Today will will look at the important events that took place in the local area that we covered on this blog. Tomorrow we will list the events of the Gryphons in 2012.
10: End Of Stretchlon Sports Show It was a fixture for nearly 10 years on WHIG-TV Richard Sarmiento covering what started out with baseball but engulfed all sports of the area. Related to the enrichment of baseball in this area Richard was one of this area's leading supporters.
9: Faith Christian School Baseball Field Vandalized Many hours were dedicated by many supporters of Faith to restore the baseball field and by playoff time standing behind home plate you had to be told where the vandals struck. Great effort was made by many to restore field.
8: Southern Nash 4x200 Relay team wins State Championship The school year ended at Southern with a championship.
7: Todd Gurley: named Freshman All American Todd Gurley made a national impact on the University of Georgia. The Tarboro grad gained more yards than any other Georgia freshman in 32 years.
6: Rocky Mount Legion Wins Area One North Division. 14-1 in division and 18-6 overall Hank Jones bunch made it to the second round of the playoffs.
5: Falls Road Girls Soccer team wins State Title It took 20 minute of over time before Falls Road prevailed 2-1.
4: Tarboro makes fifth Straight Trip to State Finals Name the number of teams in the State of North Carolina that have been to five straight football state championship games this century. The answer is only one. The Tarboro Vikings winning three titles is five years.
3: Northern Nash/Rocky Mount Meet in sectional Finals. The most important girls basketball game ever between Northern Nash and Rocky Mount for the right to go to the Regional just happened to be the last basketball game ever at Rocky Mount's old gym.
2: Five local teams play in sectional finals Nash Central girls, Rocky Mount Prep Boys, Northern Nash Girls, Rocky Mount Girls and the Rocky Mount boys all made it to sectional finals with three making the Regional. Rocky Mount Prep, Rocky Mount Girls and the Rocky Mount boys.
1: Rocky Mount boys win 3-A Basketball title Second time in three years and the fifth title in school history. Donte Battle won the most outstanding player and Terrill Hilliard the outstanding Gryphon.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
2012 In Review
Today we will start a three part series looking back at 2012. Today we will look at the top stories that we covered here on this blog. Monday we will look at the top local stories and Tuesday the top Gryphon stories of 2012.
10:Maryland leaves the ACC. Money Money Money, I think that's all that colleges think about these days.
9: The Big East High School Conference stays the same. One proposal had a Johnston County School Corinth Holder joining the league. By the time the next four year realignment starts next August there still will be 6 Big east Teams. Hunt, Fike, Southern Nash, Nash Central, Northern Nash and Rocky Mount.
8:Shannon Scoval Wins USAT Aquathon National Championship. This Green Hope student has no relative high lite from this area other than the fact she is coached by my son Brooks who is a Rocky Mount High Graduate class of 2000.
7: Webb Simpson wins the US OPEN. The Raleigh native won the top prize in golf
6: Lauren Doughtie wins her first professional Golf Tournament. This is another personal note as Lauren in December qualified for the 2013 LPGA Tour in 2013.
5: Notre Dame Says yes to the ACC. I guess this is to the ACC getting every thing from Notre Dame except football to ECU getting only football to be in Big East.
4: Andy Griffith Death: I don't know about you but I lost a friend when Andy died. I never met the man but I can recite you the 149 black and white episodes of the Andy Griffith show. Matlock and Ritz Crackers and gospel hymns. Somewhere or other Andy Griffith touch all of us that call North Carolina home.
3: The Penn State Sex Scandal. I only hope we all learned from this.
2: William Friday Dead. If there was ever anyone who loved his state an the education of their people it was Bill Friday. So many only know him from his TV show but Bill Friday has been a part of the education of our students since before color tv.
1: The UNC Scandal. I hope we have heard the last of this. It seems every report that come out indicates that THE UNIVERSITY has more black eyes to cover up. This is a classic example if only the truth had of been told from the beginning this story would have died long ago. Give Larry Fedora credit. His first team in Chapel Hill finished 8-4.
10:Maryland leaves the ACC. Money Money Money, I think that's all that colleges think about these days.
9: The Big East High School Conference stays the same. One proposal had a Johnston County School Corinth Holder joining the league. By the time the next four year realignment starts next August there still will be 6 Big east Teams. Hunt, Fike, Southern Nash, Nash Central, Northern Nash and Rocky Mount.
8:Shannon Scoval Wins USAT Aquathon National Championship. This Green Hope student has no relative high lite from this area other than the fact she is coached by my son Brooks who is a Rocky Mount High Graduate class of 2000.
7: Webb Simpson wins the US OPEN. The Raleigh native won the top prize in golf
6: Lauren Doughtie wins her first professional Golf Tournament. This is another personal note as Lauren in December qualified for the 2013 LPGA Tour in 2013.
5: Notre Dame Says yes to the ACC. I guess this is to the ACC getting every thing from Notre Dame except football to ECU getting only football to be in Big East.
4: Andy Griffith Death: I don't know about you but I lost a friend when Andy died. I never met the man but I can recite you the 149 black and white episodes of the Andy Griffith show. Matlock and Ritz Crackers and gospel hymns. Somewhere or other Andy Griffith touch all of us that call North Carolina home.
