The Elite Eight

Duke has beaten Purdue 70-57 to keep the ACC alive in the NCAA Tournament. Regardless of what color your team wears you must give it up to coach K. I have not thought Duke could go very far in the NCAA tournament but coach K inserted Brian Zoubek into the starting line up with about nine games to go in the regular season. Why would any one do that. Zoubek who has been a career five minute and five fouls player is averaging over ten points and 8.5 rebounds since he has been inserted into the lineup. All of a sudden Duke might be the best defensive team left. They will surly be tested Sunday playing Baylor in Houston.

Friday night was one of those nights that Brian Goodwin would like to forget. North Carolina playing Georgia Tech in Chapel Hill Brian struck out the first four times he went to the plate. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth Brian comes to bat with the bases loaded and one out with a chance to be the hero. The only ball he hit fair all night was a line drive to the shortstop who doubled up the runner on second and the heels lose 2-1.

If there is one thing noticeable in the NCAA basketball tournament is in the close games the last two minutes the referees are swallowing their whistles. looks like the NHL who will not call a penalty the last two minutes of a game.

Sunday afternoon at the Dunn Center is this years Junior Miss . There are eleven girls from the area trying to follow in the foot steps of Hannah McMillan who after winning the Rocky Mount Junior Miss last year won the State title earlier this year. She will compete for the national title in June.

The eleven girls are Michaela Bauer from Southern Nash, Margaret Braswell of Northern Nash, Mary Chambliss of Faith Christian, Jenna Gardner from Nash Central, Amanda Griffin of Northern Nash, Lauren Jackson from Rocky Mount Prep, Ana Joyner from Nash Central, Heather Joyner from Nash Central, Victoria Vesce from Greenfield School, Melanie White from Nash Central and Morgan Bishop from Rocky Mount High.

I do not know any of these girls, however I will be pulling for Amanda Griffin from Northern Nash. I have never spoken to Amanda but I know she plays on the basketball team and is having a successful high school career. My reason for pulling for Amanda is she is a cancer survivor. Back when Amanda went to Red Oak middle the entire school pulled for Amanda during her fight with cancer.

Now cancer free Amanda is living proof that we can live normal lives when ever we hear the BIG C word. I only know Amanda because of the Nash County Relay For Life and what she went through while at Red Oak middle. She is a living example of the only way to live is to fight with all you have and she did and she will be on stage Sunday.

Good luck to all and especially to Amanda.