Big Week On Tap

Those of you who only go to high school games when they play at home haven't been to many Gryphon games so far this season.  There may be other big games down the road but this week the Gryphons Host Northern Tuesday and Nash Central on Friday.

The boys should they win twice would have a two game lead with four  to play so Friday is the game of the year for this season in regular season as long as they win.  A loss and others left to play after Friday  become bigger.  I find the comments by both Mike Gainey and Levon Brutus interesting after the Firebird game Friday.  They were both disappointed that they squandered a 17 point second half lead even though they won by ten.  What they didn't tell you is that Donte Battle the big man in the middle did not play and probably will not play against Northern. This team is good enough that without their big man still at some point in the game had built17 point lead. Hopefully he will be ready for Friday nights game with the Bulldogs.

Reading between the lines this team is very close to reaching a level that they can play into March.  If they stay healthy and M J Gainey is the only person that can't play for rest of the season and if they solve their putting the momentum in neutral when they have a significant lead this team can obtain greatness.  When you are two years removed from a state title the only way this team will be remember is if they put up a banner beside 2010.  A loss in the Regional or sectionals then this team got stuck on neutral.

The girls hosting Northern Nash on Tuesday puts this game as the game of the year.  It is vital they hold serve at home because they finish at Northern the last game of the season.  They stand 14-2 and their only two losses have come at the hands of Millbrook 16-1 and Northern 12-0.  The girls are much better today than a month ago but they will always struggle with a team that has plenty of height.  Pam Gainey offsets her disadvantage height wise by pouring out a full court press which eats any team up without a ball handler.  Their four conference wins to date 47 points is the most any one has scored.  59 is the least they have scored and are averaging in conference 67 a game.

Tuesday night should have a big crowd and the girls game has all the makings of a slugfest.  The winner will have the lead in conference down the back stretch  but another meeting in two weeks may mean more than this one.  Northern has depth and and Rocky Mount has the best player it should be a dandy.