I have just gone online to write this blog and I see that the greatest news man in the history of journalism news has died, PAUL HARVEY.
My first remembrance of him was in the mid-60s doing his news on TV. Hardly ever did he give an opinion only presented it, but you knew he was a conservative Midwesterner who thought like me.
It has become harder over the years to find a station in the area that carried him, but I knew that whenever I found him on the radio dial he would always say something like "self government will not work without self discipline." So true.
The closest thing to Harvey today is Bill O'Reilly. But, he can't hold Paul Harvey's jock strap. In honor of Paul Harvey....
Page Two and the rest of the story....
High school basketball playoffs are over for our local high schools and like football too many teams get in that don't deserve to be there.
During football season I suggested eliminating one round. There is no reason that a 2-8 team is in a playoff . In basketball, I say cut the field in half. Sixteen teams in each regional and play a double elimination instead of 32 and have a 5-16 get slaughtered in the first round. Just a thought.
Carolina looks like they got their groove back. But it was Georgia Tech.
Duke and Wake win on the road.
If State beats Maryland tomorrow night, it can still wish for the NCAA tournament but they need about a three-game winning streak to finish the season and about two wins in the ACC tournament. 20-12 maybe NCAA?
You know the economy is in bad shape when ACC Tournament tickets are on sale for face value. If you have never been, there may never be another chance. Tickets go on sale at the box office at the Georgia Dome Monday morning. I'm sure they are nosebleed seats.
Listened to the Carolina game some on the radio Saturday afternoon and heard that football season tickets are 15 percent behind last year. Times are tight everywhere.
The funeral for Grant Wilson is 3 p.m. Sunday at First Baptist Church. Please continue to pray for the Wilson family.
Finally, in honor of Paul Harvey,
GOOD DAY
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Time To Put Away The Basketballs
One night after defeating Havelock by a 69-57 score in the sectional semi finals, the Lady Gryphons of Rocky Mount High fall at Beddingfield by the same score as last night 69-57.
There seems to me to be a disconnect for girls basketball by forcing the semi finals on Thursdays and no practice having to play the most important game of the year the very next night.
Why not give the girls a day of rest to prepare?
Next week during regional week games are going to be played Saturday.
RMHS girls finish the season 21-5. Having no girl taller than five ten or five eleven Pam Gainey has once again gotten more milage out of a team by playing to their strength(Quickness) over power inside.
The only boys representative still alive coming into tonight's games was Nash Central. They had the task of traveling to the defending state champions Kinston. Nash Central was in the game until the wire but fall 76-72 in the boys sectional finals.
Trey Sumler has 36 in his final game as a Bulldog. I think Sumler will be the NEw-6 Basketball player of the year.
The third team representing the NEW-6 tonight was Southwest Edgecombe girls. SWE had caught a break earlier in the week when they found themselves getting a home game when a #1 seed was upset but no break tonight as they traveled to Dudley and were eliminated from the sectionals 81-52.
So basketball season is over for the NEW-6. baseball starts Monday.
I understand due to the impending possibility of snow on Sunday night that Monday's opening day baseball game at Rose for the Rocky Mount Gryphons has already been postponed.
Least the folks in Greenville have TVs and are able to make a decision base on the forecast.
If you remember during football season the folks at Northern Vance were without knowledge of an impending hurricane and Rocky Mount's football game in Henderson was put off for a month since no one in Henderson knew a hurricane was coming. No TV's in Vance county.
The funeral for Grant Wilson the Rocky Mount High senior who died at home Thursday morning before going to school is scheduled for Sunday at 3.00pm .
Lets all pray together for the Wilson family and remember that none of us know when our time is coming.
There seems to me to be a disconnect for girls basketball by forcing the semi finals on Thursdays and no practice having to play the most important game of the year the very next night.
Why not give the girls a day of rest to prepare?
Next week during regional week games are going to be played Saturday.
RMHS girls finish the season 21-5. Having no girl taller than five ten or five eleven Pam Gainey has once again gotten more milage out of a team by playing to their strength(Quickness) over power inside.
The only boys representative still alive coming into tonight's games was Nash Central. They had the task of traveling to the defending state champions Kinston. Nash Central was in the game until the wire but fall 76-72 in the boys sectional finals.
Trey Sumler has 36 in his final game as a Bulldog. I think Sumler will be the NEw-6 Basketball player of the year.
The third team representing the NEW-6 tonight was Southwest Edgecombe girls. SWE had caught a break earlier in the week when they found themselves getting a home game when a #1 seed was upset but no break tonight as they traveled to Dudley and were eliminated from the sectionals 81-52.
So basketball season is over for the NEW-6. baseball starts Monday.
I understand due to the impending possibility of snow on Sunday night that Monday's opening day baseball game at Rose for the Rocky Mount Gryphons has already been postponed.
Least the folks in Greenville have TVs and are able to make a decision base on the forecast.
If you remember during football season the folks at Northern Vance were without knowledge of an impending hurricane and Rocky Mount's football game in Henderson was put off for a month since no one in Henderson knew a hurricane was coming. No TV's in Vance county.
The funeral for Grant Wilson the Rocky Mount High senior who died at home Thursday morning before going to school is scheduled for Sunday at 3.00pm .
Lets all pray together for the Wilson family and remember that none of us know when our time is coming.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tragedy Strikes Gryphon Nation
Death is never easy to deal with especially when it is a child still in school.
Wednesday evening during halftime of the NCHSAA 3-A girls sectional semifinal basketball game Rocky Mount High principal Leon Farrow announced to the crowd that senior wrestler Grant Wilson had died that morning at his home.
No details are known at this time as to the cause of death. Farrow led the entire crowd in a moment of silence for the Wilson family.
Despite the somber moment, the Lady Gryphons took care of business in winning their sectional semifinal match up with Havelock 69-57.
The Lady Gryphons will travel to Beddingfield to play the last team they lost to (65-47 on Jan. 6). A RMHS victory will be a ticket to the regionals next week in Greenville.
The first quarter saw the Gryphon defense force the Rams into 11 turnovers, but a change made by Havelock of playing four guards and one big person changed the tide of the game. Leading 19-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Gryphons led by only three at the half 28-25 and by six at the end of three quarters.
Finally in the fourth quarter, the defense started forcing turnovers again and the Lady Gryphons were sweet at the foul line - going 27-for-31 in the game. Havelock finished the game with 22 turnovers, seven coming in the fourth quarter.
RMHS senior forward Dyonna Battle had her career-high in points with 31, followed by another career-high by senior Arkeneshia Melton getting 23.
This will be the rubber game between Beddingfield and Rocky Mount. The Lady Gryphons won 71-68 in overtime on Dec. 12 at home, but they had to recover from an early 19-0 Beddingfield first-quarter lead.
Game time is 7 p.m.
No details are known at this time as to the cause of death. Farrow led the entire crowd in a moment of silence for the Wilson family.
Despite the somber moment, the Lady Gryphons took care of business in winning their sectional semifinal match up with Havelock 69-57.
The Lady Gryphons will travel to Beddingfield to play the last team they lost to (65-47 on Jan. 6). A RMHS victory will be a ticket to the regionals next week in Greenville.
The first quarter saw the Gryphon defense force the Rams into 11 turnovers, but a change made by Havelock of playing four guards and one big person changed the tide of the game. Leading 19-7 at the end of the first quarter, the Gryphons led by only three at the half 28-25 and by six at the end of three quarters.
Finally in the fourth quarter, the defense started forcing turnovers again and the Lady Gryphons were sweet at the foul line - going 27-for-31 in the game. Havelock finished the game with 22 turnovers, seven coming in the fourth quarter.
RMHS senior forward Dyonna Battle had her career-high in points with 31, followed by another career-high by senior Arkeneshia Melton getting 23.
This will be the rubber game between Beddingfield and Rocky Mount. The Lady Gryphons won 71-68 in overtime on Dec. 12 at home, but they had to recover from an early 19-0 Beddingfield first-quarter lead.
Game time is 7 p.m.
This was victory No. 14 in a row for Rocky Mount, which is now 22-4 on the season. Beddingfield will defend its gym with a 25-3 record.
The NEW 6 Conference will have two teams playing Friday night as SouthWest Edgecombe defended its home court defeating Western Guilford 59-35. The Lady Cougars will travel to Greensboro Dudley Friday night in their sectional final.
The last boys team still alive is Nash Central as it plays at defending 3-A state champion Kinston Friday night.
The return of Tiger Woods was short-lived as former Wolfpacker Tim Clark knocked Tiger out of the Accenture World Match Play Championships Thursday.
Tiger outdrove Clark by 50 yards on every driving hole, but from 175 yards out, Woods didn't have the game to defeat Clark. Clark, one of the smallest players on the PGA Tour, ate Woods alive with his iron game in beating Tiger 4 and 2.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Gryphons fall hard
There is an old saying that says "it's not the fall that kills you, but the sudden stop." Wednesday night was a sudden stop for the Rocky Mount boys basketball team as it fell at Northern Vance 82-53.
This is the second year in a row that Northern has eliminated the Gryphons in the basketball sectionals.
The Gryphons finished at 17-11 overall on the season and had a nine-game winning streak snapped.
Nash Central is the only NEW 6 team that will make it to the sectional finals as it knocked off D.H. Conley 51-48 at Nash Central.
Up next for the Bulldogs is a trip to Kinston Friday. Game time is 7 p.m..
Fike made the trip down to Bertie and returned home a 21-point loser to the Falcons, 78-57.
The most difficult assignment of the night was SouthWest Edgecombe's, which made a trip to Greensboro and played Northern Guilford, but came home a loser, 83-62.
So after winning four out of five on Monday night, the NEW 6 tonight loss three of four.
The last two surviving ladies NEW 6 teams are in action Thursday night as both teams will play at home.
Rocky Mount's girls will face Havelock, a No. 2 seed from the Coastal Conference. Havelock is now 20-7, while the Lady Gryphons, winners of 13 in a row, are now 21-4.
Havelock was a former Big East Conference team member with Rocky Mount until the last realignment in 2005.
SouthWest Edgecombe gets a home game because its foe Thursday, Western Guilford, knocked off a No. 1 seed in Oxford Webb on Tuesday. SWE, as a No. 2 seed, gets the home game because WG is a No. 5 seed.
The long-awaited return of Tiger Woods was a good one today as he won his first match at Accenture Match Play Championships in Arizona. His entire career he has been money in the bank on putts of 10 feet or less. Tiger is hitting his early 30's now. He has been off for eight months recovering from knee surgery. It will be interesting to see if he continues to drain those 10-footers.
This is the second year in a row that Northern has eliminated the Gryphons in the basketball sectionals.
The Gryphons finished at 17-11 overall on the season and had a nine-game winning streak snapped.
Nash Central is the only NEW 6 team that will make it to the sectional finals as it knocked off D.H. Conley 51-48 at Nash Central.
Up next for the Bulldogs is a trip to Kinston Friday. Game time is 7 p.m..
Fike made the trip down to Bertie and returned home a 21-point loser to the Falcons, 78-57.
The most difficult assignment of the night was SouthWest Edgecombe's, which made a trip to Greensboro and played Northern Guilford, but came home a loser, 83-62.
So after winning four out of five on Monday night, the NEW 6 tonight loss three of four.
The last two surviving ladies NEW 6 teams are in action Thursday night as both teams will play at home.
Rocky Mount's girls will face Havelock, a No. 2 seed from the Coastal Conference. Havelock is now 20-7, while the Lady Gryphons, winners of 13 in a row, are now 21-4.
Havelock was a former Big East Conference team member with Rocky Mount until the last realignment in 2005.
SouthWest Edgecombe gets a home game because its foe Thursday, Western Guilford, knocked off a No. 1 seed in Oxford Webb on Tuesday. SWE, as a No. 2 seed, gets the home game because WG is a No. 5 seed.
The long-awaited return of Tiger Woods was a good one today as he won his first match at Accenture Match Play Championships in Arizona. His entire career he has been money in the bank on putts of 10 feet or less. Tiger is hitting his early 30's now. He has been off for eight months recovering from knee surgery. It will be interesting to see if he continues to drain those 10-footers.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Lady Gryphs Get Defensive
I think I can sum up for you in just a few stats what told the tale tonight.
- Eastern Wayne had 11 turnovers before scoring its first point.
- Its first point of the game did not come until 2.26 left in first quarter.
- The Lady Warriors did not make a field goal in first quarter.
- Their first field goal came with 3.24 to play in the half.
- By their first field goal, they had committed 22 turnovers.
- By games end, EW had 39 turnovers.
- It had more turnovers than points - 33.
- The Lady Gryphons had 35 points at the half.
To say the least, the Lady Gryphons, the No. 1 seed from the NEW 6, represented the conference well as they flat out embarrassed EW 66-33. At one point in the second quarter, the score was 26-1.
FreshmanTia Hudgins was the only Gryphon in double figuures with 17. Off the benchh, Alexis Farmer led the rebounders with 11. Ten different Gryphons scored and 10 had at least one rebound.
Seven players scored at least four points and nine different players had at least two rebounds.
The Lady Gryphons play home Thursday night at 7 in the semifinals of the sectionals.
Fike traveled across town and lost at Hunt by a 53-51 score.
Nash Central, which took on undefeated South Central, fell 55-41.
Southern Nash on the road at Overhills lost a close one 44-41.
