayla Cole leads SL softball to another EC2A title and its 41^st league win in 42 games

 

NL baseball team completes unbeaten run through EP2A for third straight time

 

LCC baseball ties school wins record, wins 20 straight, and 32 of 33 games, en route to fifth straight Region X title

 

ECU men’s hoop penalized after poor grades

 

Kevin Wilson hired as SL’s new football coach

 

Jones Senior makes baseball playoffs after winning just one game from 2003-07

 

Bethel Christian wins first state baseball title since 1999

 

Kinston-native Leo Hart inducted into N.C. Sports Hall of Fame

 

SL baseball advances to fourth round of state 2A playoffs

 

LCC makes its second trip to NJCAA D-II World Series

 

NL baseball falls short of state 2A title series for first time since 2004

 

Tremaine Miller, the first of two former KHS standouts, signs to play basketball for LCC

 

SL softball makes state 2A double-elimination tournament in Raleigh

 

LCC baseball finishes as runner-up in national championship to LSU-Eunice, setting a school record for wins (54) in the process

 

SL softball wins school’s first 2A East Regional title in win over West Stokes

 

SL softball comes up one win short of state championship

 

SL boys’ basketball coach Jimmy Smith ponders retirement, but returns

 

GC names Erik Lynch new boys’ basketball coach, only a week after David Laton resigns

 

KHS girls’ track team wins first EC3A title in school history

 

Free Press SE Bryan Hanks leaves post after six years to become paper’s Content Editor

 

GC’s newest football coach, Ken Grantham, selected as an assistant for the 2009 East-West football game

 

All Lenoir County football teams open season 1-0 for first time since 1993

 

K-Tribe first baseman Beau Mills named Carolina League MVP

 

K-Tribe misses playoffs for first time since 2000

 

East Carolina begins 2008 season with BCS talk with wins over two top 20 teams

 

ECU routs No. 8 West Virginia, the highest-ranked team the Pirates had ever beaten

 

APA head coach Bill Rowe decides to retire after 29 years at the end of the 2008 season

 

ECU running back Jonathan Williams is suspended after second arrest

 

APA head coach Bill Rowe leads the Patriots to their 13^th straight playoff appearance

 

Rowe ends prolific career with a 169-113-5 record

 

KHS tops Eastern Wayne for first outright EC3A crown

 

A-G wins Carolina 1A title

 

JS earns CP1A crown

 

KHS ends 2008 prep football season on historic note — first outright conference title, first 10-win season, school record 414 points scored

 

A-G, JS both reach East Regional finals

 

JS makes first trip to regional finals in school history

 

KHS boys’ basketball wins the Trusted Choice Tournament of Champions in Peoria, Ill.

 

ECU wins C-USA title game for first time in 32 years

 

Bishop O’Connell (Va.) hands KHS its first loss of season in Washington D.C. event

 

ECU accepts bid to Liberty Bowl in Memphis

GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational

Raleigh Broughton High

 

Tournament 1

 

Friday, Dec. 26

Game 1: Raleigh Word of God vs. Rocky Mount, 9 p.m.

 

Saturday, Dec. 27

Game 2: N. Mecklenburg vs. St. Raymond (N.Y.), 2:20 p.m.

Game 3: Kinston vs. Southern Lee, 5:40 p.m.

Game 4: Apex Middle Creek vs. Arden Christ School, 7:20 p.m.

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 5: Loser’s bracket semifinal, Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2:20 p.m.

Game 6: Loser’s bracket semifinal, Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 4 p.m.

Game 7: Seminfinal, Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 7:20 p.m.

Game 8: Seminfinal, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 9 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 9: Fifth-place game, Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner, 12:40 p.m.

Game 10: Third-place game, Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 5:40 p.m.

Game 11: Championship, Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 9 p.m.

 

Tournament 2

 

Friday, Dec. 26

Game 1: Raleigh Enloe vs. Cary Panther Creek, 5:40 p.m.

Game 2: Raleigh Ravenscroft vs. Apex, 7:20 p.m.