3: The Penn State Sex Scandal. I only hope we all learned from this.
2: William Friday Dead. If there was ever anyone who loved his state an the education of their people it was Bill Friday. So many only know him from his TV show but Bill Friday has been a part of the education of our students since before color tv.
1: The UNC Scandal. I hope we have heard the last of this. It seems every report that come out indicates that THE UNIVERSITY has more black eyes to cover up. This is a classic example if only the truth had of been told from the beginning this story would have died long ago. Give Larry Fedora credit. His first team in Chapel Hill finished 8-4.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Refocused
Last year on the way to the State 3-A basketball title the Rocky Mount Gryphons took part in the 40th anniversary of the Holiday Tournament called these days the High school OT. The Gryphons were rolling along and gave up an 17 point lead on their way to a loss. That team learned a lot that day about how to handle big leads. By the time the State playoffs rolled around nobody caught the Gryphons once they hit a double digit lead.
This week in the opening game Northside Christian Academy laid a hurting on the Gryphons winning by 14. Yesterday Nuese Christian Academy played the wrong team at the wrong time as the refocused Gryphons put 103 points on the board to work their way today to the fifth place game of the Tobacco Road Holiday Invitational Tournament in Durham. Freedom High from Morganton played the Gryphons today and today the Gryphons spank the 4-A Freedom 101-70.
The Gryphons finish fifth in their tournament and with the win their record is now 10-1. They will not return to action until Wednesday night when they host Rose. They will host Nash Central in a rematch of the Nash County Tournament Friday night as they open conference play.
Today N C State beats a decent Western Michigan who might surprise you is in the top 40 in the RIP. The Pack 10-2 seems poised for conference play which starts next week and Januaray 12th looms large when Duke comes to Raleigh.
Carolina got a really nice win today beating UNLV ranked 20th ahead of Carolina in the polls. Today was one of those games that so far this season maybe would have lost this one progress being shown by theTar Heels. The Heels have a week off before they open conference play and with today's win are 10-3.
Duke took the best shot Santa Clara could give them today but who in non conference can beat Duke at home. The Dookies always seem to get a player every year that plays out of his mind. That player this year is Mason Plumlee. He just might be the player of the year in the country at least as of right now.
You know the Cincinnati-Duke Belk Bowl game just might be the best bowl game all holidays. The next night Virginia Tech and Rutgers played and what we hope is the worse bowl game of the year. If there is any one worse than that one God help us to endure through it.
This week in the opening game Northside Christian Academy laid a hurting on the Gryphons winning by 14. Yesterday Nuese Christian Academy played the wrong team at the wrong time as the refocused Gryphons put 103 points on the board to work their way today to the fifth place game of the Tobacco Road Holiday Invitational Tournament in Durham. Freedom High from Morganton played the Gryphons today and today the Gryphons spank the 4-A Freedom 101-70.
The Gryphons finish fifth in their tournament and with the win their record is now 10-1. They will not return to action until Wednesday night when they host Rose. They will host Nash Central in a rematch of the Nash County Tournament Friday night as they open conference play.
Today N C State beats a decent Western Michigan who might surprise you is in the top 40 in the RIP. The Pack 10-2 seems poised for conference play which starts next week and Januaray 12th looms large when Duke comes to Raleigh.
Carolina got a really nice win today beating UNLV ranked 20th ahead of Carolina in the polls. Today was one of those games that so far this season maybe would have lost this one progress being shown by theTar Heels. The Heels have a week off before they open conference play and with today's win are 10-3.
Duke took the best shot Santa Clara could give them today but who in non conference can beat Duke at home. The Dookies always seem to get a player every year that plays out of his mind. That player this year is Mason Plumlee. He just might be the player of the year in the country at least as of right now.
You know the Cincinnati-Duke Belk Bowl game just might be the best bowl game all holidays. The next night Virginia Tech and Rutgers played and what we hope is the worse bowl game of the year. If there is any one worse than that one God help us to endure through it.
Friday, December 28, 2012
No Come Back Today
The Rocky Mount Lady Gryphons spotted Holly Springs a 16 point first quarter lead but today they could not make up the deficient. Led by the little sister of N C State Forward C J Leslie Kiara burned the Lady Gryphons for 20 points to lead Holly Springs.. The Lady Gryphons also found out how life will be on those days when J'Kyra Brown just doesn't have it. Brown was held to just 8 points as Holley Springs downs the Lady Gryphons 48-41 to take fifth place in the Mix 101.5 bracket of the Holiday Invitation Tournament played at Cary Academy.
Kelsey Daniels lead Rocky Mount with 18 points and Carmen Richardson added 11. Even with only eight point J'Kyra still pump in 71 points in this three day tournament but I can tell you the good news. They Lady Gryphons will not be faced again this year when Brown is double and tripled team for three straight days. Brown simply was wore out and facing stiff competition every night Brown gas tank was simply too low. Unless weather plays a factor the most at any point for the remainder of the season that the Lady Gryphons will play two days in a row could only occur during the conference Tournament.
