Playoff Double Header Monday

The North Carolina High school playoffs start Monday and both Gryphon Teams get a home game on Monday. I am shooting this out in the dark but I guess the girls game start and 6.00 and boys to follow.

Four teams from the Big East are in the boys bracket as #1 Big East Hunt has a home date with Jacksonville the #5 seed from the Coastal conference. Hunt carries a 14-7 record while Jacksonville is in the playoffs 8-15.

Big East #2 Rocky Mount has a date with Currituck the #2 from the Northeast Coastal. They have a 2-21 record heading to Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount the Big East tournament champs will carry a 19-7 record looking for #20. Rocky Mount should hit the road should they beat Currituck. They are matched up with Southern Wayne #1 Eastern Carolina/D H Conley winner #3 from the Coastal. If Rocky Mount wins and Southern Wayne wins the Gryphons would go there on Wednesday.

Big East #3 Nash Central 15-9 hits the road traveling to #2 Coastal West Craven. WC is 18-5 and the #2 seed in the Coastal. Fourth seeded Northern Nash is also on road as they travel west to south of Raleigh to take on Southern Lee #1 seed from the Cape Fear Valley who come into this matchup at 18-4. Northern after their third lost to Rocky Mount this year stands at 15-7.

The #1 girls team from the Big East Rocky Mount will open the playoffs at home to Jacksonville who stands at 10-14 and the #5 seed from the Coastal. Should the Lady gryphons win they are in the same bracket with #2 seed Triton/#3 seed South Brunswick. so if the Ladies win Monday they are home to either team Wednesday.

#2 Big East Northern Nash has a home game Monday meeting Currituck #2 NE Coastal like the boys Currituck team a whopping 2-21. Should Northern advance they are matched against #1 Eastern Carolina C B Aycock/#3 West Carteret. Aycock has a record of 17-6 and West Carteret 18-6. Northern would travel in a second round game to Aycock or be home to West Carteret,

#3 Big East Fike travels to #2 Coastal Havelock. Fike is 13-10 and Havelock 12-8. #4 Hunt pounds the highway pavement towards Western Harnett #1 Cape Fear Valley sporting a 18-5 record.

Sunday night we will be doing a live show on the Stretchlon Sports Show. We will be interviewing the Nash Central indoor track members that made all State in indoor track including Will Bass who won two State Titles. All so in the house will be will be Rocky Mount all state performer. Nash Central will kick off the show while Rocky Mount will appear about 8.40pm.

Football News Terrell Hudgins left today to head to football preseason camp for the Chicago rush of the indoor Arena league football. Good Luck Terrell!

Life Goes On

When I picked up the paper Friday morning I was sad to see that Nick Carmarota was announcing in the "Telegram" that Friday was his last day. I have sat beside him every night this week during the Big East Tournament. Oddly enough I sat beside him last year almost to the day when this wide eyed young kid comes walking up to the press table at Rocky Mount High. You could just tell that he didn't know what to do or where to go.

I introduced myself and sat with him that evening and gave him all the ins and outs of the Gryphon season to this point. During the past year our paths have crossed probably fifty times on the trail of a sports story. When I see a young whipper snapper like Nick come along it reminds me of those days when I thought I was going to be the best Disc Jockey that had ever spun a record.

Nick is a very likable guy considering he's a Yankee. He has learned his trade well having won an award this week from the N C Press Association. Nick is heading up to DC to work for one of the many papers in the Metro area "The Gazette" which will have about twenty times more reader than the "Telegram". I think this move has something to do with a female as well as working for a major market newspaper.

Hate to see you go Nick. Have a good life. All you guys promise you will come back and see us so I won't hold it against you when you don't. Who ever follows your footsteps has got a huge responsibility because we expect who ever it is to cover two local state champions next year like you did. What a year Nick. So long fellow.

Friday Campbell and N C A&T played a double header in Greensboro and former Nash Central star Xavier Macklin smacked two home runs one in each game. Former Gryphon star Ben Fish caught the second game for Campbell getting two hits in three trips and drove home two runs. A&T won the opener while the Camels won the second game. They play a double header Saturday in Buies Creek.

Will update Basketball Brackets Saturday night