Not The Same Team

I don't know whether sitting on a last second defeat at the hands of one of their arch rivals during the Christmas Tournament gave the Gryphons a hangover over the holidays or just two weeks without a game. What ever caused Rocky Mount to play in the Twilight Zone Wednesday was not evident tonight as the Rocky Mount Gryphons knock off their down the street rivals Nash Central 71-60 in front of a full house.

Bruce Applewhite and Terrell Hilliard from the high post drove to the basket almost at will in the third quarter to break open a 35 all tie with eight straight points and the Gryphons open up conference play with a victory over the Bulldogs.

13 different Gryphons got at least one rebound lead by Terrell Hilliard who clamped on to 14. Ten different Gryphons scored lead by Applewhite with 16, Hilliard who is playing this week since sitting out much of the month of December finish with 11 points giving him a double double. Tevin Taylor provided much needed outside shooting to garner 11 points while Exzavier Cooper hit double figures with 10.

The third quarter when the Gryphons got some breathing room they force the Bulldogs into seven of their 22 turnovers for the game and just about everyone bit the Bulldogs during Rocky Mount sprint to the lead. The Bulldogs force 18 Gryphon turnovers.

Rocky Mount won the rebound battle 38-33 T J Jones lead the BullDogs with 16, he was followed by Jalen Hendricks with 12 and Nate Pittman with 11. Rocky Mount goes to the exam week 1-0 in conference play and 11-4 overall. Central is now 0-1 and 6-5 for the 2010-2011 campaign.

In girls action the Lady Gryphons pulled away in the second half to rout Nash Central 79-44. I saw just enough to see that J'Kyra Brown lead the way with 20 but anytime you score 79 points in a game almost everyone had their hands in that victory. The girls are 1-0 and 13-2. Both Gryphon teams hit the court next Friday night at Home to Hunt High as exams will be going on the first part of the week.

Warning Signs

We all go through life doing things that seem stupid which bring on fears for your future. I am having those every day including Wednesday night when Hertford County played Rocky Mount.

I look forward every time we play the Bears because it is my old stomping grounds and I see someone at every game that I can talk with that brings back my past. Entering the gym the first person who I see is Scott Privette the Bears football coach who has a son on the HC jvs. We share a few moments with each other and I eventually found my way to the press table behind the score table at midcourt.

Charles Simmons the head basketball coach who has been at Hertford County since the 80's comes to the scoring table to check his lineup and afterwards looks my way so we can greet each other. The first thing out of my mouth is "Wayne how are you doing"? The older I get the less I remember names. Charles has long gone back to his seat on the bench when I realize that I called him Wayne.

I think I have a pretty good memory except for one thing and that is remembering names. Any time at work a salesman or anyone I might have a meeting with who I have never seen before, once they tell me their name I must keep their card in front of me in order to remember it. The rule where you are suppose to repeat peoples names out loud when you meet them for the first time doesn't work for me. I need to see you everyday for a month in order to remember it.

Is this the sign that Alzheimers is in it's first stages with me. I know Charles went back to Ahoskie Wednesday night thinking this guy has lost it.

Nick Cammarota who joined the Telegram way back during the Gryphons run to the state basketball title, I still have to think everytime I talk with him what is his name? Is it old Age creeping up on me? Is stupid is that stupid does?

As I go forward in life and run across you and and our conversation never mentions your name ther might be a reason. I am thinking as we talk who is this person. I know they have a name. I just can't remember it.