Mabry Named "Telegram" Play of Year

The sports staff of the Rocky Mount Telegram released their all area team Sunday and Rocky Mount took the top two awards as Tashawn Mabry was named player of the year and Mike Gainey the area coach of the year.

Joining Mabry on the first team were team mates Detrail Jenkins and Billy Young. Nash Central's Dominque Holloway and North Edgecombe's Montrezl Harrell are also on the first team. Harrell is destined to be the next big basketball recruit from this area as he makes the team as a sophomore.

Darius McKnight of the Gryphons made the second team.

Baseball continues the Easter Tournament in Four Oaks as they play in the semi finals at 4.30 Monday afternoon. Coach Kent Cox by virtue of pitching his #3 starter Saturday can use either Benton Moss or Hobbs Johnson in Monday's game and both if necessary to try to get to Tuesday finals.

Sandra Bullock has been the headlines for the past couple of weeks due to her separation from hubby Jesse James. You can forget hearing about Bullock for the next week for sure as Tiger Woods comes out of hiding to play golf this week at the Masters. He has a new conference at 2.00pm Monday and then he tries to win the Master later in the week.

College baseball this past weekend N C State beat Virginia the #1 team in the country two out of three. Yes, Virginia #1 in the nation and fourth in the ACC. Go figure.... This upcoming weekend State and Carolina play in Chapel Hill. If the ACC tournament stated today State would be in and Carolina would not make it. Who ever would have figured the best team in Chapel Hill was the football team.

Duke goes after the National championship in basketball Monday night against Butler. Yes Butler the school that Hickory high in the movie Hoosiers won the title. Now Butler goes six miles up the road to play for the national title in a football dome. Yes, the goal is the same height in the dome as it is in Butler's arena.

Monday night is the seventy first national championship game in NCAA history. This will mark the twenty first time a team from the Triangle has played in the championship game. Extended it out even further thirty four times a team from North Carolina has been in the final four. Twice we sent two teams in one year. 1977 when UNC Charlotte was robbed by and lost to in the Semi

to Marquette. Then Carolina lost in the finals. The second time was 1991 when Carolina and Duke both made it to the final four. Carolina lost in the semi's and Duke beat Nevada Las Vegas for the title. Monday night's Duke victory will be the 11th title for Tobacco road.

Duke 68 Butler 56

Duke Takes On Hickory For NCAA Title

If you watch the first game Saturday and then watched West Virginia's first trip up the court in the second game against Duke, Duke showed you why they will win it all Monday night. Both Michigan State and Butler played defense inside the three point line. Neither has the kind of offense to rebound and run.

West Virginia won the opening tap and Duke picked them up face to face man to man all over the court and in doing so pushed West Virginia away from the basket. West Virginia one of the three half court teams in the final four never got offensive rhythm as Duke picked up full court about half the game and the other half met them at mid court. Even down late in the game West Virginia never tried to go full court against Duke because like Butler and Michigan State they can't.

Yes Duke shot lights out making more threes than West Virginia attempted. Duke also had twenty assist in the game and West Virginia made only nineteen baskets the entire game. Duke had a whole week to get ready for this half court game but you say they only have two to prepare for Butler. I say they have already practiced against Butler because they look just like West Virginia just wear different numbers.

Singler, Schyer and Smith played the way they have all year but Duke can Thank Greg Zoubek for their shot at the title Monday night. Since he has started in the middle for Duke they have been the best team in the country. Zoubek has become the Tim Stoddard that State had in 74. He has been the big cop in the middle. I can think of at least three rebounds that he tossed outside for threes.

Duke takes down the state of West Virginia 78-57

There was a moment with about four minutes to play when West Virginia best player hurt his knee. It seemed like an eternity that he laid on the court in pain. Coach Bob Huggins knelt down over the player and seemed to be calming him by praying with him. On this the day that our Lord rose again I don't know that I can finish today any better than to express when we all have needs the most we call on him for help because it was on this day that he arose after dying for our sins. Amen

Have a happy Easter Sunday!!!!!