Big East Dominating Playoffs

The Lady Gryphons of Rocky Mount took control of their game against Triton tonight and poured out to a 20 point lead and had complete control until a made dash by the Hawks trimmed the lead to a final score of Rocky Mount 45- Triton 42. The Lady Gryphons will host their sectional finals Friday Night against South Central a 69-35 winner over Hertford County

The victory was #25 for the season for Pam Gainey ladies they have three losses on the season and all three have come at the hands of South Central Twice and Northern Nash. They of course play South Central Friday and Northern is still alive in sectional play also.

You know some of the luck of any playoff bracket is teams losing which allow you to have a home game instead of having to travel and play on another home court. That happen to the boy Gryphon team last year which allowed them to play all three sectional games at home.

Could the same thing be happening for the Lady Knights of Northern Nash? The opening playoff victory earned them another home game tonight when the higher seed lost and they were able to play West Carteret at home. Northern will host their sectional final Friday night after beating West Carteret 53-43. Not only is victory good to advance to the finals but the Lady Knights will be able to stay home after Havelock won their game tonight. Havelock is the #2 seed from the Coastal and this year's seeding the Big East is higher up the seeding ladder over the Coastal.

There must be something in the water in Nash County. Tonight the Rocky Mount boys have gone on the road and won at Southern Wayne. The Gryphons came off the bus running and spurted out to a 38-21 lead over Southern Wayne. The half the Saints had trimmed the Gryphon lead to ten at 43-33.

A sloppy third quarter by the Gryphons allowed the Saints to crawl even closer with six minutes to play the lead had been trimmed to 60-56. Southern Wayne took the lead with less two minutes to play 71-70 but Tecoby Hines drilled a three point shot from the corner with 1.36 to play to give the Gryphons the lead they would never give back. Rocky Mount 77-Southern Wayne 73. Terrell Hilliard and Exzavier Cooper both scored 16 for the Gryphons and Bellfawn Worrell led the Saints with 19.

Tonight's victory will provide a double header at the gym Friday as the Boys will face West Craven the #2 from the Coastal will head to Rocky Mount 23-5.

Hunt the #1 boys seed from the Big East took care of business winning on the home floor beating Triton 61-56. Both the #1 seeds and #2 seeds from the Big East have won both of their playoffs games and all four have had the luck of the brackets and all four will play home Friday.

Gryphons/Northern girls Home Tonight

The second round of the state playoffs will feature the two best girls teams in the area at home tonight. Rocky Mount and Northern Nash girls are both at home while the Gryphon boys travel to Southern Wayne.

Will blog after the games

Rocky Mount Gryphon baseball hit the diamond with a scrimmage with Roanoke Rapids yesterday and the very young Gryphons beat the Yellow Jackets 13-0.

Benton Moss pitched the first four innings not giving up a hit. The real question mark for the Gryphons this season is who pitches on the days that Moss doesn't? Jeremy Johnson got the call from Coach Kent Cox and pitched two and two thirds of one hit ball and Senior first baseman Matthew Berry pitch one and one third without allowing a base runner.

The intent was to play nine innings yesterday but by the time the sun set the cold weather gave way to warmer hearts and once Rocky Mount got RR out in the seventh inning Rocky Mount stayed in the field and RR batted again. Both teams used a hitting roatation that every player batted every time through the lineup and some of the young sophomores and freshman showed signs of hope to aid the Berry Brothers Thomas and Matthew and Benton Moss.

Coach Cox started a freshman at second and a sophomore at shortstop so not only will there be questions about pitching but how well the defense comes together.

Baseball season begins next Tuesday when the Gryphons travel to Rose.

Coach Tara Mcdonald's softball team has high hopes of an improved season. When you are coming off a 0- for the season there is only one way to go and that is up. This season the pitching will be improved. Last year the Lady Gryphons gave up about ten runs a game from walks. Pre season so far the pitchers are getting it across the plate but there is not much heat on them. I would rather see a team hit the ball and score runs over walking runs in. There is always the chance the defense will make an out when the ball is hit. Look for the ladies to win a couple before the conference starts this year.