SouthWest Edgecombe advances to round two, but to its surprise, it gets a home game on Thursday after the No. 1 seed Webb Warriors lost at home last night.
The NEW 6 girls teams are 2-3 during the first round and both RM and SWE get home games in the second round.
In the boys bracket, they went 4-1 opening night, but only Nash Central is home Wednesday night.
Rocky Mount boys travel to Henderson to take on Northern Vance Wednesday night in the sectional semis.
Dr. Barbara Holt, wife of Rocky Mount head football coach B.W. Holt, underwent surgery today at Duke. If all is well tonigh,t she may come home Wednesday. Please keep up the prayers for the Holt family.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Gryphons Get Revenge
It may have not been on the football field but the Gryphon Basketball team took out three years of football playoff pain tonight in whipping Western Alamance 77-55.
The Gryphon defense was so stifling on the Warriors that Coach Mike Gainey cleared the bench with four minutes to play in the first half with the score 33-6. The remainder of the game was played trying to keep everyone healthy for Wednesday night's game.
TaShawn Mabry took open shots from three feet from the basket the entire night but he played in limited time TaShawn had 30 points. Nick Hahula rained threes early and often during the opening salvo by the Gryphons and is the only other Gryphon to score in double figures with 11.
Philip Wilkins streak of double digit rebounds came to an end and no Gryphon had more than five rebounds. But tonight rebounds were not needed as the Warriors had trouble advancing the ball forward while Rocky Mount's opening blitz was under way.
Rocky Mount Travels to the #1 seed in sectional four Northern Vance Wednesday night who had a rather close game a 72-66 victory over 6-16 Bartlett Yancy.
Northern Nash traveled to Kinston to play maybe the best team in the east and Kinston probably proved it to Northern Nash with Kinston winning 83-35. At one point it was 40-9 in favor of Kinston.
Is the New-6 a power in basketball? Nash Central the only other conference member to have an opening round home game put away Eastern Wayne in the second half and advance to round #2 with a 62-43 victory. Nash central plays host to D H Conley Wednesday night.
The two conference surprises on the night belong to the #3 seed Fike Golden Demons who stunned Southern Wayne in Mount Olive 82-75. Up next for Fike is a trip to Bertie on Wednesday.
The #4 seeded Cougars of Southwest Edgecombe traveled to Spring Lake on the edge of Pope Air force base and beat Overhills by four points.
This means the top four New-6 basketball teams advance to round two Wednesday. SWE draws 25-3 Northern Guilford next.
Tuesday is the start of girls action as the lady Gryphons play host to Eastern Wayne Tip time is 7.00pm at the RM gym . There is a possibility that Lakia Bynum may be able to play Tuesday.
Tonight I must close with a prayer for Barbara Holt who undergoes cancer surgery Tuesday at Duke. All the Gryphon nation needs to pray for a good report for Barbara and BW.
The Gryphon defense was so stifling on the Warriors that Coach Mike Gainey cleared the bench with four minutes to play in the first half with the score 33-6. The remainder of the game was played trying to keep everyone healthy for Wednesday night's game.
TaShawn Mabry took open shots from three feet from the basket the entire night but he played in limited time TaShawn had 30 points. Nick Hahula rained threes early and often during the opening salvo by the Gryphons and is the only other Gryphon to score in double figures with 11.
Philip Wilkins streak of double digit rebounds came to an end and no Gryphon had more than five rebounds. But tonight rebounds were not needed as the Warriors had trouble advancing the ball forward while Rocky Mount's opening blitz was under way.
Rocky Mount Travels to the #1 seed in sectional four Northern Vance Wednesday night who had a rather close game a 72-66 victory over 6-16 Bartlett Yancy.
Northern Nash traveled to Kinston to play maybe the best team in the east and Kinston probably proved it to Northern Nash with Kinston winning 83-35. At one point it was 40-9 in favor of Kinston.
Is the New-6 a power in basketball? Nash Central the only other conference member to have an opening round home game put away Eastern Wayne in the second half and advance to round #2 with a 62-43 victory. Nash central plays host to D H Conley Wednesday night.
The two conference surprises on the night belong to the #3 seed Fike Golden Demons who stunned Southern Wayne in Mount Olive 82-75. Up next for Fike is a trip to Bertie on Wednesday.
The #4 seeded Cougars of Southwest Edgecombe traveled to Spring Lake on the edge of Pope Air force base and beat Overhills by four points.
This means the top four New-6 basketball teams advance to round two Wednesday. SWE draws 25-3 Northern Guilford next.
Tuesday is the start of girls action as the lady Gryphons play host to Eastern Wayne Tip time is 7.00pm at the RM gym . There is a possibility that Lakia Bynum may be able to play Tuesday.
Tonight I must close with a prayer for Barbara Holt who undergoes cancer surgery Tuesday at Duke. All the Gryphon nation needs to pray for a good report for Barbara and BW.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Basketball Playoffs Start
Despite just playing Friday night, there is no time to celebrate a conference tournament championship as Rocky Mount hosts Western Alamance Monday evening at 7.
Every team is like a puzzle and this year's Gryphon basketball team took a while to get all the pieces in place.
Tashawn Mabry who during this eight-game winning streak is probably having the best period of what is becoming an illustrious Gryphon career.
Philip Wilkins has been close to double-digit scoring and rebounding during this streak.
Bobo Sharpe is approaching 500 assists in his career to go with over 1,100 points.
Darius McKnight has become a scorer and ball handler which was sorely lacking when the team was 8-10.
Nick Hahula continues to rain 3-point shots at just the right moment.
If the Gyrphons win Monday, they play the winner of the Bartlett Yancey-Northern Vance game which will more than likely be Northern Vance since they are 23-2 and at home.
The only way the Gryphons get a home game is if Bartlett Yancy wins which is not likely since they are only 6-15.
Tomorrow night is in all likelyhood the last home game of the year for the boys.
Despite being 20-4, the Lady Gryphons have a major injury to deal with since point guard Lakia Bynum was injured Friday night.
The girls start the playoffs on Tuesday. If they manage to defeat 9-15 Eastern Wayne, they play again Thursday against the Havelock-White Oak winner in Rocky Mount.
Tonight Duke defends home court and beat Wake Forest. To this point in the season, there doesn't seem to be a Big Four team that will make it to the Final Four.
However, Raleigh is hosting a first-round weekend and if Carolina and Duke can get to Raleigh then they both have a good chance for the Sweet 16.
Now, in retrospect, it may not have been such a great deal with all of Carolina players returning this year. They have all improved their offensive game but not a one has worked on defense.
I still like what I see in Wake. I know it is hard to believe, but the Wolfpack can still make the NCAA and have a good shot at finishing at 8-8 in conference play. Who would have thought that three weeks ago.
Every team is like a puzzle and this year's Gryphon basketball team took a while to get all the pieces in place.
Tashawn Mabry who during this eight-game winning streak is probably having the best period of what is becoming an illustrious Gryphon career.
Philip Wilkins has been close to double-digit scoring and rebounding during this streak.
Bobo Sharpe is approaching 500 assists in his career to go with over 1,100 points.
Darius McKnight has become a scorer and ball handler which was sorely lacking when the team was 8-10.
Nick Hahula continues to rain 3-point shots at just the right moment.
If the Gyrphons win Monday, they play the winner of the Bartlett Yancey-Northern Vance game which will more than likely be Northern Vance since they are 23-2 and at home.
The only way the Gryphons get a home game is if Bartlett Yancy wins which is not likely since they are only 6-15.
Tomorrow night is in all likelyhood the last home game of the year for the boys.
Despite being 20-4, the Lady Gryphons have a major injury to deal with since point guard Lakia Bynum was injured Friday night.
The girls start the playoffs on Tuesday. If they manage to defeat 9-15 Eastern Wayne, they play again Thursday against the Havelock-White Oak winner in Rocky Mount.
Tonight Duke defends home court and beat Wake Forest. To this point in the season, there doesn't seem to be a Big Four team that will make it to the Final Four.
However, Raleigh is hosting a first-round weekend and if Carolina and Duke can get to Raleigh then they both have a good chance for the Sweet 16.
Now, in retrospect, it may not have been such a great deal with all of Carolina players returning this year. They have all improved their offensive game but not a one has worked on defense.
I still like what I see in Wake. I know it is hard to believe, but the Wolfpack can still make the NCAA and have a good shot at finishing at 8-8 in conference play. Who would have thought that three weeks ago.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Basketball Brackets
Rocky Mount wanted this in football, but it will have to do in basketball as Rocky Mount High will host Western Alamance Monday at 7 p.m. in the RM high gym.
The Gryphons, the No. 2 seed in the NEW 6, will host the No. 4 seed in the Triad Conference which has a 11-14 record.
There is good news and bad news for Northern Nash. They made the field as a wild card, but they drew the No. 1 overall eastern region team Kinston which is 23-3 on the year.
Nash Central, the NEW 6's No. 1 seed host Eastern Wayne, the No. 4 seed from the East Carolina conference and the #4 seed who has a 6-16 record.
SouthWest Edgecombe will travel to Overhills High and Wilson Fike will travel to Southern Wayne.
All sectional boys action is schedule for Monday at 7 p.m.
In the girls bracket ....
The Lady Gryphons will host Eastern Wayne 9-15 which will travel to Rocky Mount
More than likely the Lady Gryphons will be without the services of starting guard Lakia Bynum who had a lower leg injury Friday in the tournament championship game.
SouthWest Edgecombe will host Northeast Guilford, Fike will drive across town to meet Hunt, Southern Nash will make the long trip to Overhills and the Nash Central girls drew the short straw as they travel to South Central which is 25-0 on the season.
All opening round sectional play for the girls starts Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The end of regulation was very controversial to say the least in last night's boys tournament finals at SouthWest Edgecombe.
Nash Central's relentless press had Rocky Mount in a panic in the last few seconds. Trey Sumler's t tied the game with 2.7 seconds to play. The inbounds pass was stolen by Sumler who feed the ball inside to teammate Brandon Thomas who put up the last shot of the game.
As the ball is hanging on the rim the backboard light goes off to tell everyone the game is over. Depending on witch side you pull for, here is what happened.
Last night I was the colorman as Wes Bradshaw did the play by play for the "Stretchlon Sports Show".
I looked at the clock as Sumler intercepted the ball and tossed it over to where Thomas was under the basket. The scoreboard went to four zeros as Thomas received the ball, the horn sounded and when the horn went off the referee blew his whistle to stop the end of the game. While all of this is happening Thomas puts up the shot and the light comes on.
It was obvious to me the clock was not in sync relating to the four zeros and the horn. The light seemed to me to be a good half second or more behind the clock and horn. When you are discussing hundreds of a second, II might be off by a tenth.
The referee's whistle was much like that Ed Hoculi call in the San Diego-Denver NFL game last season. Once the whistle sounds, the play stops. (I know all the Bulldog fans think they got hosed last night, but I think the right call was made due to a poorly syncronized clock system at SWE.
The bottom line is I think the right call was made but clearly everyone in the gym could see the light did not go off until the ball was on the rim.
The Gryphons, the No. 2 seed in the NEW 6, will host the No. 4 seed in the Triad Conference which has a 11-14 record.
There is good news and bad news for Northern Nash. They made the field as a wild card, but they drew the No. 1 overall eastern region team Kinston which is 23-3 on the year.
Nash Central, the NEW 6's No. 1 seed host Eastern Wayne, the No. 4 seed from the East Carolina conference and the #4 seed who has a 6-16 record.
SouthWest Edgecombe will travel to Overhills High and Wilson Fike will travel to Southern Wayne.
All sectional boys action is schedule for Monday at 7 p.m.
In the girls bracket ....
The Lady Gryphons will host Eastern Wayne 9-15 which will travel to Rocky Mount
More than likely the Lady Gryphons will be without the services of starting guard Lakia Bynum who had a lower leg injury Friday in the tournament championship game.
SouthWest Edgecombe will host Northeast Guilford, Fike will drive across town to meet Hunt, Southern Nash will make the long trip to Overhills and the Nash Central girls drew the short straw as they travel to South Central which is 25-0 on the season.
All opening round sectional play for the girls starts Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The end of regulation was very controversial to say the least in last night's boys tournament finals at SouthWest Edgecombe.
Nash Central's relentless press had Rocky Mount in a panic in the last few seconds. Trey Sumler's t tied the game with 2.7 seconds to play. The inbounds pass was stolen by Sumler who feed the ball inside to teammate Brandon Thomas who put up the last shot of the game.
As the ball is hanging on the rim the backboard light goes off to tell everyone the game is over. Depending on witch side you pull for, here is what happened.
Last night I was the colorman as Wes Bradshaw did the play by play for the "Stretchlon Sports Show".
I looked at the clock as Sumler intercepted the ball and tossed it over to where Thomas was under the basket. The scoreboard went to four zeros as Thomas received the ball, the horn sounded and when the horn went off the referee blew his whistle to stop the end of the game. While all of this is happening Thomas puts up the shot and the light comes on.
It was obvious to me the clock was not in sync relating to the four zeros and the horn. The light seemed to me to be a good half second or more behind the clock and horn. When you are discussing hundreds of a second, II might be off by a tenth.
The referee's whistle was much like that Ed Hoculi call in the San Diego-Denver NFL game last season. Once the whistle sounds, the play stops. (I know all the Bulldog fans think they got hosed last night, but I think the right call was made due to a poorly syncronized clock system at SWE.