 

Saturday, Dec. 27

Game 3: Loser’s bracket semifinal, Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 11 a.m.

Game 4: Richland (Texas) vs. Knightdale, 12:40 p.m.

Game 5: Father Carr (Toranto) vs. Centennial (Ga.), 4 p.m.

Game 6: Semifinal, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 9 p.m.

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 7: Loser’s bracket semifinal, Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 12:40 p.m.

Game 8: Semifinal, Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 5:40 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 9: Fifth-place game, Game 3 winner vs. Game 7 winner, 11 a.m.

Game 10: Third-place game, Game 6 loser vs. Game 8 loser, 2:20 p.m.

Game 11: Championship, Game 6 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 7:20 p.m.

 

South Central Holiday Invitational

South Central High School, girls only

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 1: Kinston vs. South Central, 7:30 p.m.

Game 2: New Bern vs. Southern Wayne, 20 minutes following Game 1

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 3: Third-place game, Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5:30 p.m.

Game 4: Championship, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7:30 p.m.

 

Tri-County Holiday Classic

East Duplin

 

Boys

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 1: South Lenoir vs. West Brunswick, 4:30 p.m.

Game 2: East Duplin vs. North Lenoir, 8 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 3: Third-place game, Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4:30 p.m.

Game 4: Championship, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m.

 

Girls

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 1: South Lenoir vs. West Brunswick, 3 p.m.

Game 2: East Duplin vs. North Lenoir, 6:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 3: Third-place game, Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m.

Game 4: Championship, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6:30 p.m.

 

Eastern Carolina Classic

Fike High School

 

Boys

 

Saturday, Dec. 27

Game 1: Greene Central vs. Fike, 8 p.m.

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 2: Wilson Beddingfield vs. Wilson Hunt, 7:30 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 3: Third-place game, Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5 p.m.

Game 4: Championship, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m.

 

Girls

 

Saturday, Dec. 27

Game 1: Wilson Beddingfield vs. Wilson Hunt, 5 p.m.

Game 2: Greene Central vs. Fike, Saturday, 6:30 p.m.

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 3: Third-place game, Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 4: Championship, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6:30 p.m.

 

Cleaner Look Dry Cleaning Christmas Classic

North Pitt, boys only

 

Saturday, Dec. 27

Game 1: Rose vs. Ayden-Grifton, 6 p.m.

Game 2: Farmville Central vs. North Pitt, 8 p.m.

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. D.H. Conley, 7 p.m.

Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. South Central, 9 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 6: Third-place game, Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 6 p.m.

Game 7: Championship, Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8 p.m.

 

Tripp’s Tire Service Girls Invitational

Ayden-Grifton

 

Saturday, Dec. 27

Game 1: Washington vs. North Pitt, 6:30 p.m.

Game 2: Farmville Central vs. D.H. Conley, 8 p.m.

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 5 p.m.

Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Rose, 6:30 p.m.

Game 5: Game 2 winner vs. Ayden-Grifton, 8 p.m.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 6: Third-place game, Game 4 loser vs. Game 5 loser, 6:30 p.m.

Game 7: Championship, Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 8 p.m.

 

Sports Center and Davis Boat Sales Holiday Classic

West Carteret

 

Monday, Dec. 29

Game 1: Havelock vs. Jones Senior, 6 p.m.

Game 2: West Carteret vs. East Carteret, 20 minutes following Game 1

 

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Game 3: Third-place game, Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 6 p.m.

Game 4: Championship, Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 20 minutes following Game 3

Monday, Dec. 22

Eastern Wayne at Jones Senior

 

Christmas Tournaments

Ayden-Grifton—girls at Ayden Grifton, boys at N. Pitt (Dec. 27, 29-30)

Bethel Christian—at Johnston Christian, TBA (Jan. 1-3)

Greene Central—girls, boys at Fike (Dec. 26-27, 29)

Jones Senior—boys at West Carteret (Dec. 29-30)

Kinston—girls at South Central Christmas Tournament (Dec. 29-30); boys at GlaxoSmithKline Tournament, Raleigh (Dec. 26-29)