The Gryphon record falls to 7-4 and they will not be back in action until Wednesday January 2nd at home against Rose. They open conference play Jan. 4th at home against Nash Central.
The boys finding themselves in the losers bracket of the Holiday Invitational in Durham squared off for the second day in a row against a private school. Yesterday Northside Christian of Charlotte beat the Gryphons and tonight the Gryphons met Neuse Christian Of Raleigh. The word is much better tonight as the Gryphons eclipse the century mark in defeating NCA 103-77. They will now play in the fifth place game at 3:30 Saturday afternoon.
The Duke Blue Devils gave it about all they had in losing to Cincinnati 48-34 in the Belk Bowl. If you didn't watch the game with 1:15 to play in a tie game Duke is knocking on the door to win only to fumble inside the five yard line. They proceed to give up a bomb td pass and a pick six to end the game but this was Duke's game to win.
It seemed as if Cincy was surprised by how aggressive Duke came out of the gates but as time wore on Cincy was proving to be the stronger team and like every game Duke played all year they lost to the good teams and beat most of the bad ones.
Coach Cut has done a great job putting Duke football on the map again but I don't know whether Duke fans should ever expect more than this kind of year. Wake Forest has the same problem and if you have ever wondered why they still have the same coach after three losing years it because he's getting out of the program about all the program can give.
State and Carolina in football are just over 500 every year and they have hugh booster clubs supporting them and if they can't get it done any better why should the private Universities expect more when they put less money in it.
Kelsey Daniels lead Rocky Mount with 18 points and Carmen Richardson added 11. Even with only eight point J'Kyra still pump in 71 points in this three day tournament but I can tell you the good news. They Lady Gryphons will not be faced again this year when Brown is double and tripled team for three straight days. Brown simply was wore out and facing stiff competition every night Brown gas tank was simply too low. Unless weather plays a factor the most at any point for the remainder of the season that the Lady Gryphons will play two days in a row could only occur during the conference Tournament.
The Gryphon record falls to 7-4 and they will not be back in action until Wednesday January 2nd at home against Rose. They open conference play Jan. 4th at home against Nash Central.
The boys finding themselves in the losers bracket of the Holiday Invitational in Durham squared off for the second day in a row against a private school. Yesterday Northside Christian of Charlotte beat the Gryphons and tonight the Gryphons met Neuse Christian Of Raleigh. The word is much better tonight as the Gryphons eclipse the century mark in defeating NCA 103-77. They will now play in the fifth place game at 3:30 Saturday afternoon.
The Duke Blue Devils gave it about all they had in losing to Cincinnati 48-34 in the Belk Bowl. If you didn't watch the game with 1:15 to play in a tie game Duke is knocking on the door to win only to fumble inside the five yard line. They proceed to give up a bomb td pass and a pick six to end the game but this was Duke's game to win.
It seemed as if Cincy was surprised by how aggressive Duke came out of the gates but as time wore on Cincy was proving to be the stronger team and like every game Duke played all year they lost to the good teams and beat most of the bad ones.
Coach Cut has done a great job putting Duke football on the map again but I don't know whether Duke fans should ever expect more than this kind of year. Wake Forest has the same problem and if you have ever wondered why they still have the same coach after three losing years it because he's getting out of the program about all the program can give.
State and Carolina in football are just over 500 every year and they have hugh booster clubs supporting them and if they can't get it done any better why should the private Universities expect more when they put less money in it.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Come Back Of The Ages
There is one thing about loser bracket games is there is no longer a big trophy waiting to win when the tournament is over. About the only thing coaches can look forward too is the playing time their teams need to develop as it is still December and plenty of basketball ahead. The one thing any team wants is not to get embarrassed when they are on display in a tournament like the High School OT. Today Rocky Mount may have pulled off the biggest comeback in school history. Now that Charles Alston is no longer here to look up such stats we can only assume.
Down 45-25 with two minutes left in the third quarter playing East Wake at Cary Academy Rocky Mount came all the way back and had a foul shot with 6.5 seconds left in regulation that could have won the game but in this case in over time will do. The Lady Gryphons beat East Wake 61-58 in over time and now play in the fifth place game Friday at 12.30 at Cary Academy.
J'Kyra Brown scored 9 of the Gryphon 11 points the Gryphons scored in over time 32 for the game to seal the deal. Carmen Richardson scored 13 points and today help came in the form of Kelsy Daniels who had 12 points most on rebound put backs.
Lady Gryphons are now 7-3 on the season. The news is not good from Durham. The Rocky Mount Gryphon boys have lost their first basketball game in 2012. During the 2011/12 season they did not lose after the New Year in fact finished the 2012 season winning 20 in a row. They had begun the 2012/13 season winning their first eight but tonight Northside Christian Academy from Charlotte had beaten the Gryphons 70-56 snapping the Gryphons 28 games winning streak. They are now 8-1 on this season.