The bottom line is I think the right call was made but clearly everyone in the gym could see the light did not go off until the ball was on the rim.
Friday, February 20, 2009
It's a Gryphon Night
Tonight at SouthWest Edgecombe High Rocky Mount High School brought home the conference tournament championship in both girls and boys basketball. However, both were completely different ways to win a championship.
The Lady Gryphons could muster on six points in the first quarter and only one player scored and that was Danita Whitaker. The second quarter the Lady Gryphons began to get more team scoring and looked as if they would lead by four at the half, but two turnovers in the last 20 seconds led to a tie at the half of 20-all.
Insert Arkenesia Melton in the third quarter and the ladies began to get some rhythm and good defense held Fike to only eight points and the ladies lead at the end of the third quarter 37-28.
Fike finally got going in the fourth quarter, but it became a shot for shot fourth quarter and the Lady Gryphons win their second NEW 6 Tournament title to tie SouthWest with two each. Rocky Mount won 58-48.
It was also the 20th win of the season for the No. 1 seeded Lady Gryphons who play at home Tuesday night against Eastern Wayne.
Dyonna Battle lead the Lady Gryphons with 16 followed by Tia Hudgins with 12 and Melton with 10.
Battle was named tournament MVP and Whitaker joined her on the All-Tournament team. Tramicka James scored 30 of Fike's 48 points and after 31 last night and 20 on Tuesday and no doubt she would have been the MVP if Fike had won the tournment.
In the nightcap, the Gryphons beat the Bulldogs 87-76 in overtime.
Nash Central shot out to a 22-13 lead in the first quarter as Michael Speight led the Bulldogs with 11 in the quarter. From the get-go tonight, RM's Darius McKnight had the assignment of covering Trey Sumler all over the court, including timeouts and McKnight through three quarters held Sumler to only three points.
There was one point in the game during foul shots that every time Sumler tried to go to the other side of the lane McKnight was with him step for step.
Rocky Mount was able to outscore the Bulldogs in the second quarter by 13 to lead at the half by three at 33-30.
Rocky Mount built its lead to 10 points with less than two minutes to play, but with a unrelenting defensive surge by Nash Central, it managed to tie the game and send it to overtime.
This was a game that nobody wanted to lose. Sumler got going in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 18. Speight had 15 points a wheelbarrow full of rebounds.
Bulldog guard T. J. Bryant, nephew of area football legend Kelvin Bryant, added 15 mostly three pointers. And when Nash Central was on the verge of being blown out, his shots kept it in the game. The fourth member of the Bulldogs to hit double figures was Dominique Holloway who added 12.
Despite the Bulldogs' efforts, the best team tonight was Rocky Mount as it won its eighth game in a row and moved to 16-10 on the season and won its third NEW 6 tournament championship in the league's four years.
Tashawn Mabry had 32 points and yanked down 15 rebounds. McKnight added 16 points and late in the game when the Gryphons looked shaky with the ball, McKnight was money in the bank handling the ball.
But the night belonged to Philip Wilkins. Philip, for the first time in his caree,r had 21 points but when the Gryphons needed a rebound, Philip pulled down 20 on the night.
If there was any doubt whether Nash Central and Rocky Mount were rivals tonight eliminated any doubt. Tonight's game was the best game I have seen all year on TV or live. Every player gave all they had on both sides and either side had plenty of chances to win the game in regulation.
Mabry was named the tournament MVP and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Wilkins and McKnight. Sumler and Speight joined Fike's Jeremy Adkinson on the squad.
The Gryphons play at home Monday night in the first round of sectional play.
The Lady Gryphons could muster on six points in the first quarter and only one player scored and that was Danita Whitaker. The second quarter the Lady Gryphons began to get more team scoring and looked as if they would lead by four at the half, but two turnovers in the last 20 seconds led to a tie at the half of 20-all.
Insert Arkenesia Melton in the third quarter and the ladies began to get some rhythm and good defense held Fike to only eight points and the ladies lead at the end of the third quarter 37-28.
Fike finally got going in the fourth quarter, but it became a shot for shot fourth quarter and the Lady Gryphons win their second NEW 6 Tournament title to tie SouthWest with two each. Rocky Mount won 58-48.
It was also the 20th win of the season for the No. 1 seeded Lady Gryphons who play at home Tuesday night against Eastern Wayne.
Dyonna Battle lead the Lady Gryphons with 16 followed by Tia Hudgins with 12 and Melton with 10.
Battle was named tournament MVP and Whitaker joined her on the All-Tournament team. Tramicka James scored 30 of Fike's 48 points and after 31 last night and 20 on Tuesday and no doubt she would have been the MVP if Fike had won the tournment.
In the nightcap, the Gryphons beat the Bulldogs 87-76 in overtime.
Nash Central shot out to a 22-13 lead in the first quarter as Michael Speight led the Bulldogs with 11 in the quarter. From the get-go tonight, RM's Darius McKnight had the assignment of covering Trey Sumler all over the court, including timeouts and McKnight through three quarters held Sumler to only three points.
There was one point in the game during foul shots that every time Sumler tried to go to the other side of the lane McKnight was with him step for step.
Rocky Mount was able to outscore the Bulldogs in the second quarter by 13 to lead at the half by three at 33-30.
Rocky Mount built its lead to 10 points with less than two minutes to play, but with a unrelenting defensive surge by Nash Central, it managed to tie the game and send it to overtime.
This was a game that nobody wanted to lose. Sumler got going in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 18. Speight had 15 points a wheelbarrow full of rebounds.
Bulldog guard T. J. Bryant, nephew of area football legend Kelvin Bryant, added 15 mostly three pointers. And when Nash Central was on the verge of being blown out, his shots kept it in the game. The fourth member of the Bulldogs to hit double figures was Dominique Holloway who added 12.
Despite the Bulldogs' efforts, the best team tonight was Rocky Mount as it won its eighth game in a row and moved to 16-10 on the season and won its third NEW 6 tournament championship in the league's four years.
Tashawn Mabry had 32 points and yanked down 15 rebounds. McKnight added 16 points and late in the game when the Gryphons looked shaky with the ball, McKnight was money in the bank handling the ball.
But the night belonged to Philip Wilkins. Philip, for the first time in his caree,r had 21 points but when the Gryphons needed a rebound, Philip pulled down 20 on the night.
If there was any doubt whether Nash Central and Rocky Mount were rivals tonight eliminated any doubt. Tonight's game was the best game I have seen all year on TV or live. Every player gave all they had on both sides and either side had plenty of chances to win the game in regulation.
Mabry was named the tournament MVP and was joined on the All-Tournament team by Wilkins and McKnight. Sumler and Speight joined Fike's Jeremy Adkinson on the squad.
The Gryphons play at home Monday night in the first round of sectional play.
Championship Double header Tonight
The lady Gryphons were steady and prevailed last night over the Lady Firebirds of Southern Nash.
The Ladies play tonight at 6.00pm against Fike who upset Southwest Edgecombe on their home court.
In the second game tonight Rocky Mount will try to upend Nash Central for the second straight Friday night.
Both Fike ladies and Rocky Mount boys are trying to win the conference tournament as #3 seeded teams and in doing so try to capture the #2 seeding from the conference in the playoffs.
The big difference in a #2 or #3 seed is a home game in the opening sectional game over being on the road as a #3 seed.
If the lady Gryphons win the conference tournament it will be win #20 on the season.
Wednesday night after game press conference Roy Williams blurted out a vulgarity in which both the Tarheel and Wolfpack sports networks were carrying live.
I don't understand why the ACC has not suspended Williams for at least one game for the over the air ways blurt.
Anyone who has ever been within ear shot of most college coaches knows that "amen" and "praise the lord" is not the normal speach while on the sidelines. Most of Roy williams salary is paid through radio shows before and after games and Weekly TV shows so he knew he was live on the air somewhere.
In NASCAR drivers have been fined $25,000 for cussing after interviews. Since the ACC is not responsible for a coaches salary they are the governing body of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
I say Roy needs to sit out one game.
I did play by play for Chowan College for 13 years and Bob Burke was famous for his tirates on the sidelines. A Baptist college and Bob Burke didn't seem to fit. I think that is one reason he was never hired as a D-1 coach. If Burke had of had a losing record he would have been replaced in a flash.
In all the before and after game radio interviews he never let one slip
Thanks Bob.
Duke tried Jon Schyer at point guard last night in a non conference win against St Johns. Bobby knight the color TV analyst justed loved the moved.
I see it only makes Duke slower. For some reason Coach K thinks the guards are their problem but I think it's big men inside defensive player is killing them.
I will blog again after I get back from the B-Ball tournament tonight around 10.30 with the results.
The Ladies play tonight at 6.00pm against Fike who upset Southwest Edgecombe on their home court.
In the second game tonight Rocky Mount will try to upend Nash Central for the second straight Friday night.
Both Fike ladies and Rocky Mount boys are trying to win the conference tournament as #3 seeded teams and in doing so try to capture the #2 seeding from the conference in the playoffs.
The big difference in a #2 or #3 seed is a home game in the opening sectional game over being on the road as a #3 seed.
If the lady Gryphons win the conference tournament it will be win #20 on the season.
Wednesday night after game press conference Roy Williams blurted out a vulgarity in which both the Tarheel and Wolfpack sports networks were carrying live.
I don't understand why the ACC has not suspended Williams for at least one game for the over the air ways blurt.
Anyone who has ever been within ear shot of most college coaches knows that "amen" and "praise the lord" is not the normal speach while on the sidelines. Most of Roy williams salary is paid through radio shows before and after games and Weekly TV shows so he knew he was live on the air somewhere.
In NASCAR drivers have been fined $25,000 for cussing after interviews. Since the ACC is not responsible for a coaches salary they are the governing body of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
I say Roy needs to sit out one game.
I did play by play for Chowan College for 13 years and Bob Burke was famous for his tirates on the sidelines. A Baptist college and Bob Burke didn't seem to fit. I think that is one reason he was never hired as a D-1 coach. If Burke had of had a losing record he would have been replaced in a flash.
In all the before and after game radio interviews he never let one slip
Thanks Bob.
Duke tried Jon Schyer at point guard last night in a non conference win against St Johns. Bobby knight the color TV analyst justed loved the moved.
I see it only makes Duke slower. For some reason Coach K thinks the guards are their problem but I think it's big men inside defensive player is killing them.
I will blog again after I get back from the B-Ball tournament tonight around 10.30 with the results.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Red Hot Gryphons
The past two weeks now the Boys basketball team has beaten the #2 seed Fike Golden Demons twice and the #1 seed Nash Central Bulldogs on their home court.
This is a far cry from the 8-10 team that had lost 10 of 13 games.
Last night the Gryphons wrote themselves an invitation to the conference tournament finals in whipping Fike by 10 at Southwest Edgecombe. Tashawn Mabry was once again big man on campus as he led the Gryphon assault, but one thing is now apparent on this team. Tashawn is not alone in leading this red hot team who have now won 7 in a row.
This is the team we all thought we would see all year. Two victories in the tournament this week push the Gryphons to 15-10 over all and a dance Partner Friday night with the conference regular season champions Nash Central.
Central disposed of the home team SWE to set up the RM-NC finals.
Tonight at 6.00pm the lady Gryphons will try to make it a Friday night Rocky Mount double header as they face Southern Nash in the semi's.
If they ladies win tonight they play in the championship game at 6.00pm Friday and the NC-RM boys game follows at 7.30. If you are planning on going Friday night remember that the gym at SWE holds only about 800 people so you need to be early.
Last night Carolina did just enough to hold off State 89-80. State has really improved. They did not have a stretch where for five minutes they could handle the ball. Carolina had stretches where they scored eight or ten in a row but it wasn't bad ball handling.
Carolina when they are rolling makes it look so easy. I don't know why but I don't think Carolina will win the national championship. They are not that good defensively to rely on defense when the offense is bogged down.
Those of you that know me, know that I pull for all big four schools during the playoffs but Carolina is missing something I just don't know what it is.
This is a far cry from the 8-10 team that had lost 10 of 13 games.
Last night the Gryphons wrote themselves an invitation to the conference tournament finals in whipping Fike by 10 at Southwest Edgecombe. Tashawn Mabry was once again big man on campus as he led the Gryphon assault, but one thing is now apparent on this team. Tashawn is not alone in leading this red hot team who have now won 7 in a row.
This is the team we all thought we would see all year. Two victories in the tournament this week push the Gryphons to 15-10 over all and a dance Partner Friday night with the conference regular season champions Nash Central.
Central disposed of the home team SWE to set up the RM-NC finals.
Tonight at 6.00pm the lady Gryphons will try to make it a Friday night Rocky Mount double header as they face Southern Nash in the semi's.
If they ladies win tonight they play in the championship game at 6.00pm Friday and the NC-RM boys game follows at 7.30. If you are planning on going Friday night remember that the gym at SWE holds only about 800 people so you need to be early.
Last night Carolina did just enough to hold off State 89-80. State has really improved. They did not have a stretch where for five minutes they could handle the ball. Carolina had stretches where they scored eight or ten in a row but it wasn't bad ball handling.
Carolina when they are rolling makes it look so easy. I don't know why but I don't think Carolina will win the national championship. They are not that good defensively to rely on defense when the offense is bogged down.