N. Lenoir—boys, girls at East Duplin Holiday Classic (Dec. 29-30)

S. Lenoir— boys, girls at East Duplin Holiday Classic (Dec. 29-30)

 

Friday, Jan. 2

Stevens Prep at Jones Senior

 

Saturday, Jan. 3

Rocky Mount at Kinston

 

Monday, Jan. 5

Jacksonville Northside at S. Lenoir

 

Tuesday, Jan. 6

Arendell Parrott Academy at N. Raleigh Christian

Bethel Christian at Faith

Pamlico at Jones Senior

Eastern Wayne at N. Lenoir

 

Wednesday, Jan. 7

Greene Central at Ayden-Grifton

N. Lenoir at W. Craven

S. Lenoir at SW Onslow

Arendell Parrott Academy at Rosewood H.S.

Southern Wayne at Jones Senior

 

Friday, Jan. 9

Ayden-Grifton at Rosewood

Greene Central at Farmville Central

Wilson Hunt at Kinston

N. Pitt at N. Lenoir

Richlands at S. Lenoir

Rocky Mount Academy at Arendell Parrott Academy

Falls Road at Bethel Christian

Camp Lejune at Jones Senior

 

Monday, Jan. 12

Bethel Christian at Wayne

 

Tuesday, Jan. 13

Greenfield School at Arendell Parrott Academy

Cornerstone at Bethel Christian

 

Friday, Jan. 16

Spring Creek at Ayden-Grifton

Goldsboro at Greene Central

Kinston at Southern Wayne

Tarboro at N. Lenoir

S. Lenoir at Croatan

Arendell Parrott Academy at Cary Christian

Neuse at Bethel Christian

Topsail at Jones Senior

 

Tuesday, Jan. 20

Ayden-Grifton at N. Duplin

Greene Central at N. Pitt

C.B. Aycock at Kinston

N. Lenoir at Goldsboro

E. Duplin at S. Lenoir

Grace Christian at Arendell Parrott Academy

Bethel Christian at Trinity

 

Friday, Jan. 23

Princeton at Ayden-Grifton

Greene Central at Tarboro

Eastern Wayne at Kinston

N. Lenoir at Farmville Central

Clinton at S. Lenoir

St. David’s School at Arendell Parrott Academy

Greenville at Bethel Christian

Jones Senior at East Carteret

 

Monday, Jan. 26

Jones Senior at Eastern Wayne

 

Tuesday, Jan. 27

Ayden-Grifton at N. Johnston

Greene Central at N. Lenoir

Kinston at Beddingfield

S. Lenoir at Swansboro

Arendell Parrott Academy at Halifax Academy

Jones Senior at Dixon

 

Wednesday, Jan. 28

Bethel Christian at Pensecola (Fla.) C.C. Invitational

 

Thursday, Jan. 29

Bethel Christian at Pensecola (Fla.) C.C. Invitational

 

Friday, Jan. 30

Rosewood at Ayden-Grifton

Farmville Central at Greene Central

Kinston at Wilson Hunt

N. Lenoir at N. Pitt

S. Lenoir at Jacksonville Northside

Jones Senior at Pamlico

Arendell Parrott Academy at Rocky Mount Academy

Bethel Christian at Pensecola (Fla.) C.C. Invitational

 

Tuesday, Feb. 3

Ayden-Grifton at Spring Creek

Tarboro at Greene Central

Kinston at C.B. Aycock

Farmville Central at N. Lenoir

SW Onslow at S. Lenoir

Cary Christian at Arendell Parrott Academy

Bethel Christian at Falls Road

Jones Senior at Camp Lejune

 

Thursday, Feb. 5

Camp Lejeune H.S. at Arendell Parrott Academy

 

Friday, Feb. 6

N. Duplin at Ayden-Grifton

N. Pitt at Greene Central

Southern Wayne at Kinston

Goldsboro at N. Lenoir

S. Lenoir at Richlands

Jones Senior at Topsail

Berean at Bethel Christian

 

Monday, Feb. 9

Bethel Christian at Gramercy

 

