The opening game saw undefeated Northern Nash remain that way as they came out of the dressing room playing full court defense and running at every opportunity. Their aggressive defense put Nash Central on the line 14 times in the first quarter but they could convert only two. Northern lead 17-4 at the end of the first quarter. Northern's defense kept up the pressure the whole game and the Lady Knights got balanced scoring lead by Khadesha Richardson who had 15 on the night. She was followed by Amanda Griffin with 12, Quannesha Lynch with 10 and Jessica Lyons 8. Jasmine
Neither teams shot well from the line as Nash Central after a terrible first quarter managed to hit 16 of 34. Northern made just 11 of 23.
The middle game of the opening night saw the host Lady Gryphons score the same number of points as Northern Nash but the defense held the lady Firebirds of Southern Nash to single digits in every quarter as the Lady Gryphons swarm all over the Lady Firebirds 58-23.
Once again tonight J'Kyra Brown was missing from the starting lineup but no problem as Tia Hudgins plays more like her brother Terrell did every day. Plant yourself near the basket and the ball will come to you and when it did she lit the score board for 31 after having just gotten 27 Friday night.
J'Kyra Brown did start playing in the second quarter and it took a while for her to trust her knee before she got into the flow of the game. She scored seven. Timisha Walker got nine on the night and Marquita Hines had 5. Rocky Mount once again was poor from the foul line hitting just 14-31.
Tyreka Nicholson was the leading scorer for Southern Nash as she scored five. Southern returns right back to the court Tuesday night meeting Nash Central in the girls consolation at 6.00pm. The night cap on Tuesday will be the semi finals of the boys as Northern Nash will take on Nash Central. For the match up between Northern and Rocky Mount Wednesday I hope it does not become a free throw shooting contest as neither
Tonight's night cap Rocky Mount came out for the starting lineups in the practice shorts and shirts and they must have thought the game wasn't going yet as they managed to score only three points in the first quarter. I heard a rumor that the game clothes were in the dryer and not ready at game time. Southern Nash did not take advantage as they could only make the ball go in the hole for seven points.
Rocky Mount picked up the pace in the second quarter and lead 26-17 at the half. The Gryphons changed into the game uniforms at the half and played the third quarter much like the first scoring only eight points but Southern could only muster six.
Rocky Mount finally found the range in the fourth quarter as Kenyatta Bullock made four three pointers in about two minutes and in doing so was the leading scorer for the night. Exzavier Cooper had 11 as they were the only double figure scorers for the Gryphons. Rocky Mount beat the Firebirds 58-41
KJ Peoples had a great night off the bench scoring seven points and hauled down 8 rebounds. Donte Battle had seven rebounds as the Gryphons out rebounded Southern 36-22. Josh Sessoms lead the Firebirds with 18.
Rocky Mount sits and waits until Wednesday when they will play in the finals at 8.00pm Wednesday. They meet the Northern- Nash Central winner as they play Tuesday at 7.30.
A real oddity tonight all three games played the winner had 58 points. If this was bowling you would win a patch for scoring the same score three straight games.