Those of you that know me, know that I pull for all big four schools during the playoffs but Carolina is missing something I just don't know what it is.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Semi-Finals Are set
Tonight the boys conference champion Nash Central has a tough task in defeating the #4 seed in the conference Southwest Edgecombe on SWE home court.
Rocky Mount hoping to improved their playoff location chances could tonight improve those chances a lot if they can beat #2 Fike at 7.30 at SWE. The higher conference seeding you have allows you a higher seeding in the state playoffs and home games are critical. if they can get a #2 conference seeding they would get at least one game. The only way the Gryphons get the #2 seed is win the tournament
Last night Southern Nash defeated Nash Central girls and Southern Nash now get the #1 seeded lady Gryphons at 6.00pm Thursday. In the second semi final the home standing lady Cougars of SWE collide with Fike. The winners play at 6.00pm Friday in the championship game.
The total number of Gryphon football players who will play in college increased to six recently with the NEW-6 Defensive player of the year Chris Pittman signing with UNC-Pembroke. Jermaine Fields has signed on to play at Elizabeth City State University.
They join Nich Hahula(UNC Central),Whit Barnes(Wake Forest), Keith Stickland (ECSU), and Nick Harrison (UNC-Penbroke) who have already signed on the solid line to play football next year.
Wrestling Coach Jermaine(JJ) Jones had to split practice time with football in November and most of December getting his wrestling team going. His fruits have paid off for six wrestlers who will be competing this weekend in Winston Salem for individual State championships.
If any of the six win in their weight class and become state champions their name will go up on the gym wall honoring all gryphon state Champions.
The six looking for championships this weekend are: Admir Scott 112 pound, Francisco Alfaro 130 pounds,Chandler phillips 135 pounds, J K Williams 160 pounds,Dedrick Silver 171, and Guy Williamson 215 pounds.
If J K williamson should win he would become the first ever Gryphon freshman to win a state wrestling title.
Good luck to all Friday and Saturday.
Finally today as I have told you in the past my Cousin Lauren Doughtie who is a senoir on the N C State women's golf team is off to an excellent Senior spring. Back in November I told you she had hurt her wrist and might need surgery but rest cured the problem over the winter.
The first two tournaments of the spring she has finished 4th and 7th. After graduation Lauren plans on qualifying for the US Women's open and afterwards turn pro. She has already qualified to join the futures tour this summer. Depending on the job situation I might be available to caddie for her.
Rocky Mount hoping to improved their playoff location chances could tonight improve those chances a lot if they can beat #2 Fike at 7.30 at SWE. The higher conference seeding you have allows you a higher seeding in the state playoffs and home games are critical. if they can get a #2 conference seeding they would get at least one game. The only way the Gryphons get the #2 seed is win the tournament
Last night Southern Nash defeated Nash Central girls and Southern Nash now get the #1 seeded lady Gryphons at 6.00pm Thursday. In the second semi final the home standing lady Cougars of SWE collide with Fike. The winners play at 6.00pm Friday in the championship game.
The total number of Gryphon football players who will play in college increased to six recently with the NEW-6 Defensive player of the year Chris Pittman signing with UNC-Pembroke. Jermaine Fields has signed on to play at Elizabeth City State University.
They join Nich Hahula(UNC Central),Whit Barnes(Wake Forest), Keith Stickland (ECSU), and Nick Harrison (UNC-Penbroke) who have already signed on the solid line to play football next year.
Wrestling Coach Jermaine(JJ) Jones had to split practice time with football in November and most of December getting his wrestling team going. His fruits have paid off for six wrestlers who will be competing this weekend in Winston Salem for individual State championships.
If any of the six win in their weight class and become state champions their name will go up on the gym wall honoring all gryphon state Champions.
The six looking for championships this weekend are: Admir Scott 112 pound, Francisco Alfaro 130 pounds,Chandler phillips 135 pounds, J K Williams 160 pounds,Dedrick Silver 171, and Guy Williamson 215 pounds.
If J K williamson should win he would become the first ever Gryphon freshman to win a state wrestling title.
Good luck to all Friday and Saturday.
Finally today as I have told you in the past my Cousin Lauren Doughtie who is a senoir on the N C State women's golf team is off to an excellent Senior spring. Back in November I told you she had hurt her wrist and might need surgery but rest cured the problem over the winter.
The first two tournaments of the spring she has finished 4th and 7th. After graduation Lauren plans on qualifying for the US Women's open and afterwards turn pro. She has already qualified to join the futures tour this summer. Depending on the job situation I might be available to caddie for her.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Drugs in Sports
Today Alex Rodriquez went in front of the media to tell the world how young and stupid he was when he took steroids.
Now that he is sorry that he got caught, he is going in with Major League Baseball and will be a spokesman's for anti drugs.
As long as players are paid the salaries they are being paid, a way to cheat to get to the top will continue - especially if there is not going to be some loss of money.
The best thing that could happen is every team that has a player who has admitted using drugs or been tested and found to have used steroids should have their contracts dropped like a hot potato.
All this past week I have not heard one person say to Rodriquez or even the Yankees say, sorry Alex, but you defrauded us and you owe us $300 million in damages that have occurred to us.
That's where I think the real problem is. Baseball is part of the conspiracy. All they are interested in is how many fannies will sit in our luxury boxes or watch our TV network.
I think everyone is guilty in the steroid age of baseball.
Last night, SouthWest Edgecombe boys beat Northern Nash in the NEW 6 Conference tournament 64-62 in overtime to set up the semifinals for Wednesday Night.
Rocky Mount plays Fike in the nightcap at 7.30, while SWE plays Nash Central in the opening game at 6 p.m.
What a sad way for the season to end for Rick Ruffin and the Knights of Northern Nash. They won the Nash County Christmas Tournament and at one time were 13-2 on the season, only to lose two players to academics second semester. Even missing two players, the Knights hung close with everyone but couldn't win the close games. Rick Ruffin should be coach of the year for keeping his team competitive, but of course, he won't.
It will be an upset if Mike Mosley is not coach of the year.
Now that he is sorry that he got caught, he is going in with Major League Baseball and will be a spokesman's for anti drugs.
As long as players are paid the salaries they are being paid, a way to cheat to get to the top will continue - especially if there is not going to be some loss of money.
The best thing that could happen is every team that has a player who has admitted using drugs or been tested and found to have used steroids should have their contracts dropped like a hot potato.
All this past week I have not heard one person say to Rodriquez or even the Yankees say, sorry Alex, but you defrauded us and you owe us $300 million in damages that have occurred to us.
That's where I think the real problem is. Baseball is part of the conspiracy. All they are interested in is how many fannies will sit in our luxury boxes or watch our TV network.
I think everyone is guilty in the steroid age of baseball.
Last night, SouthWest Edgecombe boys beat Northern Nash in the NEW 6 Conference tournament 64-62 in overtime to set up the semifinals for Wednesday Night.
Rocky Mount plays Fike in the nightcap at 7.30, while SWE plays Nash Central in the opening game at 6 p.m.
What a sad way for the season to end for Rick Ruffin and the Knights of Northern Nash. They won the Nash County Christmas Tournament and at one time were 13-2 on the season, only to lose two players to academics second semester. Even missing two players, the Knights hung close with everyone but couldn't win the close games. Rick Ruffin should be coach of the year for keeping his team competitive, but of course, he won't.
It will be an upset if Mike Mosley is not coach of the year.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Tournament Action
The Rocky Mount Gryphons continued their hot play as they romped over Southern Nash 87-52 in the opening game of the final NEW 6 basketball tournament being held at SouthWest Edgecombe.
The Gryphons came into the game as the No. 3 seed team in this year's tournament while Southern Nash went winless in conference play and was seeded sixth.
As the No. 3 seed, the Gryphons can still be knocked back to fourth in the conference seedings if someone other than Nash Central or Fike, the No. 1 and 2 seeds wins this years tournament.
As the Host and the #4 seed in this weeks tournament Southwest Edgecombe has the best chance to hurt the Gryphon chances as they are playing Northern Nash tonight. If they win they would play Nash Central Wednesday night
If Southwest loses tonight or Wednesday against Nash Central then Rocky Mount can be seeded no worse than 3rd. But, If the Gryphons should win the tournament they could displace Fike as the #2 team and possible get a home playoff game.
This is all possible since the Gryphons right now are the hottest team in the NEW-6 having won 6 games in a row.
The Gryphons wasted little time in establishing that they were in command from the get go. Tashawn Mabry lead the Gryphons with 26 followed by sharp shooter Nick Hahula who had 18 points including five three pointers. Philip Wilkins also contributed 14 as well as another strong game on the boards.
The Gryphons are now 14-10 on the season and face Fike Wednesday night in Pinetops in the semifinals. Fike and Rocky Mount split their games during the regular season but, the loss at Fike came during a time when the Gryphons were not at full strength as they are now.
I hope you had a chance to see the "Stretchlon Sports Show" last night featuring Brian Goodwin. In our world today when we see pro athletes who are only for me, me,me it is refreshing to see a youngster who is humble and has family values which is very prevalent is listening to and watching Brian's action.
I hope Brian can become the next great Gryphon on the national sports stage.
Today baseball practiced as the defending state champs the Gryphons of Rocky Mount high school started their first step in defending their 3-A title. First game of the season is March First against Greenville Rose.
The Gryphons came into the game as the No. 3 seed team in this year's tournament while Southern Nash went winless in conference play and was seeded sixth.
As the No. 3 seed, the Gryphons can still be knocked back to fourth in the conference seedings if someone other than Nash Central or Fike, the No. 1 and 2 seeds wins this years tournament.
As the Host and the #4 seed in this weeks tournament Southwest Edgecombe has the best chance to hurt the Gryphon chances as they are playing Northern Nash tonight. If they win they would play Nash Central Wednesday night
If Southwest loses tonight or Wednesday against Nash Central then Rocky Mount can be seeded no worse than 3rd. But, If the Gryphons should win the tournament they could displace Fike as the #2 team and possible get a home playoff game.
This is all possible since the Gryphons right now are the hottest team in the NEW-6 having won 6 games in a row.
The Gryphons wasted little time in establishing that they were in command from the get go. Tashawn Mabry lead the Gryphons with 26 followed by sharp shooter Nick Hahula who had 18 points including five three pointers. Philip Wilkins also contributed 14 as well as another strong game on the boards.
The Gryphons are now 14-10 on the season and face Fike Wednesday night in Pinetops in the semifinals. Fike and Rocky Mount split their games during the regular season but, the loss at Fike came during a time when the Gryphons were not at full strength as they are now.
I hope you had a chance to see the "Stretchlon Sports Show" last night featuring Brian Goodwin. In our world today when we see pro athletes who are only for me, me,me it is refreshing to see a youngster who is humble and has family values which is very prevalent is listening to and watching Brian's action.
I hope Brian can become the next great Gryphon on the national sports stage.
Today baseball practiced as the defending state champs the Gryphons of Rocky Mount high school started their first step in defending their 3-A title. First game of the season is March First against Greenville Rose.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Who Can Figure it Out
The ACC basketball race is about as confusing as Algebra 2 was when I was in high school.
The only spot that seems to some degree settled is first where Carolina has a one game lead. Not all that much of a lead.
Starting from third to about tenth could turn around by the end of next week.
Clemson, Florida State and Virginia Tech who I thought could go far in the NCAA, just might not make the NCAA's if they don't quit losing to teams they should beat.
There is probably not a better team in the country than N C State for thirty minutes a game. It's the other ten minutes that they are one of the worst teams.
This NCAA tournament could easily have six teams advance to the sweet 16 or only one. Who knows!.
I hope you have seen the latest" Gryphon Grapevine" there is a story about Travis Cobb.
Check out the "Gryphon Grapevine".
I have just as I am writing this received a called from Richard Sarmeiento and there will be a live Baseball show tonight on the "Stretchlon Sports Show" featuring Brian Goodwin and his family.
check it out at 8.00pm tonight and the replay at 5.00pm Monday afternoon.
Rocky Mount is paired up with Southern Nash in the opening round of the NEW-6 Basketball tournament. Northern Nash will play Southwest Edgecombe. If Rocky mount wins Monday they draw Fike on Wednesday.
The lady Gryphons are idle until Thursday's Semi finals all being played at Southwest Edgecombe.
The only spot that seems to some degree settled is first where Carolina has a one game lead. Not all that much of a lead.
Starting from third to about tenth could turn around by the end of next week.
Clemson, Florida State and Virginia Tech who I thought could go far in the NCAA, just might not make the NCAA's if they don't quit losing to teams they should beat.
There is probably not a better team in the country than N C State for thirty minutes a game. It's the other ten minutes that they are one of the worst teams.
This NCAA tournament could easily have six teams advance to the sweet 16 or only one. Who knows!.
I hope you have seen the latest" Gryphon Grapevine" there is a story about Travis Cobb.
Check out the "Gryphon Grapevine".
I have just as I am writing this received a called from Richard Sarmeiento and there will be a live Baseball show tonight on the "Stretchlon Sports Show" featuring Brian Goodwin and his family.
check it out at 8.00pm tonight and the replay at 5.00pm Monday afternoon.
Rocky Mount is paired up with Southern Nash in the opening round of the NEW-6 Basketball tournament. Northern Nash will play Southwest Edgecombe. If Rocky mount wins Monday they draw Fike on Wednesday.
The lady Gryphons are idle until Thursday's Semi finals all being played at Southwest Edgecombe.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Way You Want To finish
Last night ended the regular season of high school basketball. To say the least this has been a trying season for the boys basketball team.