I have just pulled for DUKE football about as hard as I ever have tonight in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte. Duke fumbles twice inside the five yard line, the last one occurring with 1:15 to play and then gives up and 83 yard pass play with 44 seconds to play. Cincy then returns a pass int for a TD and highly favored Cincinnati beats Duke 48-34. Cincy finishes 10-3 and Duke 6-7.
Down 45-25 with two minutes left in the third quarter playing East Wake at Cary Academy Rocky Mount came all the way back and had a foul shot with 6.5 seconds left in regulation that could have won the game but in this case in over time will do. The Lady Gryphons beat East Wake 61-58 in over time and now play in the fifth place game Friday at 12.30 at Cary Academy.
J'Kyra Brown scored 9 of the Gryphon 11 points the Gryphons scored in over time 32 for the game to seal the deal. Carmen Richardson scored 13 points and today help came in the form of Kelsy Daniels who had 12 points most on rebound put backs.
Lady Gryphons are now 7-3 on the season. The news is not good from Durham. The Rocky Mount Gryphon boys have lost their first basketball game in 2012. During the 2011/12 season they did not lose after the New Year in fact finished the 2012 season winning 20 in a row. They had begun the 2012/13 season winning their first eight but tonight Northside Christian Academy from Charlotte had beaten the Gryphons 70-56 snapping the Gryphons 28 games winning streak. They are now 8-1 on this season.
I have just pulled for DUKE football about as hard as I ever have tonight in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte. Duke fumbles twice inside the five yard line, the last one occurring with 1:15 to play and then gives up and 83 yard pass play with 44 seconds to play. Cincy then returns a pass int for a TD and highly favored Cincinnati beats Duke 48-34. Cincy finishes 10-3 and Duke 6-7.
Lady Gryphons Fall
There are so many brackets in the High School OT Invitational Tournament is is hard to keep up with who is playing who. This year the Rocky Mount High School Lady Gryphons are in the Mix 101.5 Bracket which has eight teams.
Wednesday night the Lady Gryphons matched up with Dudley High from Greensboro. It is apparent in this one that it will be height against speed as Dudley has a six five center. The Gryphon speed worked in the first half but by the time the final horn had sounded the Lady Gryphons need more than two players to score as Dudley whips Rocky Mount 60-54. J'Kyra Brown lead Rocky Mount dropping in 31 and Sophomore Carmen Richardson added 17. This gives these two players 48 of the 54 points scored by the Lady Gryphons. Moriah Davis lead Dudley with 17.
Now in the losers bracket the Lady Gryphons play at noon time on Thursday and they will face off against East Wake who was a 60-55 loser to Myers Park High School from Charlotte. The best the Gryphons can finish now is fifth as there will be another game on Friday.
The Boys hit the floor at Riverside High at 5:30pm today in the Tobacco Road Holiday Invitational Tournament. They will be playing Northside Christian Academy from Charlotte. This tournament is also an eight team affair and there will be three games played by the Gryphons.
Tonight Duke plays it it's first Bowl game since 1994. They are in Charlotte for the Belk Bowl which starts at the odd hour of 6.30pm. Since ESPN has control of all of these minor bowl games and they are trying to provide coverage of about 35 games air times of some of these games is ridiculous. Has any body noticed several of the games so far had more people working for ESPN that people in the stands.
That Hawaii Bowl the other night had maybe 1,500 people in view of the camera. Teams are required to buy so many tickets and I am sure that the teams in Hawaii lost money big time to be on national TV. Speaking of ticket sales, I understand State sold 8,200 of their 10,000 for the Music City Bowl game in Nashville against the home team Vanderbilt. I bet Vandy nearly sells the place out being right down the street.
Wednesday night the Lady Gryphons matched up with Dudley High from Greensboro. It is apparent in this one that it will be height against speed as Dudley has a six five center. The Gryphon speed worked in the first half but by the time the final horn had sounded the Lady Gryphons need more than two players to score as Dudley whips Rocky Mount 60-54. J'Kyra Brown lead Rocky Mount dropping in 31 and Sophomore Carmen Richardson added 17. This gives these two players 48 of the 54 points scored by the Lady Gryphons. Moriah Davis lead Dudley with 17.
Now in the losers bracket the Lady Gryphons play at noon time on Thursday and they will face off against East Wake who was a 60-55 loser to Myers Park High School from Charlotte. The best the Gryphons can finish now is fifth as there will be another game on Friday.
The Boys hit the floor at Riverside High at 5:30pm today in the Tobacco Road Holiday Invitational Tournament. They will be playing Northside Christian Academy from Charlotte. This tournament is also an eight team affair and there will be three games played by the Gryphons.
Tonight Duke plays it it's first Bowl game since 1994. They are in Charlotte for the Belk Bowl which starts at the odd hour of 6.30pm. Since ESPN has control of all of these minor bowl games and they are trying to provide coverage of about 35 games air times of some of these games is ridiculous. Has any body noticed several of the games so far had more people working for ESPN that people in the stands.