Tuesday, Feb. 10

Ayden-Grifton at Princeton

Greene Central at Goldsboro

Beddingfield at Kinston

N. Lenoir at Tarboro

Croatan at S. Lenoir

East Carteret at Jones Senior

Arendell Parrott Academy at St. David’s School

 

Friday, Feb. 13

N. Johnston at Ayden-Grifton

N. Lenoir at Greene Central

Kinston at Eastern Wayne

S. Lenoir at E. Duplin

Dixon at Jones Senior

Halifax Academy at Arendell Parrott Academy

 

Conference tournaments

Carolina 1A—Feb. 16-21

East Central 2A—Feb. 16-20

Eastern Plains 2A—Feb. 16-20

Eastern Plains Independent 2A—Feb. 17-21

Bishop O’Connell 71, Kinston 64

BC         10       17        20        24-71

KHS      22       15        14        13-64

Points:

BC-Devin Cole 1 (2-5), David Eismeier 15 (6-8), Kevin Jones 6 (3-7), Kendall Marshall 11 (5-18), Maurice Williams 2 (1-3), Zalmico Harmon 9 (2-5), James Bourne 2 (0-1), Jordan Burgess 6 (3-6), Larry Savage 16 (8-10), Joe Cabrera 0 (0-0).

K-Darnell Matthews 0 (0-0), DaMarcus Quinerly 12 (4-8), Dory Hines 7 (3-7), Chris Brown 0 (0-0), Tykeen Williams 0 (0-0), Joshea Singleton 7 (2-5), Marquez Jones 6 (2-6), Mister Height 0 (0-0), Dallas Best 3 (1-2), Josh Benoit 10 (3-4), Jmell Garner 0 (0-0), Reggie Bullock 17 (6-16), Victor Holloway 2 (1-4).

Rebounds:

BC 32 (10 off., 16 def.)-Cole 1, Eismeier 7, Jones 4, Marshall 5, Williams 2, Harmon 2, Bourne 3, Savage 3, Cabrera 1.

K 22 (6 off., 13 def.)-Hines 2, Singleton 2, Jones 2, Best 1, Benoit 2, Bullock 7, Holloway 6.

Assists:

BC 13-Eismeier 2, Jones 1, Marshall 5, Williams 1, Harmon 1, Bourne 1, Savage 1.

K 9-Matthews 1, Hines 2, Singleton 1, Jones 2, Bullock 3, Holloway 3.

Turnovers:

BC-17

K-11

Blocks:

BC 2-Savage 2.

K 2-Bullock 1, Holloway 1.

Steals:

BC 7-Eismeier 1, Marshall 2, Williams 2, Harmon 2.

K 10-Matthews 1, Quinerly 1, Singleton 1, Benoit 3, Bullock 3, Holloway 1.

3-point shooting:

BC 25 percent (3-12)-Eismeier 3.

K 27 percent (3-11)-Quinerly 1, Benoit 1, Bullock 1.

Team shooting:

BC-47 percent (30-63).

K-42 percent (22-52).

Free throws:

BC-47 percent (8-17).

K-60 percent (17-28).

From Dr. Henry A Wise High School, Upper Marlboro, Md.

Starting Lineups:

Kinston:  Reggie Bullock, Marquez Jones, Victor Holloway, Joshea Singleton, Dory Hines

Bishop O’Connell -Devin Cole 5″9′, Kendall Marshall (UNC Recruit) 6″4′, Maurice Williams 6″, Zalmico Harmon 6″, Larry Salvage 6″3′

UNC Coach Roy Williams and Joe Holliday in attendance.  Also, Virginia Tech, Villanova, and many many more coaches.

First Quarter:

Tip Off:  BO wins the tip.  Missed 3 pt.  Kinston Fast Break, Victor Holloway with layup.  K - 2, BO - 0.

Bullock 3pt.  K - 5, BO - 0.

Jones steal, Bullock layup.  K - 7, BO - 0.

Savage layup.  K-7, BO-2.