What Mike Gainey has become accustomed to is not having his full team through most of December. Two of the last four years the football team has played December playoff games. This year five football players joined the basketball team when football ended.
That's tough already five or six games into the season and one third of your team is just starting practice. By the time everyone is getting into basketball shape the Christmas Holiday break occurs.
Just when the football players are getting use to the round ball your best player is injured and sits out two games. After Christmas two weeks worth of basketball is interrupted by a week of exams and then academic causalities.
Through the first round of conference play Coach Gainey played 10 and 12 players looking for the right combination. As the second time through the conference play started all the academics and injuries out of the way he was able to settle on the first eight players. No team played better through the second round of games.
Tashawn Mabry is the leading scorer. Philip Wilkins the leading rebounder. His last three games he has pulled down 12,13 and 15 rebounds. The bug a boo for this team is turn overs. They make them in bunches. If over the next couple of weeks they could cut their turnovers in half they might be able to make a run in the playoffs.
The conference tournamnet starts Monday at Southwest Edgecombe. The Gryphons will have to win three games next week to be conference tournament champions. I would not put it past them.
Two years in a row now the Lady Gryphons have gone undefeated. They carry an 18-4 record into their Thursday night semi final game in the tournament.
If there is one thing that this area produces is speed. Whether it's football or basketball Rocky Mount athletes are fast. That includes the girls. One thing this area doesn't produce for girls is height.
Pam Gainey is a full court defensive coach that loves defense. This years team has struggled at the offensive end to get points in the hole. I think without a doubt 40% of this team scoring is defensive related. They score when their defense is suffocating.
If you look back at Pam Gainey's career at Rocky Mount she has struggled in the playoffs because the teams that win the state championships have a 6'2" girl in the middle which Gainey has always lacked.
Our conference doesn't have any big girls in the middle this year and Pam Gainey's style has flourished having to play a small lineup.
I have watched Gryphon basketball for ten years now and this years girls team is no where near the best during that time.
And yet, Pam Gainey has them at 18-4 and they will get at least one home game during the playoffs.
What Mike Gainey has become accustomed to is not having his full team through most of December. Two of the last four years the football team has played December playoff games. This year five football players joined the basketball team when football ended.
That's tough already five or six games into the season and one third of your team is just starting practice. By the time everyone is getting into basketball shape the Christmas Holiday break occurs.
Just when the football players are getting use to the round ball your best player is injured and sits out two games. After Christmas two weeks worth of basketball is interrupted by a week of exams and then academic causalities.
Through the first round of conference play Coach Gainey played 10 and 12 players looking for the right combination. As the second time through the conference play started all the academics and injuries out of the way he was able to settle on the first eight players. No team played better through the second round of games.
Tashawn Mabry is the leading scorer. Philip Wilkins the leading rebounder. His last three games he has pulled down 12,13 and 15 rebounds. The bug a boo for this team is turn overs. They make them in bunches. If over the next couple of weeks they could cut their turnovers in half they might be able to make a run in the playoffs.
The conference tournamnet starts Monday at Southwest Edgecombe. The Gryphons will have to win three games next week to be conference tournament champions. I would not put it past them.
Two years in a row now the Lady Gryphons have gone undefeated. They carry an 18-4 record into their Thursday night semi final game in the tournament.
If there is one thing that this area produces is speed. Whether it's football or basketball Rocky Mount athletes are fast. That includes the girls. One thing this area doesn't produce for girls is height.
Pam Gainey is a full court defensive coach that loves defense. This years team has struggled at the offensive end to get points in the hole. I think without a doubt 40% of this team scoring is defensive related. They score when their defense is suffocating.
If you look back at Pam Gainey's career at Rocky Mount she has struggled in the playoffs because the teams that win the state championships have a 6'2" girl in the middle which Gainey has always lacked.
Our conference doesn't have any big girls in the middle this year and Pam Gainey's style has flourished having to play a small lineup.
I have watched Gryphon basketball for ten years now and this years girls team is no where near the best during that time.
And yet, Pam Gainey has them at 18-4 and they will get at least one home game during the playoffs.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Lady Gryphons are perfect, boys were too!
Friday was the last evening of play for the regular season in high school basketball. If you have a road game, it means you are catching the home team in the middle of their Senior Night.
That is what happened tonight as the Rocky Mount Lady Gryphons put a cap on a perfect conference season as they beat Nash Central in the Bulldogs' home gym 52-48.
The Lady Gryphons will head into the NEW 6 Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed and 18-4 overall.
Tonight was the 10th win in a row for the ladies who have not lost a game since Jan. 6 in a non-conference game at Beddingfield.
It was also payback tie to Nash Central which won the Nash County Christmas Tournament on its home court just before Christmas. It probably was their worst game of the year for the Lady Gryphons in losing 52-40 to Nash Central.
The Lady Gryphons get a bye in the first round of the conference tournament and are already in the semifinals Thursday.
Nash Central's boys had the same opportunity to go undefeated in conference play on their home floor tonight, but an ever-improving Gryphon boys team prevailed 67-52.
The Gryphons played possibly their best game of the year as a team. They withstood a furious second-half fullcourt press from the Bulldogs. At times, the defense worked but more than not the Gryphons outlasted the Bulldogs.
The icing on the cake was a missed shot slam dunk put back by Tashawn Mabry with just under four minutes to play which inspired the Gryphon fans and really let the air out of the balloon for the Bulldogs.
Mabry led the way for the Gryphons with 26 points, but tonight was a team effort and the fifth win in a row for the boys. They find themselves 13-10 after the regular season and 6-4 in conference play after going the first cycle through the conference at 1-4.
Head coach Mike Gainey was so proud of the team's effort tonight that he cleared the bench with 20 seconds to play and only a 12-point lead in order for his starters to hear the appreciative Gryphons fans acknowledge them.
Got a chance to see the UNC's new Boshamer Stadium tonight on WRAL-TV . After having to travel to Cary last season and play all of its home games at the USA Baseball Complex, Carolina opens their referbished stadium next weekend .
The new stadium will seat over 4,000, which is about an 80 percent increase in seating capacity over the old stadium. The only disapointment I see is the seats are Green not Carolina blue. What gives with that?
The North Carolina/South Carolina Basketball Classic All-Star game will have a local representative. Nash Central's Trey Sumler has been selected to play in the game that will be held March 21 at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Sumelr joins Whit Barnes of Rocky Mount High School, who played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas football game in December, in representing the NEW 6 Conference in interstate sports clashes.
That is what happened tonight as the Rocky Mount Lady Gryphons put a cap on a perfect conference season as they beat Nash Central in the Bulldogs' home gym 52-48.
The Lady Gryphons will head into the NEW 6 Conference Tournament as the No. 1 seed and 18-4 overall.
Tonight was the 10th win in a row for the ladies who have not lost a game since Jan. 6 in a non-conference game at Beddingfield.
It was also payback tie to Nash Central which won the Nash County Christmas Tournament on its home court just before Christmas. It probably was their worst game of the year for the Lady Gryphons in losing 52-40 to Nash Central.
The Lady Gryphons get a bye in the first round of the conference tournament and are already in the semifinals Thursday.
Nash Central's boys had the same opportunity to go undefeated in conference play on their home floor tonight, but an ever-improving Gryphon boys team prevailed 67-52.
The Gryphons played possibly their best game of the year as a team. They withstood a furious second-half fullcourt press from the Bulldogs. At times, the defense worked but more than not the Gryphons outlasted the Bulldogs.
The icing on the cake was a missed shot slam dunk put back by Tashawn Mabry with just under four minutes to play which inspired the Gryphon fans and really let the air out of the balloon for the Bulldogs.
Mabry led the way for the Gryphons with 26 points, but tonight was a team effort and the fifth win in a row for the boys. They find themselves 13-10 after the regular season and 6-4 in conference play after going the first cycle through the conference at 1-4.
Head coach Mike Gainey was so proud of the team's effort tonight that he cleared the bench with 20 seconds to play and only a 12-point lead in order for his starters to hear the appreciative Gryphons fans acknowledge them.
Got a chance to see the UNC's new Boshamer Stadium tonight on WRAL-TV . After having to travel to Cary last season and play all of its home games at the USA Baseball Complex, Carolina opens their referbished stadium next weekend .
The new stadium will seat over 4,000, which is about an 80 percent increase in seating capacity over the old stadium. The only disapointment I see is the seats are Green not Carolina blue. What gives with that?
The North Carolina/South Carolina Basketball Classic All-Star game will have a local representative. Nash Central's Trey Sumler has been selected to play in the game that will be held March 21 at Socastee High School in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Sumelr joins Whit Barnes of Rocky Mount High School, who played in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas football game in December, in representing the NEW 6 Conference in interstate sports clashes.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Refreshing
Last night after the Carolina-Duke game coach K said the Duke played well. It is very refreshing to hear someone say that instead of we played poorly.
One of the biggest faults all of us is never giving the other side their due when they win whether it's in sports or on the job.
Practically every player Duke puts on the court was labeled a 5-Star athlete while the recruiting process was going on. When coach K says they were better what he is telling you is their 5-star athletes are better than Dukes.
If you line up the starting five for Carolina and Duke the biggest difference between the two is the big man.
Coach K's style is he plays chest to chest defense once you cross the mid court line. Teams with poor ball handling skills have a hard time being able to set up to shoot a good shot before the end of the time clock.
For those teams that are able to attack the basket Duke does not have a big man to defend inside. In coach K's style they need a big man like Singler who can cover the court but in order to cover the court he is not strong enough to win inside defensively.
So Duke's shortcoming is they need a big man say a Ben McCauley who can play strong inside. If Duke had a Ben McCauley to play inside the score last night might have been different. The bottom line is you have to play with what you have.
Looking at N C State if they has a Greg Paulus at point guard they would be one of the elite teams in the country. But they don't.
So when Carolina matches up with just about every team in the country they are as good as any one. The problem for elite players is the hunger to play at your maximum on every play when you are ahead by 20.
That expectation of winning by 20 every game makes it possible for players to be lulled into thinking they can do whatever they want any time they want.
Taking last night as an example when Duke plays to their maximum like they did for a major part of the game, it means Carolina must play at a high level to match it.
Just a few weeks ago I thought Wake Forest was a very elite team. Last night Jeff Teague scored only eight points against a very frail back court for N C State. For Teague it is a matter that he has to show up all the time. When he plays well the entire Wake team well.
Any team that you wonder which team is going to show up will never make it in the NCAA tournament because one game they won't show up and they will be out.
There are several teams in college basketball who have a shot at the National Championshhip including Oklahoma who has possibly the best player in the country.
All the Duke fans today that feel like the world had ended need to just think about this . You are only a big man from being as good as any body.
One of the biggest faults all of us is never giving the other side their due when they win whether it's in sports or on the job.
Practically every player Duke puts on the court was labeled a 5-Star athlete while the recruiting process was going on. When coach K says they were better what he is telling you is their 5-star athletes are better than Dukes.
If you line up the starting five for Carolina and Duke the biggest difference between the two is the big man.
Coach K's style is he plays chest to chest defense once you cross the mid court line. Teams with poor ball handling skills have a hard time being able to set up to shoot a good shot before the end of the time clock.
For those teams that are able to attack the basket Duke does not have a big man to defend inside. In coach K's style they need a big man like Singler who can cover the court but in order to cover the court he is not strong enough to win inside defensively.
So Duke's shortcoming is they need a big man say a Ben McCauley who can play strong inside. If Duke had a Ben McCauley to play inside the score last night might have been different. The bottom line is you have to play with what you have.
Looking at N C State if they has a Greg Paulus at point guard they would be one of the elite teams in the country. But they don't.
So when Carolina matches up with just about every team in the country they are as good as any one. The problem for elite players is the hunger to play at your maximum on every play when you are ahead by 20.
That expectation of winning by 20 every game makes it possible for players to be lulled into thinking they can do whatever they want any time they want.
Taking last night as an example when Duke plays to their maximum like they did for a major part of the game, it means Carolina must play at a high level to match it.
Just a few weeks ago I thought Wake Forest was a very elite team. Last night Jeff Teague scored only eight points against a very frail back court for N C State. For Teague it is a matter that he has to show up all the time. When he plays well the entire Wake team well.
Any team that you wonder which team is going to show up will never make it in the NCAA tournament because one game they won't show up and they will be out.
There are several teams in college basketball who have a shot at the National Championshhip including Oklahoma who has possibly the best player in the country.
All the Duke fans today that feel like the world had ended need to just think about this . You are only a big man from being as good as any body.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Rivalries
Tonight Duke host North Carolina in what the national media is calling the best rivalry in college basketball.
I heard Collin Cowherd on his ESPN radio show one day this week say that the only way to have a rivalry was when neither team dominated a series.
I think Collin is one of the best national radio host in America, but he is out in left field on this one.
I guess we have to determine what makes a good rivalry?
There has to be the element that if you win only one game all year that this is the one. Let's look at this past football season. If Northern could have beaten Rocky Mount would they have cared whether they had won only two games? On the other hand , it would have been disaster if Rocky Mount had of lost that game. Even though they would have been 12-3 on the year.
The Carolina-Duke game is big but, do you think Carolina wants to lose to State. If you look at State-Carolina series in football and basketball Carolina has dominated both. There is no better celebration for a State fan than winning against Carolina.