That Hawaii Bowl the other night had maybe 1,500 people in view of the camera. Teams are required to buy so many tickets and I am sure that the teams in Hawaii lost money big time to be on national TV. Speaking of ticket sales, I understand State sold 8,200 of their 10,000 for the Music City Bowl game in Nashville against the home team Vanderbilt. I bet Vandy nearly sells the place out being right down the street.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Rookie Of The Year
The three top rookie quarterbacks Andrew Luck, RG3 and Russell Wilson are probably the best combo of rookie quarterbacks in NFL history. The 2004 class only had two of the three made it to the field in 2004 Ben Rothlesburger, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers. Rivers was three years before he got on the field full time.
There is plenty of talk of which is the best of these three prize rookies. Andrew Luck as the number one pick by Indy is playoff bound. If the Redskins beat Dallas Sunday they are in with RG3 and Seattle just might be the surprise team in the NFL this year with Russell Wilson.
Let's take a look at the key stats and see if we can pick who should be rookie of the year. Passing yardage is not a factor in my selection of ROY but the first stat to look at is Touchdowns to interceptions. Luck is 21/18, 3 is 20/5 and Wilson 25/10. Give the edge to RG3, Wilson second and Luck third.
Yards per attempt Luck 7 yards per try. RG3 8.3 and Russell Wilson 7.7. Once again RG3 takes the lead with Wilson second and Luck trailing the field.
Passing completion % Luck 54%, RG 3 66% and Wilson 63%. Same winner same second place and Luck trails the field.
Quiarterback rating. Once again the same order Luck 75.6, RG 3 104.1 and Russell Wilson 98.0
Yes there are other categories to look at including running with the ball but the same measurements come forth there too. R G 3, Wilson and Luck. I say the Rookie of the year in the NFL is Robert Griffin 3rd with Russell Wilson second. I think with all the comebacks that Luck has had he seems to be the media darling. I'll Take the Skins man in RG 3.
As far as comeback player of the year let me point out one thing that people seem to have forgotten. Adrian Peterson rushed for 970 yards last year before his knee injury at Christmas. To me the come back player needs to have not played at all like Peyton Manning. Denver made the playoffs last year and won one playoff game so my choice for MVP is Adrian Peterson. Manning as the comeback player.
There is plenty of talk of which is the best of these three prize rookies. Andrew Luck as the number one pick by Indy is playoff bound. If the Redskins beat Dallas Sunday they are in with RG3 and Seattle just might be the surprise team in the NFL this year with Russell Wilson.
Let's take a look at the key stats and see if we can pick who should be rookie of the year. Passing yardage is not a factor in my selection of ROY but the first stat to look at is Touchdowns to interceptions. Luck is 21/18, 3 is 20/5 and Wilson 25/10. Give the edge to RG3, Wilson second and Luck third.
Yards per attempt Luck 7 yards per try. RG3 8.3 and Russell Wilson 7.7. Once again RG3 takes the lead with Wilson second and Luck trailing the field.
Passing completion % Luck 54%, RG 3 66% and Wilson 63%. Same winner same second place and Luck trails the field.
Quiarterback rating. Once again the same order Luck 75.6, RG 3 104.1 and Russell Wilson 98.0
Yes there are other categories to look at including running with the ball but the same measurements come forth there too. R G 3, Wilson and Luck. I say the Rookie of the year in the NFL is Robert Griffin 3rd with Russell Wilson second. I think with all the comebacks that Luck has had he seems to be the media darling. I'll Take the Skins man in RG 3.
As far as comeback player of the year let me point out one thing that people seem to have forgotten. Adrian Peterson rushed for 970 yards last year before his knee injury at Christmas. To me the come back player needs to have not played at all like Peyton Manning. Denver made the playoffs last year and won one playoff game so my choice for MVP is Adrian Peterson. Manning as the comeback player.
Post Christmas Basketball
The Lady Gyphons return to the High School OT Holiday Invitational Tournament for the second year in a row. You may ask why are the Ladies back and the boys are not. Two reasons might be true first of all the Lady Gryphons won their bracket played at Cary Academy and of course they have one of the best players in the state in J'Kyra Brown heading to ECU next year. The boys despite being the defending State 3-A Champs were not suppose to be this good this year and do not have a highly recruited player that this tournament likes to high light each year.
The Lady Gryphons begin play at 5pm today against Dudley High School. The guys are playing in a tournament at Riverside High in Durham. It is called the Tobacco Road Holiday Invitational Tournament. They play Northside Christian Academy at 5.30 On Thursday.
Next week when school takes back in the Gryphons have a home game Wednesday night against Rose High and then begin conference play January 4th against Nash Central at RMHS. This will be Charles Austin Night and next week I will pass along more details.
I think most folks would tell you at this point Rocky Mount boys being 8-0 is a nice surprise. They have won seven of their eight games by at least 12 points. They are averaging 64 points per game while giving up 52. They have played four games so far this year on the other teams court but they are still averaging winning by over 11 per game. The entire starting lineup played significant minutes on last year state championship team. So far they are not as deep on the bench as last season.
Where Are they Now: Christmas vacation brings many players home for the holiday and had a chance to run into many of them last week during the Nash County Tournament.
Tabais Hilliard: Rocky Mount - Freshman Methodist point guard. Started first game of season at point guard. averaging about six points per game.