Singleton layup.  K-9, BO-2.

Cole layup.  K-9, BO-4.

Kinston missed layup.  BO comes down on fast break and Kinston takes a charge.

Benoit dives out of bounds, saves ball to Bullock who passes to Singleton for a layup and 1, free throw coming.  Awesome play.  Free throw is good. K-12, BO-4.

Marshall 2pt pull up is good.  K-14, BO-6.

Benoit for 3.

Marshall another pullup 2. K-15, BO-8.

Benoit on a back door cut, fouled and missed layup.  JB to the line for two free throws.  1st one is good. 2nd one no good.  Benoit gets his own rebound and makes layup.  K-18, BO-8.

Singleton scores layup.  K-20, BO-8.

BO misses two free throws.

BO with a strong layup.

Quinerly with a nice pull up bank shot.  K-22, BO-10.

End of 1st Quarter, K-22, BO - 10.

2nd Quarter:

Quinerly with a runner.  K-24, BO-10.

BO with a followup rebound and basket.  K-24, BO-12.

BO with a reverse layup.  K-24, BO-14.

Dallas Best back with a layup.

Quinerly with a strong take, fouled and to the line with a pair of free throws.  1st one is good.  2nd one is good.  K-28, BO-14.

Kinston fast break, Marquez Jones fouled on layup.  To the line for 2.  1st one is good.  2nd one is good.  K-30, BO-14.

Marshall with a strong take.  K-30, BO-16.

Dory Hines fouled while driving, to the line for two shot bones.  1st one is no good.  2nd one is no good.

BO with a strong fast break.  Hines fouled BO player and layup was good.  BO to the line for one shot.  Kinston time out. Free throw is no good. K-30, BO-18.

BO with rebound and fouled on put back.  BO to the line for two.  1st one is good, 2nd one is good.  K-30, BO-20.

Quinerly fouled going up for shot.  1st free throw no good.  2nd free throw is good.

BO made 3pt basket.

Kinston turnover.  K-31, BO-23.

Marshall to the line for one and one.  1st one is no good.  Foul on BO on rebound.  Bullock to the line for two shots.  1st one is no good.  2nd one is good.  K-32, BO-23.

BO to the line for two free throws.  1st one is no good.  2nd one is no good.

Bullock with followup layup.  K-34, BO-23.

BO with a layup.  K-34, BO-25.

Dory Hines fouled bringing ball up court.  To the line for two free throws.  1st one is good.  2nd one is no good.

BO with a followup rebound.  K-35, Bo-27.

Dory Hines to the hole with a layup.  Fouled on the play.  Hines free throw is no good.  K-37, BO-27.

Half ends with both teams missing a few shots.

At the Half, Kinston 37, Bishop O’Connell 27.

Leading scorers:  Kinston:  Quinerly - 9,  Bullock - 8, Benoit - 6, Singleton - 5, Hines - 3, Jones - 2, Best - 2, Holloway - 2.

Rebounds:  Bullock - 4 (3 offensive), Holloway - 3, Benoit and Singleton - 2 apiece.

Assists:  Bullock - 2

Steals - Benoit 2, Matthews, Quinerly, Singleton, Bullock - 1 a piece.

Foul Trouble: Height - 2

Rebounds by team:  BO - 21, K - 13.

BO - 40% (12-30) from the field.  K - 41% from field (13-31).

Kinston 2-7 from 3pts.  Bullock and Benoit with one each.  BO 1-8 from 3pts.

3rd Quarter:

Bullock to the hole and fouled.  To the line for two free throws.  1st one is good.  2nd one is good.

Jones with a layup.  K-42, BO-27.

BO with a nice layup.

Hines with an unbelievable putback.  He was undercut and made layup.  Going to the line for one free throw.  Free throw is no good.  K-43, BO-29.

BO with a layup.

Kinston back down with fastbreak.  Singleton to the line for two.  1st one is good.  2nd one is good.

BO with a 3pt.

BO with another easy layup.  K-45, BO-36.

Bullock assist to Jones with a layup.  K-47, BO-36.