Locally since their inception Rocky Mount has dominated Nash Central, but how sweet it is for Nash central to beat Rocky Mount in any sport.
In order to have a rivalry there must be inter mingling between the schools and fans. People at work pull for the other side. Players play little league with each other. That inter office banter that my team is better than your team.
Any rivalry works better when the loser either loses the championship or is knocked out of the playoffs by their arch rival. So the team that is down spoils the team that is up with great pleasure.
A key component to any rivalry is that both sides care. If one side feels it life or death and the other could care less then it is hard to have a rivalry.
A rivalry can occur just because there is a mutual respect for each other. Last night during the Fike-Rocky Mount boys game Tashawn Mabry and Jeremy Adkinson for most of the game played man to man against each other. When all is said and done one of those two players will probably be the player of the year in the NEW-6. You could see it in their eyes as they went against each other that they wanted to prove to the other which one was best.
Finally the best rivalries are the ones where you have fun with each other between games. There is nothing better than thinking that you have upped someone for a whole year or
UNTIL THE NEXT GAME.
I heard Collin Cowherd on his ESPN radio show one day this week say that the only way to have a rivalry was when neither team dominated a series.
I think Collin is one of the best national radio host in America, but he is out in left field on this one.
I guess we have to determine what makes a good rivalry?
There has to be the element that if you win only one game all year that this is the one. Let's look at this past football season. If Northern could have beaten Rocky Mount would they have cared whether they had won only two games? On the other hand , it would have been disaster if Rocky Mount had of lost that game. Even though they would have been 12-3 on the year.
The Carolina-Duke game is big but, do you think Carolina wants to lose to State. If you look at State-Carolina series in football and basketball Carolina has dominated both. There is no better celebration for a State fan than winning against Carolina.
Locally since their inception Rocky Mount has dominated Nash Central, but how sweet it is for Nash central to beat Rocky Mount in any sport.
In order to have a rivalry there must be inter mingling between the schools and fans. People at work pull for the other side. Players play little league with each other. That inter office banter that my team is better than your team.
Any rivalry works better when the loser either loses the championship or is knocked out of the playoffs by their arch rival. So the team that is down spoils the team that is up with great pleasure.
A key component to any rivalry is that both sides care. If one side feels it life or death and the other could care less then it is hard to have a rivalry.
A rivalry can occur just because there is a mutual respect for each other. Last night during the Fike-Rocky Mount boys game Tashawn Mabry and Jeremy Adkinson for most of the game played man to man against each other. When all is said and done one of those two players will probably be the player of the year in the NEW-6. You could see it in their eyes as they went against each other that they wanted to prove to the other which one was best.
Finally the best rivalries are the ones where you have fun with each other between games. There is nothing better than thinking that you have upped someone for a whole year or
UNTIL THE NEXT GAME.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Gryphons Roll
The first half of the Fike-Rocky Mount girls game was a game where the bottom of the net was not in the cards for the Lady Gryphons. Luckily for them Fike could garner only a 20-15 lead.
A quicker pace in the second half found every run that Rocky Mount made Fike had an answer. Suddenly midway in the fourth quarter Arkenesia Melton got hot and the Lady Gryphon defensed melted the Golden Demons.
The lady Gryphons never lead until under a minute to play when Danita Whitaker stole a cross court pass and went in for a layup. Down the stretch Dyonna Battle and Lakia Bynum canned free throws to bring the Lady Gryphons their ninth straight conference win 52-47 over Fike.
Dyonna Battle lead the Lady's with 18 followed by Lakia Bynum and Arkenesia Melton with 13 each. The Lady Gryphons go for a perfect conference season Friday night at Nash Central who are one of only three teams to beat the Lady's this year. They are now 17-4 on the season and 9-0 in conference play.
Between game all seniors who took part in winter sports were recognized with their parents and guardians.
When the boys got down to action it looked like the first team to 100 would win and it almost happened. Down 23-14 in the first quarter lead by Alonzo Sharpe the Gryphons scored the last nine points of the first quarter to tie Fike at 23-23
The second quarter belonged to Fike's Jeremy Adkinson as he lit up the score board from the outside and in as Fike posted thirty points in the second quarter. Nick Hahula made three three pointers to keep Rocky Mount down by only ten at the half.
The third quarter was run and gun basketball with every attempt by Rocky Mount to cut the lead fought off by the Golden Demons. With about a minute to play in the third quarter it seemed as if Fike ran out of gas. Their shots started coming up short and the Gryphons dominated the boards. At the end of three quarters is was 68-63.
Tashawn Mabry twice during the game went to the sidelines for medical attention but while he was on the court he was a scoring machine. Mabry and Adkinson had a personal battle as Mabry with two free throws in the last ten seconds outscored Adkinson 38-36.
Philip Wilkins controlled the boards for the Gryphons in the fourth quarter and ended the game with 14.
The Gryphons have their highest scoring game of the years as they go to above 500 in conference play with a 94-83 victory over the Golden Demons.
Tonight's victory should clinch 3rd place for the Gryphons who have now won four in a row and have moved to 5-4 and 12-10 on the season.
Tonight we have to end on a sad note as I guess everyone has heard the Hunt Basketball player collapsed and died yesterday during a JV practice. Our prayers go out tonight to the family of Anthony Eatmon .
This has turned out to be a very trying year for North Carolina High school athletes with the deaths that have occurred this season
A quicker pace in the second half found every run that Rocky Mount made Fike had an answer. Suddenly midway in the fourth quarter Arkenesia Melton got hot and the Lady Gryphon defensed melted the Golden Demons.
The lady Gryphons never lead until under a minute to play when Danita Whitaker stole a cross court pass and went in for a layup. Down the stretch Dyonna Battle and Lakia Bynum canned free throws to bring the Lady Gryphons their ninth straight conference win 52-47 over Fike.
Dyonna Battle lead the Lady's with 18 followed by Lakia Bynum and Arkenesia Melton with 13 each. The Lady Gryphons go for a perfect conference season Friday night at Nash Central who are one of only three teams to beat the Lady's this year. They are now 17-4 on the season and 9-0 in conference play.
Between game all seniors who took part in winter sports were recognized with their parents and guardians.
When the boys got down to action it looked like the first team to 100 would win and it almost happened. Down 23-14 in the first quarter lead by Alonzo Sharpe the Gryphons scored the last nine points of the first quarter to tie Fike at 23-23
The second quarter belonged to Fike's Jeremy Adkinson as he lit up the score board from the outside and in as Fike posted thirty points in the second quarter. Nick Hahula made three three pointers to keep Rocky Mount down by only ten at the half.
The third quarter was run and gun basketball with every attempt by Rocky Mount to cut the lead fought off by the Golden Demons. With about a minute to play in the third quarter it seemed as if Fike ran out of gas. Their shots started coming up short and the Gryphons dominated the boards. At the end of three quarters is was 68-63.
Tashawn Mabry twice during the game went to the sidelines for medical attention but while he was on the court he was a scoring machine. Mabry and Adkinson had a personal battle as Mabry with two free throws in the last ten seconds outscored Adkinson 38-36.
Philip Wilkins controlled the boards for the Gryphons in the fourth quarter and ended the game with 14.
The Gryphons have their highest scoring game of the years as they go to above 500 in conference play with a 94-83 victory over the Golden Demons.
Tonight's victory should clinch 3rd place for the Gryphons who have now won four in a row and have moved to 5-4 and 12-10 on the season.
Tonight we have to end on a sad note as I guess everyone has heard the Hunt Basketball player collapsed and died yesterday during a JV practice. Our prayers go out tonight to the family of Anthony Eatmon .
This has turned out to be a very trying year for North Carolina High school athletes with the deaths that have occurred this season
Monday, February 9, 2009
Carolina-Duke Week Take One
Tonight in Chapel Hill Duke and Carolina got together to play basketball. It was for the lead in the ACC basketball race. Playing in front of the home folks Carolina pulled away for a 75-60 victory in Women's basketball
Wednesday night the Guys play in Durham. Neither team at this point is playing as they are the odds on favorite to win the national championship but there is still a month to go before the end of the regular season. The winner Wednesday just might get started on the roll.
Carolina has so many injuries their bench is depleted. Duke has shown since conference play has started the way to beat them is go inside. Duke is 14-0 at home this year which I think that is some of their problem. Not enough road games.
I think Carolina will win in a close game. If Duke makes their three pointers all night that might sway the game to their side.
Florida State to me has just as good of talent as any team in the ACC. They could be a team when the NCAA tournament starts to lose in the first game or make it all the way to the final four.
The other big four game of the week Wake visits the Wolfpack and I just don't see State handling Jeff Teague. If Teague shows up to play the rest of his teammates will follow him. When he hasn't shown up no one else has either. I think the Deacs win by double digits.
Tuesday night is the last home game of the regular season for the Gryphons of Rocky Mount High School. The lady's will get at least one playoff game at home if not more while the boys should have to travel through out the playoffs.
The girls Are still trying to go undefeated in conference play while the boys want to finish above 500 in conference. The only way either team can accomplish their goals is to win both games this week.
The boys have a tougher road in order to do that as they play Fike and Nash Central this week. Both are ahead of the Gryphons in the standings. The girls how ever have beaten both Fike and Central the first time through the conference rotation.
Finally, as a Wolfpack fan I have learned over the last couple of years not to get my hopes up until there is ten seconds to play and a ten point lead. Yesterday's 18 point give-a-way is another example of being on the edge of my seat but there was no cheering as I waited for the bottom to fall out.
In the end a simple foul shot cost the Wolfpack the game in regulation. My only beef with the coach is when you don't have any body who can handle the ball why do you try to run the clock out by holding on to the ball. That played right in to Va Tech's hands!
Wednesday night the Guys play in Durham. Neither team at this point is playing as they are the odds on favorite to win the national championship but there is still a month to go before the end of the regular season. The winner Wednesday just might get started on the roll.
Carolina has so many injuries their bench is depleted. Duke has shown since conference play has started the way to beat them is go inside. Duke is 14-0 at home this year which I think that is some of their problem. Not enough road games.
I think Carolina will win in a close game. If Duke makes their three pointers all night that might sway the game to their side.
Florida State to me has just as good of talent as any team in the ACC. They could be a team when the NCAA tournament starts to lose in the first game or make it all the way to the final four.
The other big four game of the week Wake visits the Wolfpack and I just don't see State handling Jeff Teague. If Teague shows up to play the rest of his teammates will follow him. When he hasn't shown up no one else has either. I think the Deacs win by double digits.
Tuesday night is the last home game of the regular season for the Gryphons of Rocky Mount High School. The lady's will get at least one playoff game at home if not more while the boys should have to travel through out the playoffs.
The girls Are still trying to go undefeated in conference play while the boys want to finish above 500 in conference. The only way either team can accomplish their goals is to win both games this week.
The boys have a tougher road in order to do that as they play Fike and Nash Central this week. Both are ahead of the Gryphons in the standings. The girls how ever have beaten both Fike and Central the first time through the conference rotation.
Finally, as a Wolfpack fan I have learned over the last couple of years not to get my hopes up until there is ten seconds to play and a ten point lead. Yesterday's 18 point give-a-way is another example of being on the edge of my seat but there was no cheering as I waited for the bottom to fall out.
In the end a simple foul shot cost the Wolfpack the game in regulation. My only beef with the coach is when you don't have any body who can handle the ball why do you try to run the clock out by holding on to the ball. That played right in to Va Tech's hands!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Quarterbacks and Point Guards
The two positions that are the most important in basketball and football is the quarterback and point guard.
They are the same position in their respective sport.
North Carolina State had Philip Rivers at quarterback for 51 straight games from 2000-03. Since his departure there has been a revolving door from week to week who have played quarterback.
This season in basketball, State can't find a point guard that they are willing to stick with more than a couple of games at a time.
The quarterback and point guard are the coach on the field or court. They make decisions based on what is happening as the play transpires. It is their decision to change the play as it is happening. Get the ball to the person who can make something happen this play.
This past football season, B.W. Holt was able to make the Rocky Mount High football team better by placing Collins Cuthrell at quarterback and moving Hiawatha Bunn to corner back.
Bunn was a much better runner than Cuthrell. Cuthrell is a much better passer than Bunn. The running game we had we needed to be able to open thing up with the pass which Collins could do.
Moving Bunn to corner back was the last piece of the puzzle that made the Gryphon defense as great as it was this past year.
Duke basketball's weak point is its inside game. Yesterday, without an inside game, the Blue Devils almost loss another game. But, what does Duke have? Point guards! The general on the court helps disguise the weak spots because it gets the ball to their strengths.
Earlier this week during his news conference talking about this year's recruits, State football coach Tom O'Brien expressed a surprising displeasure in Russell Wilson ability to run with the ball. He said that during his three injuries he sustained this year they all came when running with the ball not running the play as designed. He pointed out that State lost all the games he was either injured in or fail to play the next week.
O'Brien wants his quarterback to stay healthy. It is hard for any player or team to get better when they are either not on the field playing or having a different player in the game at most important times.
Look at this year's ACC basketball teams. Each one that is getting good guard play has won more than they have lost. Those that haven't had it continue to search.
Those of us who sit in front of the TV or in the stands fail to realize how coaches put their livelihoods in the hands of youngsters. The coaches who have a general on the field live a more stress-free than those that can't. A stress-free life for a coach is winning. You win with a quarterback and point guard who relieves a coach's stress.