Terrill Hilliard: Rocky Mount - Freshman Wingate Red shirting this year. You may remember got stress fracture in shin in state championship game in 2010. Played AAU and High school ball both Junior and senior seasons and never properly healed. Has had surgery and is resting this season.
Montrezl Harrell :North Edgecombe -Freshman Louisville Averagering 19 minutes per game for Rick Patino. Scoring at 6.7 points per game and pulling down 4.5 rebounds for the 11-1 Louisville Cardinals.
Tia Hudgins: Rocky Mount -Freshman Queens College. Averaging 7 points per game and has started 3 of 7 games. Was power forward for Pam Gainey but at five feet eight inches having to learn to be a guard in college.
Trey Sumler: Nash Central - Western Carolina Senior. He is on the Bob Cousy list as one of the top point guards in the country. Averaging 16.3 points for the Catamounts and has been leading scorer in six of Cats 12 games. Averaging 3.9 assist per game.
Dyonna Battle: Rocky Mount -Queens College. Played center in high school but at 5'8" is a guard at Queens. Averaging 3.8 points per game.
The Lady Gryphons begin play at 5pm today against Dudley High School. The guys are playing in a tournament at Riverside High in Durham. It is called the Tobacco Road Holiday Invitational Tournament. They play Northside Christian Academy at 5.30 On Thursday.
Next week when school takes back in the Gryphons have a home game Wednesday night against Rose High and then begin conference play January 4th against Nash Central at RMHS. This will be Charles Austin Night and next week I will pass along more details.
I think most folks would tell you at this point Rocky Mount boys being 8-0 is a nice surprise. They have won seven of their eight games by at least 12 points. They are averaging 64 points per game while giving up 52. They have played four games so far this year on the other teams court but they are still averaging winning by over 11 per game. The entire starting lineup played significant minutes on last year state championship team. So far they are not as deep on the bench as last season.
Where Are they Now: Christmas vacation brings many players home for the holiday and had a chance to run into many of them last week during the Nash County Tournament.
Tabais Hilliard: Rocky Mount - Freshman Methodist point guard. Started first game of season at point guard. averaging about six points per game.
Terrill Hilliard: Rocky Mount - Freshman Wingate Red shirting this year. You may remember got stress fracture in shin in state championship game in 2010. Played AAU and High school ball both Junior and senior seasons and never properly healed. Has had surgery and is resting this season.
Montrezl Harrell :North Edgecombe -Freshman Louisville Averagering 19 minutes per game for Rick Patino. Scoring at 6.7 points per game and pulling down 4.5 rebounds for the 11-1 Louisville Cardinals.
Tia Hudgins: Rocky Mount -Freshman Queens College. Averaging 7 points per game and has started 3 of 7 games. Was power forward for Pam Gainey but at five feet eight inches having to learn to be a guard in college.
Trey Sumler: Nash Central - Western Carolina Senior. He is on the Bob Cousy list as one of the top point guards in the country. Averaging 16.3 points for the Catamounts and has been leading scorer in six of Cats 12 games. Averaging 3.9 assist per game.
Dyonna Battle: Rocky Mount -Queens College. Played center in high school but at 5'8" is a guard at Queens. Averaging 3.8 points per game.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
It's All About Jesus
We now live in a world that if there is someone that doesn't believe like you they are going to find a way to make it shameful for you to feel as you do. Some where along the way about 3 per cent of the people have taken control of the other 97%.
I am a Believer in Jesus Christ. I try to live a certain way that when ever the day comes I will be in the HOV lane to heaven. I know that I fail sometimes to carry out my beliefs but I do try to live the path that has been laid out for all of us who believe should follow.
We are at the moment where it is the birthday of my lord and I hope yours too. Sorry if I offend you but I have a Christmas tree in my house not a Holiday tree. I still say Merry Christmas and a Happy new year even though the 3% say that I offend them by saying it. Sorry but on this one just be offended.
Today is the birthday of Jesus Christ. I hope that you will take the time to remember that Santa was no where near Bethlehem. The gifts you give others this season is in honor a child born in a stable. Gifts were brought to the stable to honor him. He lived such a short time to die on a cross for my sins and yours.
Happy Birthday Jesus
And to all of you Merry Christmas
I am a Believer in Jesus Christ. I try to live a certain way that when ever the day comes I will be in the HOV lane to heaven. I know that I fail sometimes to carry out my beliefs but I do try to live the path that has been laid out for all of us who believe should follow.
We are at the moment where it is the birthday of my lord and I hope yours too. Sorry if I offend you but I have a Christmas tree in my house not a Holiday tree. I still say Merry Christmas and a Happy new year even though the 3% say that I offend them by saying it. Sorry but on this one just be offended.
Today is the birthday of Jesus Christ. I hope that you will take the time to remember that Santa was no where near Bethlehem. The gifts you give others this season is in honor a child born in a stable. Gifts were brought to the stable to honor him. He lived such a short time to die on a cross for my sins and yours.
