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.