BO with a layup.  K-47, BO-38.

Bullock steals an inbounds pass, got fouled going to the basket.  1st free throw is no good.  2nd free throw is good.

Quinerly with a 3pt.  K-51, BO-38.

BO with a fastbreak pull up 2pter.

BO fouled on a shot.  To the line for two free throws.  1st one is no good.  2nd one is good. K-51, BO-41.

BO with a fast break lay up.  K-51, BO-43.

BO with another lay up.  K-51, BO-45.

BO with a pull up shot.  K-51, BO-47.

BO ended the 3rd quarter on 9-0 run.

4th Quarter:

BO with a put back layup.

Dallas Best with a strong move and fouled.  1st one is no good.  2nd one is good.  K-52, BO-49.

BO with five rebounds and a put back layup.  K-52, BO-51.

BO to the line for one and one.  1st one in no good.

Benoit with a sweet pull up.  K-54, BO-51.

BO with another offensive rebound and layup.

Hines with a sweet spin layup.  K-56, BO-53.

BO with an easy layup.

Benoit fouled.  To the free throw for one and one.  1st one is good.  2nd one is good.  K-58, BO-55.

BO with a 3pters.  Tie game.

Marshall to the line for two shots.  1st one good, 2nd one is no good.

BO easy layup.

Bullock 2pter.  BO-61, K-60.  2:30 left.

Charge on BO.  Kinston ball.  Turnonver.  2:00 left.

BO with an easy layup.

BO 63, K-60.  1:00 left.  BO ball.

BO layup.

Bullock 2pter.  BO-65, K-62.  44 secs left.

Foul on Kinston, BO to the line for two shot bonus.  1st one good.  2nd one is good.

BO to the line again.  1st one good.  2nd one is good.  BO-68, K-62.

BO with a slam dunk.

Bullock with 2pt layup.  BO-71, K-64.  8 seconds left.

Ball Game.  BO-71, K-64.

Final game statistics to follow soon.

While rumors have been circulating that ECU head football coach Skip Holtz has been linked to the vacant job at Syracuse, Pirates Athletic Director Terry Holland decided to address the rumors with a post on the school’s athletic Web site. In the message, Holland says that “institutions that might want to ask for permission to speak with him have had the good manners and professional courtesy to refrain from doing so until our season has been completed.” The Pirates face Tulsa on Saturday at noon in the C-USA title game.

My take: The last graph of the statement says, “If Coach Holtz wishes to interview at other institutions, he will schedule with my permission to do so.” Don’t take that as Holtz already has an interview lined up. Unless it is stated in Holtz’s contract, Holland must allow him to explore opportunities at his discretion. Right now, Holtz’s main concern is Tulsa this weekend.

Thanks to my inside man on all that’s happening in and around Kinston High, here’s a video of Kinston star Reggie Bullock in last weekend’s Trusted Choice Tournament of Champions.

There’s also a video of highlights from the entire tournament, with several of Kinston’s fans cheering in the student section at Washington Community High School.

I will be traveling with the team to Washington D.C. this weekend. So be sure to come back Saturday during the Vikings’ 7:30 p.m. game to get live update on my blog.

“They say a tie is like kissing your sister. I guess that is better than kissing your brother.”

-Lou Holtz

Dec. 2, 1997 - Golden State terminates Latrell Sprewell’s $32 million contract one day after his assault on head coach P.J. Carlisimo.

Dec. 2, 1996 - Houston Rockets’ Clyde Drexler becomes the fourth player in NBA history with 2,000 steals.

Dec. 2, 1984 - Dan Marino throws his 40th touchdown pass of the season .

Dec. 2, 1988 - ESPN aires its 10,000th show, making it the most televised cable program in history

The top 5 sports stories at 1 p.m.:

1. Burress joins Giants day after arrest

2. Armstrong says he’ll race in 2009 Tour de France

3. Michael Phelps is named SI’s Sportsman of the Year

4. Economy hurting Yankess, too

5.  ‘Pacman’ will also return punts Sunday versus Steelers