Happy Birthday Jesus
And to all of you Merry Christmas
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Random Thoughts
Maybe just Four weeks ago I was excited about the Charlotte Bob Cats had won six games and I made the comment they had all year to win two more games which would be more wins than they had all of last year. The Cats have won one game since I commented on them and right now are on a 15 game losing streak.
Former Southern Nash Firebird Tracy Coppedge was named to the All Southern Conference freshman team. Coppedge averaged 4.1 yards per carry in running for 430 yards at Elon. He added another 100 or so pass receiving.
ECU lost their Bowl game yesterday to Louisiana Lafayette 43-34. Some how or other that is about what I thought the score would be. Two other North Carolina college teams still have bowls games to go. Duke and State and I doubt that either will be favored in their games.
Duke is 11-0 on the college basketball season and ranked #1 in all the polls. They remain first in the RPI which of course factors in the strength of schedule. N C State is up to 9-2 and 8th in the RPI. years past State might be 9-2 but their RPI would be 100 from their not so tough schedule. Mark Gottfried likes the tough schedule early and the Pack is improving. I bet nobody knows that Miami is 7-1 so far this season and 11th in the RPI. You had better keep your eyes on them. Carolina at 7-3 is 61st in RPI.
The final game of the NFL season next Sunday and the Washington Redskins have to beat the Cowboys to get in the playoffs. Most of Eastern North Carolina is still a strong hold of Skin Fans. The Carolina Panthers have been around since 1995 and you can't get the Skins on TV in this area like it use to be. Back in the old days during the preseason teams used to go to areas and play a preseason game and the Skins use to play in Norfolk VA. Wish the Panthers and Skins would play a preseason game in Raleigh. Despite the regular price for preseason games I bet that one would be a sellout.
Former Southern Nash Firebird Tracy Coppedge was named to the All Southern Conference freshman team. Coppedge averaged 4.1 yards per carry in running for 430 yards at Elon. He added another 100 or so pass receiving.
ECU lost their Bowl game yesterday to Louisiana Lafayette 43-34. Some how or other that is about what I thought the score would be. Two other North Carolina college teams still have bowls games to go. Duke and State and I doubt that either will be favored in their games.
Duke is 11-0 on the college basketball season and ranked #1 in all the polls. They remain first in the RPI which of course factors in the strength of schedule. N C State is up to 9-2 and 8th in the RPI. years past State might be 9-2 but their RPI would be 100 from their not so tough schedule. Mark Gottfried likes the tough schedule early and the Pack is improving. I bet nobody knows that Miami is 7-1 so far this season and 11th in the RPI. You had better keep your eyes on them. Carolina at 7-3 is 61st in RPI.
The final game of the NFL season next Sunday and the Washington Redskins have to beat the Cowboys to get in the playoffs. Most of Eastern North Carolina is still a strong hold of Skin Fans. The Carolina Panthers have been around since 1995 and you can't get the Skins on TV in this area like it use to be. Back in the old days during the preseason teams used to go to areas and play a preseason game and the Skins use to play in Norfolk VA. Wish the Panthers and Skins would play a preseason game in Raleigh. Despite the regular price for preseason games I bet that one would be a sellout.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Christmas Break Review The Girls
Last year the two best basketball teams east of Raleigh resided in Nash County. This year you can say two of the best teams east or Raleigh are here. South Central has already shown they want to be a part once again of the best basketball in the east.
Northern Nash: 9-0 They have ten players that all look alike. Take one player out and put another in and they still look the same. This senior group made the Regional as Sophomores but only Rocky Mount prevented them from returning last year. This point in the season only one team can keep them from going undefeated in regular season or should I make that two. Themselves and Rocky Mount. Alexus Hill can shoot from the outside and she provides speed for all of the other bookends. Those book ends have names Quinesha Lynch, Shakyia Mercer, Khadrijah Richardson, De ja Lewis,Jordan Oldham, Camille Branch and Suzannah Sykes. Northern Needs to shoot more from the outside because they can control most of the rebounds on misses. Lack over all team speed but they are the class of the Big East.
Rocky Mount : 6-2 So far this year lost in over time to Northern Nash and lost by three to South Central. This Gryphon team must depend on it's defense because other than the best player in the east J'Kyra Brown. No one else willing to shoot. Carmen Richardson needs to get greedy and shoot more just to to ease the double teams on J'Kyra. Until this team finds more scoring it will be hard to beat the best in the east Northern and South Central. That being said as long a J'Kyra stays healthy Rocky Mount can beat most of every one else. Every team is double and triple teaming J and by late in the game she is wore out and in the big games she can't do it alone. If one or two others step up offensively Rocky Mount could be real good again.
Nash Central: 7-2 The most over looked team in the area is Nash Central. They showed everyone how good they were as the #3 Big East team in the playoffs last year. Ni'Ya Styles is maybe the best point guard in the area and the Bulldogs are a team none of the big dogs had better overlook. Veteran Timyra Staton provides rebounding underneath. If either NN or RM stumble Nash Central will be ready to race by the one that scratches their knee.
Southern Nash How good can you expect your team to be when three of your conference members are NN, RM and NC. That's only on this side of the county not including next door in Wilson County. Southern has good talent but next to a six footer I am real short. Danielle Noland and Khadijah Manning are a good nucleus.