They are the same position in their respective sport.
North Carolina State had Philip Rivers at quarterback for 51 straight games from 2000-03. Since his departure there has been a revolving door from week to week who have played quarterback.
This season in basketball, State can't find a point guard that they are willing to stick with more than a couple of games at a time.
The quarterback and point guard are the coach on the field or court. They make decisions based on what is happening as the play transpires. It is their decision to change the play as it is happening. Get the ball to the person who can make something happen this play.
This past football season, B.W. Holt was able to make the Rocky Mount High football team better by placing Collins Cuthrell at quarterback and moving Hiawatha Bunn to corner back.
Bunn was a much better runner than Cuthrell. Cuthrell is a much better passer than Bunn. The running game we had we needed to be able to open thing up with the pass which Collins could do.
Moving Bunn to corner back was the last piece of the puzzle that made the Gryphon defense as great as it was this past year.
Duke basketball's weak point is its inside game. Yesterday, without an inside game, the Blue Devils almost loss another game. But, what does Duke have? Point guards! The general on the court helps disguise the weak spots because it gets the ball to their strengths.
Earlier this week during his news conference talking about this year's recruits, State football coach Tom O'Brien expressed a surprising displeasure in Russell Wilson ability to run with the ball. He said that during his three injuries he sustained this year they all came when running with the ball not running the play as designed. He pointed out that State lost all the games he was either injured in or fail to play the next week.
O'Brien wants his quarterback to stay healthy. It is hard for any player or team to get better when they are either not on the field playing or having a different player in the game at most important times.
Look at this year's ACC basketball teams. Each one that is getting good guard play has won more than they have lost. Those that haven't had it continue to search.
Those of us who sit in front of the TV or in the stands fail to realize how coaches put their livelihoods in the hands of youngsters. The coaches who have a general on the field live a more stress-free than those that can't. A stress-free life for a coach is winning. You win with a quarterback and point guard who relieves a coach's stress.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Lady Gryphons clinch a Tie
Whenever Southwest Edgecombe plays Rocky Mount you can expect a full house and tonight was another.
Sandra Langley had her girls ready to avenge an earlier lost to the Lady Gryphons in Pinetops but a hard fought high scoring game ended with Pam Gainey's team winning 63-60.
The victory clinches a tie for first place for the Lady Gryphons who now are 8-0 in conference play. All Rocky Mount needs to do it win one of two games next week, either at home Tuesday against Fike or Friday at Nash Central to clinch the first round bye in the conference tournament.
I see nothing wrong winning both games next week and finishing the conference schedule undefeated.
Between the games Boys coach Michael Gainey was given a basketball celebrating his 200th career win Tuesday at Southern Nash.
Tonight coach Gainey started on the road to 300 as the Gryphons used a strong fourth quarter by Tashawn Mabry to power past Southwest boys 73-60.
Mabry finished the game with 31 but scored almost half of his points for the evening in the fourth quarter. Philip Wilkins had a double double as he garnered 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The Gryphons are now 3-0 the second time through the conference swing and with tonights win get even at 4-4 in conference play. It has been a while since the Gryphons have won more than they have lost but tonights victory puts them at 11-10 on the season.
The lady's victory puts them at 16-4 on the season.
Tonight is the last regular season meeting between Southwest and Rocky Mount in conference play as the Cougars will drop back to the 2-A ranks next year.
As highly competitive and as large as the crowds have been I am sure Southwest will be on both the football and basketball teams schedule next year and into future years.
Sandra Langley had her girls ready to avenge an earlier lost to the Lady Gryphons in Pinetops but a hard fought high scoring game ended with Pam Gainey's team winning 63-60.
The victory clinches a tie for first place for the Lady Gryphons who now are 8-0 in conference play. All Rocky Mount needs to do it win one of two games next week, either at home Tuesday against Fike or Friday at Nash Central to clinch the first round bye in the conference tournament.
I see nothing wrong winning both games next week and finishing the conference schedule undefeated.
Between the games Boys coach Michael Gainey was given a basketball celebrating his 200th career win Tuesday at Southern Nash.
Tonight coach Gainey started on the road to 300 as the Gryphons used a strong fourth quarter by Tashawn Mabry to power past Southwest boys 73-60.
Mabry finished the game with 31 but scored almost half of his points for the evening in the fourth quarter. Philip Wilkins had a double double as he garnered 13 points and 12 rebounds.
The Gryphons are now 3-0 the second time through the conference swing and with tonights win get even at 4-4 in conference play. It has been a while since the Gryphons have won more than they have lost but tonights victory puts them at 11-10 on the season.
The lady's victory puts them at 16-4 on the season.
Tonight is the last regular season meeting between Southwest and Rocky Mount in conference play as the Cougars will drop back to the 2-A ranks next year.
As highly competitive and as large as the crowds have been I am sure Southwest will be on both the football and basketball teams schedule next year and into future years.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
ACC Basketball Looks like Football
Most teams in the ACC basketball race are at the eight-game mark in the conference season. That would be equal to the football season when no one wanted to take charge. Let's look at where this thing seems to be going.
Carolina, 6-2 - You may have already forgotten they started 0-2. They seem to be the best in the league but I don't hear to any Tar Heel fans jumping for joy right now.
Duke, 6-2 - Last night they fell to 3-3 on the season on the road. That's not a good sign since I don't see any NCAA games scheduled for Cameron Indoor Stadium come March.
Clemson, 5-2 - This is probably the best Clemson team since Eldon Campbell and the Tigers were robbed by Connecticut in 1991.
Boston College, 6-3 - When the Tournament starts guard play is important. BC might make Sweet 16.
Wake Forest, 4-3 - Lack of outside shooting is telling on the Deacs. They must get back to playing good defense.
Virginia Tech, 4-3 - If they make NCAA tournament the Hokies are another team that can cause trouble.
Florida State, 4-3 - They have really good athletes but always seem to let lesser teams beat them.
Miami, 4-5 - The Hurricanes are another team that seem to be better than their record.
Maryland, 3-5 - Not that long ago were National Champions. Looks like this year is a throw away season with all the Gary Williams firing talk.
N C State, 2-5 - Point guard, point guard, are you listening John Wall?
Virginia, 1-6 - I think by year's end they will finish last.
Georgia Tech, 1-7 - Well somebody has to be last.
After only getting four NCAA bids last year the ACC could get as many as eight but I think six is about right. It would not surprise me to see four in sweet 16.
Pat Summitt has won No. 1,000 as a women's basketball coach. The scary part is Pat Summitt is only 56 years old. She could win another 500 if she sticks around that long.
Carolina, 6-2 - You may have already forgotten they started 0-2. They seem to be the best in the league but I don't hear to any Tar Heel fans jumping for joy right now.
Duke, 6-2 - Last night they fell to 3-3 on the season on the road. That's not a good sign since I don't see any NCAA games scheduled for Cameron Indoor Stadium come March.
Clemson, 5-2 - This is probably the best Clemson team since Eldon Campbell and the Tigers were robbed by Connecticut in 1991.
Boston College, 6-3 - When the Tournament starts guard play is important. BC might make Sweet 16.
Wake Forest, 4-3 - Lack of outside shooting is telling on the Deacs. They must get back to playing good defense.
Virginia Tech, 4-3 - If they make NCAA tournament the Hokies are another team that can cause trouble.
Florida State, 4-3 - They have really good athletes but always seem to let lesser teams beat them.
Miami, 4-5 - The Hurricanes are another team that seem to be better than their record.
Maryland, 3-5 - Not that long ago were National Champions. Looks like this year is a throw away season with all the Gary Williams firing talk.
N C State, 2-5 - Point guard, point guard, are you listening John Wall?
Virginia, 1-6 - I think by year's end they will finish last.
Georgia Tech, 1-7 - Well somebody has to be last.
After only getting four NCAA bids last year the ACC could get as many as eight but I think six is about right. It would not surprise me to see four in sweet 16.
Pat Summitt has won No. 1,000 as a women's basketball coach. The scary part is Pat Summitt is only 56 years old. She could win another 500 if she sticks around that long.
Signing Day
If you believe all the hype, then the Big Four schools, plus ECU, had a banner day yesterday on National Signing Day.
In my younger days when I had to know the BIOS of every player, I believed all that guff about who the best players in the country were.
Yesterday, ESPNU had nine hours of coverage of signing day across the country. The so-called headline players, the ones who will get all the press during the next four years, aren't the real stars of signing day. It's the fringe player who fills in at tackle after another player is hurt that no body cares about on signing day.
The team that can come up with those type players are the real winners on signing day. No one will know who the winners are for two to three years.
Notre Dame, under Charlie Weis, up until yesterday had been a Top 10 every year in recruiting. On the field, they have barely been Top 50.
The reality is a recruiting class is only 25 percent of any team. If like Wake Forest, you like to red shirt your freshman class ,then only 20 percent as those players will be with you five years.
Coaches go after holes they need to fill over sometimes signing the best overall player. But recruiting is still the perception that we are on the way up not treading water or heading backwards.
The 24-hour news service and 24-hour-a-day sports has produced a hype into our world that everything is much better than it is, or in the case of the news, worse than it is.
Sorry, but I don't need to see on network TV a child kidnapping live all day in Des Moines. Ia. The networks need to fill the day with something.
Unfortunately, ESPN has not been able to get teams to play games live at 7:30 in the morning so they can have show them. Heavens knows they have probably tried.
Yesterday, WITN-TV7 featured three Gryphon signees. Bravo to them. They didn't make them out to be the next coming of Wake Forest football, but three local kids who have an idea what they will be doing for the next four or five years.
For a family, signing day is a joyous time. A culmination of a dream come true. In our world today, do you know how much a football scholarship means to a family?
I wish instead of telling me how great LSU is going to be next year with all the recruits they have. Networks would show how important signing day really is.
Our economy is such that a higher education is further from main stream America because most families can't afford to pay a house payment much less a college education.
The real winners on signing day is Mom and Pop. Everyone of them regardless of how good their kids are in football, yesterday they were the No. 1 signing in the country.
Congratulation to all of them!
In my younger days when I had to know the BIOS of every player, I believed all that guff about who the best players in the country were.
Yesterday, ESPNU had nine hours of coverage of signing day across the country. The so-called headline players, the ones who will get all the press during the next four years, aren't the real stars of signing day. It's the fringe player who fills in at tackle after another player is hurt that no body cares about on signing day.
The team that can come up with those type players are the real winners on signing day. No one will know who the winners are for two to three years.
Notre Dame, under Charlie Weis, up until yesterday had been a Top 10 every year in recruiting. On the field, they have barely been Top 50.
The reality is a recruiting class is only 25 percent of any team. If like Wake Forest, you like to red shirt your freshman class ,then only 20 percent as those players will be with you five years.
Coaches go after holes they need to fill over sometimes signing the best overall player. But recruiting is still the perception that we are on the way up not treading water or heading backwards.
The 24-hour news service and 24-hour-a-day sports has produced a hype into our world that everything is much better than it is, or in the case of the news, worse than it is.
Sorry, but I don't need to see on network TV a child kidnapping live all day in Des Moines. Ia. The networks need to fill the day with something.
Unfortunately, ESPN has not been able to get teams to play games live at 7:30 in the morning so they can have show them. Heavens knows they have probably tried.
Yesterday, WITN-TV7 featured three Gryphon signees. Bravo to them. They didn't make them out to be the next coming of Wake Forest football, but three local kids who have an idea what they will be doing for the next four or five years.
For a family, signing day is a joyous time. A culmination of a dream come true. In our world today, do you know how much a football scholarship means to a family?
I wish instead of telling me how great LSU is going to be next year with all the recruits they have. Networks would show how important signing day really is.
Our economy is such that a higher education is further from main stream America because most families can't afford to pay a house payment much less a college education.
The real winners on signing day is Mom and Pop. Everyone of them regardless of how good their kids are in football, yesterday they were the No. 1 signing in the country.
Congratulation to all of them!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Pushing Forward
The lady Gryphon basketball team continues its undefeated way in conferecnce play last night downing Souuthern Nash 53-36. This make the Lady Gryphons 7-0 in conference play and 15-4 overall.
Rocky Mount had three scorers who hit double figures in Lakia Bynum, Dyonna Battle and Arkenesia Melton. They try to continue their undefeated play in conference Friday night as they host SouthWest Edgecombe and what will essentially be the championship game.
If the Lady's beat SWE that would be SWE second loss and would give the Lady Gryphons a two game lead with two games to play.
The boys got the job done and now have a two game win streak which is the first such streak of the 2009. Tashawn Mabry scored 25 and Philip Wilkins added 10 points and nine rebounds. Ten players scored for RM as they beat Southern Nash 65-43.
The win get RM back to 500 on the season at 10-10. Now at 3-4 in conference play the boys are right in the playoff picture.
Today is signing day for football players. The first four signed this morning with Whit Barnes who is recovering nicely from his shoulder surgery in January, signed with Wake Forest. Nick Harrison signed with UNC-Pembroke who last year went 9-1. Kieth Strickland will call Elizabeth City State University home for the next four years. Nick Hahula signed a letter of intent to play for North Carolina Central.
Congratulations to those four but hang on there will be more over the next few weeks. That's part of winning football as the reward is playing football at the next level.
