Playoffs Start: Gryphons Home Wednesday

They didn't play all that well tonight but Rocky Mount gutted out a 64-54 victory over Jacksonville and in doing so the Gryphons caught a big break when the a major upset happened to the team who should have been our next opponent. West Brunswick was beaten by the #4 seed from the Coastal conference West Craven 63-50 and in doing so West Craven must come to Rocky Mount Wednesday night.

Jacksonville came out of the box and doubled teamed Tashawn Mabry by putting a man who fronted him and one player who stayed between him and the goal. Mabrey struggled the entire game to get open and even though he scored 23 he had to work for everyone.

The Gryphons trailed early 16-4 before the defense started taking a toll on the Cardinals. Rocky Mount took their first lead at 23-22 and even when they got a working margin Jacksonville stayed with in reach the entire game until the end.

Mabry collect 23 points and Darius McKnight was the only other double digit scorer. Thank goodness for the defense tonight as the Gryphons survive for another day.

West Carteret brought their girls team to Rocky Mount and right off the bat the quick defense of the Lady Gryphons was more than West Carteret could handle. Alexis Farmer who has been nursing a bad ankle returned to action and lead the way for the Lady Gryphons with 16 followed by Danita Whitaker and Tia Hudgins with 11 each.

Even though the Lady Gryphons looked much better on the court than their male counterparts they were not as lucky in the draw for the second round as they will travel Thursday to West Brunsick who beat Washington tonight 68-60. Thursday match up will be #1 seed going up against #1 seed with the Waccamaw conference having the better seeding draw getting the home game.

Boys playoff action around the Big East Nash Central lost at C B Aycock 73-53 while Hunt also bit the dust losing at Triton 67-45. Fike won at home beating Eastern Wayne 63-50. So the two home teams from our conference won while the two road teams lost.

In girls play Fike won at home over C B Aycock 47-32. Nash Central on the road lost 74-44 and also on the road pulling off a big surprise Hunt traveling to Triton won 64-32 over the #1 seed from the Eastern Carolina. Hunt reward is a trip Thursday to Havelock.

Yesterday I told you about South Brunswick who hosted a first round game with a 1-18 record in girls action they lost 48-32 which probably wasn't all that bad a score, but there was another girls game in which Currituck a #2 seed from the Northeastern Coastal hosted Havelock and Havelock won the game 71-15. Currituck was 1-17 and got a first round home game.

There is a new sports reporter on the beat for the "Rocky Mount Telegram" tonight. Eric Cammilota who's first day on the job was covering Gryphon Basketball. Eric a Boston University graduate got every thing he needed to know about our area tonight as I sat beside him and gave him all the facts. Welcome to the area Eric!