It is now official after this weeks Board of Education meeting. Northern Nash has a new football coach. Michael "Mickey" Crouch is the new whistle blower in "Death Valley". They say that imitation is a form of flattery. The Knights have gone after a B W Holt look alike. A veteran coach who has won every where he has been.
I hope he has as much success for them as B W has had for Rocky Mount.
Rocky Mount had three scorers who hit double figures in Lakia Bynum, Dyonna Battle and Arkenesia Melton. They try to continue their undefeated play in conference Friday night as they host SouthWest Edgecombe and what will essentially be the championship game.
If the Lady's beat SWE that would be SWE second loss and would give the Lady Gryphons a two game lead with two games to play.
The boys got the job done and now have a two game win streak which is the first such streak of the 2009. Tashawn Mabry scored 25 and Philip Wilkins added 10 points and nine rebounds. Ten players scored for RM as they beat Southern Nash 65-43.
The win get RM back to 500 on the season at 10-10. Now at 3-4 in conference play the boys are right in the playoff picture.
Today is signing day for football players. The first four signed this morning with Whit Barnes who is recovering nicely from his shoulder surgery in January, signed with Wake Forest. Nick Harrison signed with UNC-Pembroke who last year went 9-1. Kieth Strickland will call Elizabeth City State University home for the next four years. Nick Hahula signed a letter of intent to play for North Carolina Central.
Congratulations to those four but hang on there will be more over the next few weeks. That's part of winning football as the reward is playing football at the next level.
It is now official after this weeks Board of Education meeting. Northern Nash has a new football coach. Michael "Mickey" Crouch is the new whistle blower in "Death Valley". They say that imitation is a form of flattery. The Knights have gone after a B W Holt look alike. A veteran coach who has won every where he has been.
I hope he has as much success for them as B W has had for Rocky Mount.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Four-time Conference Champ
This past Saturday the individual NEW 6 wrestling championships were held at Southern Nash High School.
Francisco Alfaro won the 130-pound weight class for the Gryphons. In winning this, the Rocky Mount senior became the first Gryphon wrestler to ever win an individual championship four straight years.
The boys basketball team, fresh off their 10-point win over Northern on Friday night, hits the road Tuesday as it will meet Southern Nash with the opportunity to even its record. The Gryphons (9-10) are still hopeful for a good seeding in the basketball playoffs and Tuesday's game is a must game the Gryphons that they can't afford to lose.
The girls (14-4), on the other hand, still can go undefeated in conference play (6-0) and are looking at least one home game to start the playoffs if they can finish in first.
Tuesday's game at Southern will be part of the Coaches vs. Cancer series and a dollar per ticket will be donated just as ticket sales Friday night were against Northern.
Super Bowl reflections:
Regardless of which team you pulled for in the Super Bowl, both quarterbacks played well.
To me, Ben Roethlisberger elevated himself to that Brett Farve plateau being the winning quarterback for the second time in his career.
The Steelers are a really good fit for Big Ben. I think if he had to throw 40 times a game he wouldn't be so good. But, the Steeler defense keeps them in the game where one score is about all that's needed to come back in a game.
Big Ben has shown to be quite capable in his five years. This offseason he needs to stay away from motorcycles.
Kurt Warner is 50-50 for the Hall of Fame. He could probably use three more good years. His problem is he is not mobile at all and if he plays on a team without much blocking he will find the bench again where he has been buried the last three or four years.
The Dallas Cowboys get all the exposure, but the Pittsburgh Steelers just keep on winning. It hasn't always been that way, however. When the NFL merged with the AFL teams, the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and the Steelers left the NFC to join the AFC to balance the leagues out.
Pittsburgh, which had been a laughing stock over the years in the NFL, started winning and have had very few losing seasons since the merger.
Now its leads in Super Bowl victories with six.
Francisco Alfaro won the 130-pound weight class for the Gryphons. In winning this, the Rocky Mount senior became the first Gryphon wrestler to ever win an individual championship four straight years.
The boys basketball team, fresh off their 10-point win over Northern on Friday night, hits the road Tuesday as it will meet Southern Nash with the opportunity to even its record. The Gryphons (9-10) are still hopeful for a good seeding in the basketball playoffs and Tuesday's game is a must game the Gryphons that they can't afford to lose.
The girls (14-4), on the other hand, still can go undefeated in conference play (6-0) and are looking at least one home game to start the playoffs if they can finish in first.
Tuesday's game at Southern will be part of the Coaches vs. Cancer series and a dollar per ticket will be donated just as ticket sales Friday night were against Northern.
Super Bowl reflections:
Regardless of which team you pulled for in the Super Bowl, both quarterbacks played well.
To me, Ben Roethlisberger elevated himself to that Brett Farve plateau being the winning quarterback for the second time in his career.
The Steelers are a really good fit for Big Ben. I think if he had to throw 40 times a game he wouldn't be so good. But, the Steeler defense keeps them in the game where one score is about all that's needed to come back in a game.
Big Ben has shown to be quite capable in his five years. This offseason he needs to stay away from motorcycles.
Kurt Warner is 50-50 for the Hall of Fame. He could probably use three more good years. His problem is he is not mobile at all and if he plays on a team without much blocking he will find the bench again where he has been buried the last three or four years.
The Dallas Cowboys get all the exposure, but the Pittsburgh Steelers just keep on winning. It hasn't always been that way, however. When the NFL merged with the AFL teams, the Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and the Steelers left the NFC to join the AFC to balance the leagues out.
Pittsburgh, which had been a laughing stock over the years in the NFL, started winning and have had very few losing seasons since the merger.
Now its leads in Super Bowl victories with six.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Super Bowl was Super!
When it's all said and done, this Super Bowl may be the best of all time. There is no doubt it will be in the top five.
The half ended on the longest play in Super Bowl history. A 100-yard interception return by James Harrison to give the Steelers a 17-7 halftime lead - when it looked like the Cardinals were going to lead 14-10.
Then the final two minutes both teams scored touchdowns, so the lead changed twice.
The last play of the third quarter the Cardinals ran a play and had 17 seconds to go, but let the clock run out. I'm thinking down by 10, I would have tried to run one more play before the quarter ended. They needed those 17 seconds after the Steelers took the lead late.
How much does luck play in a game? Harrison would have been down short of the goal line on the interception just before the half, but the ball landed on the leg of the tackler sliding into the end zone before it hit the ground.
That touchdown is the difference in victory and defeat.
Northern Nash's J.J. Arrington was used only on kickoffs in the first half. He was nursing a knee injury. I think Ken Whisenhunt, the coach of the Cardinals, did a smart thing. Knowing that Arrington is banged up, he save him until the fourth quarter, where Arrington had two catches for 35 yards one rush for no gain. He finished up with four kick returns for 82 yards. J.J. had over 100 all-purpose yards in the grandest game of all.
I am glad that James Harrison didn't need to run 102 yards on the last play of the half. He would have not made it. He was out of gas.
Everyone who watches the Super Bowl just for the commercials saw a poor show. Boy, there were some really dumb ones. A good waste of 2.4 million every 30 seconds. I thought the best of the night was the Budweiser commercial featuring the Clydesdale talking about his great-grandfather coming to America.
If you look back at the 43 Super Bowls that have been played, there aren't many great games.
However, this one was!
The half ended on the longest play in Super Bowl history. A 100-yard interception return by James Harrison to give the Steelers a 17-7 halftime lead - when it looked like the Cardinals were going to lead 14-10.
Then the final two minutes both teams scored touchdowns, so the lead changed twice.
The last play of the third quarter the Cardinals ran a play and had 17 seconds to go, but let the clock run out. I'm thinking down by 10, I would have tried to run one more play before the quarter ended. They needed those 17 seconds after the Steelers took the lead late.
How much does luck play in a game? Harrison would have been down short of the goal line on the interception just before the half, but the ball landed on the leg of the tackler sliding into the end zone before it hit the ground.
That touchdown is the difference in victory and defeat.
Northern Nash's J.J. Arrington was used only on kickoffs in the first half. He was nursing a knee injury. I think Ken Whisenhunt, the coach of the Cardinals, did a smart thing. Knowing that Arrington is banged up, he save him until the fourth quarter, where Arrington had two catches for 35 yards one rush for no gain. He finished up with four kick returns for 82 yards. J.J. had over 100 all-purpose yards in the grandest game of all.
I am glad that James Harrison didn't need to run 102 yards on the last play of the half. He would have not made it. He was out of gas.
Everyone who watches the Super Bowl just for the commercials saw a poor show. Boy, there were some really dumb ones. A good waste of 2.4 million every 30 seconds. I thought the best of the night was the Budweiser commercial featuring the Clydesdale talking about his great-grandfather coming to America.
If you look back at the 43 Super Bowls that have been played, there aren't many great games.
However, this one was!
Northern Nash's Big Day
Northern Nash has been on a downer in football for the past several years. There's not much to cheer about after games where victories have been concerned.
Tonight Northern Nash will watch the Super Bowl with intense pride as one of its own takes the field for the Arizona Cardinals.
J.J. Arrington, a 2001 graduate, possibly could be the first person to touch the ball in the Super Bowl if the Cardinals received the opening kickoff.
Arrington, a third down specialist and kick returner, is nursing a knee injury which happened in the NFC Championship game. It will be a game-time decision whether he plays or not. Tonight's
stage in front of the world is one of those games that if you can manage to put your pants on, you play.
Arrington will be the first Nash County player since Julius Peppers, who played in the Super Bowl for the Carolina Panthers earlier this decade.
You have to go all the way back to Jim Clack in the 70's for a Nash County player winning the Super Bowl.
I'll be pulling hard for J.J. and the Cardinals.
Yesterday's Carolina-State men's basketball game ended on a sour note with a Carolina player being tossed out of the game. The subs were mopping up for Carolina when Michael Copeland went to the basket for a fast break layup with less than five seconds to play. Ben McCauley tried to strip the ball from Copeland in a rather forceful way.
Copeland charged at McCauley and the good reaction of one of the game officials rather forcefully pushed Copeland away from any possible fisticuffs.
Copeland was tossed out of the game.
I thought it was rather odd that a player gets tossed out of a game and no technical was called.
Yesterday's announcers had preached the whole game that Carolina led the country in scoring with still 32 seconds on the time clock. In other words, fast break scoring. MCCauley took exception of Carolina trying to continue that pace ahead by 15 with less than 10 seconds to play.
There is a real fine line in sports when do you call off the dogs on both side. Carolina had just emptied the bench with less than a minute to play and State still had most of their starters in the game.
Back when I was doing football play-by-play in Ahoskie, they may have been called Hertford County by then, we were playing Beddingfield and midway through the fourth quarter HC had the subs in and on one series, Beddingfield had blitzed and HC punted on a fourth-and10. The next series on third and 10, HC threw a screen pass which got a first down to help run the clock and HC keep the ball.
Alton Britt, the legendary announcer of Wilson County football who was sitting only a couple of seats from where I was doing the game, made the comment that with the big lead, HC was trying to run up the score.
I fired back that if Beddingfield would quit blitzing then there would be no need to run plays that beat blitzes.
There comes a time in every game that all sides have to realize the game is over.
Yesterday's ending looks different depending on which color you wear.
Tonight Northern Nash will watch the Super Bowl with intense pride as one of its own takes the field for the Arizona Cardinals.
J.J. Arrington, a 2001 graduate, possibly could be the first person to touch the ball in the Super Bowl if the Cardinals received the opening kickoff.
Arrington, a third down specialist and kick returner, is nursing a knee injury which happened in the NFC Championship game. It will be a game-time decision whether he plays or not. Tonight's
stage in front of the world is one of those games that if you can manage to put your pants on, you play.
Arrington will be the first Nash County player since Julius Peppers, who played in the Super Bowl for the Carolina Panthers earlier this decade.
You have to go all the way back to Jim Clack in the 70's for a Nash County player winning the Super Bowl.
I'll be pulling hard for J.J. and the Cardinals.
Yesterday's Carolina-State men's basketball game ended on a sour note with a Carolina player being tossed out of the game. The subs were mopping up for Carolina when Michael Copeland went to the basket for a fast break layup with less than five seconds to play. Ben McCauley tried to strip the ball from Copeland in a rather forceful way.
Copeland charged at McCauley and the good reaction of one of the game officials rather forcefully pushed Copeland away from any possible fisticuffs.
Copeland was tossed out of the game.
I thought it was rather odd that a player gets tossed out of a game and no technical was called.
Yesterday's announcers had preached the whole game that Carolina led the country in scoring with still 32 seconds on the time clock. In other words, fast break scoring. MCCauley took exception of Carolina trying to continue that pace ahead by 15 with less than 10 seconds to play.
There is a real fine line in sports when do you call off the dogs on both side. Carolina had just emptied the bench with less than a minute to play and State still had most of their starters in the game.
Back when I was doing football play-by-play in Ahoskie, they may have been called Hertford County by then, we were playing Beddingfield and midway through the fourth quarter HC had the subs in and on one series, Beddingfield had blitzed and HC punted on a fourth-and10. The next series on third and 10, HC threw a screen pass which got a first down to help run the clock and HC keep the ball.
Alton Britt, the legendary announcer of Wilson County football who was sitting only a couple of seats from where I was doing the game, made the comment that with the big lead, HC was trying to run up the score.
I fired back that if Beddingfield would quit blitzing then there would be no need to run plays that beat blitzes.
There comes a time in every game that all sides have to realize the game is over.
Yesterday's ending looks different depending on which color you wear.
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