The all Tournament team at the Nash County Holiday Tournament: MVP Quinesha Lynch Northern Nash, Alexus Hill Northern Nash, J'Kyra Brown Rocky Mount, Carmen Richardson Rocky Mount, Ni'ya Styles Nash Central and Khandijah Manning Southern Nash.
Northern Nash: 9-0 They have ten players that all look alike. Take one player out and put another in and they still look the same. This senior group made the Regional as Sophomores but only Rocky Mount prevented them from returning last year. This point in the season only one team can keep them from going undefeated in regular season or should I make that two. Themselves and Rocky Mount. Alexus Hill can shoot from the outside and she provides speed for all of the other bookends. Those book ends have names Quinesha Lynch, Shakyia Mercer, Khadrijah Richardson, De ja Lewis,Jordan Oldham, Camille Branch and Suzannah Sykes. Northern Needs to shoot more from the outside because they can control most of the rebounds on misses. Lack over all team speed but they are the class of the Big East.
Rocky Mount : 6-2 So far this year lost in over time to Northern Nash and lost by three to South Central. This Gryphon team must depend on it's defense because other than the best player in the east J'Kyra Brown. No one else willing to shoot. Carmen Richardson needs to get greedy and shoot more just to to ease the double teams on J'Kyra. Until this team finds more scoring it will be hard to beat the best in the east Northern and South Central. That being said as long a J'Kyra stays healthy Rocky Mount can beat most of every one else. Every team is double and triple teaming J and by late in the game she is wore out and in the big games she can't do it alone. If one or two others step up offensively Rocky Mount could be real good again.
Nash Central: 7-2 The most over looked team in the area is Nash Central. They showed everyone how good they were as the #3 Big East team in the playoffs last year. Ni'Ya Styles is maybe the best point guard in the area and the Bulldogs are a team none of the big dogs had better overlook. Veteran Timyra Staton provides rebounding underneath. If either NN or RM stumble Nash Central will be ready to race by the one that scratches their knee.
Southern Nash How good can you expect your team to be when three of your conference members are NN, RM and NC. That's only on this side of the county not including next door in Wilson County. Southern has good talent but next to a six footer I am real short. Danielle Noland and Khadijah Manning are a good nucleus.
The all Tournament team at the Nash County Holiday Tournament: MVP Quinesha Lynch Northern Nash, Alexus Hill Northern Nash, J'Kyra Brown Rocky Mount, Carmen Richardson Rocky Mount, Ni'ya Styles Nash Central and Khandijah Manning Southern Nash.
Friday, December 21, 2012
The State Of Nash County Basketball
If might not yet be the official halfway point in the high school basketball season but the Christmas break is a good time to review what has happened so far.
Rocky Mount Boys: 8-0 Looks as if there is no let down following their second state title in three years. Donte Battle has turned into a beast under the boards and he is getting plenty of help inside from Jaquel Bryant and up and coming Imanuel King. Coming back from missing almost the entire last season M J Gainey is just maybe the best all round Gryphon. It doesn't matter who the athlete is missing time with an injury is heart breaking but Little Mike has come back with a dead eye shooting and a coaches son basketball wealth of knowledge. The Hines brothers Mason and Mike round out the best starting lineup in the area.
Nash Central :7-3 If there is one thing every team in this area needs to compete with Rocky Mount is height and the Bulldogs don't have enough of that. They do have speed which they will need to use to their advantage. Nate Pittman leads the way but the Bulldogs need to improve their outside shooting if they are to endure once playoff time rolls around.Jaquan Williams and L J Porcher need to lead their. There is also Daniel Pittman and Cole Smith. The Bulldogs are better than I thought they would be after what graduated last year.
Northern Nash : 4-5 No one has improved this year more than the Knights. Already with four wins after only one last season. The Knights desperately need some taller trees. They will be more competitive this year and will not go win less in the Big East. Isaiah Alston is giving Northern solid leadership and as the Knights proved in the Nash County Holiday Tournament they will win some close games this year.
Southern Nash :1-9 Graduation hit the Firebirds harder than any other team last season and so far like most Nash County teams no tall timber under the basket. Firebirds will rely heavily on Chi-Ali-Bunn for leadership this season. Already been a long season and January isn't here yet for the Firebirds.
The All Tournament team from the Nash County Holiday Tournament. M J Gainey MVP Rocky Mount, Donte Battle Rocky Mount, Daniel Pittman Nash Central, Nate Pittman Nash Central, Isaiah Alston Northern Nash and Chi-Ali-Bunn Southern Nash.
Tomorrow we will feature the girls.
Rocky Mount Boys: 8-0 Looks as if there is no let down following their second state title in three years. Donte Battle has turned into a beast under the boards and he is getting plenty of help inside from Jaquel Bryant and up and coming Imanuel King. Coming back from missing almost the entire last season M J Gainey is just maybe the best all round Gryphon. It doesn't matter who the athlete is missing time with an injury is heart breaking but Little Mike has come back with a dead eye shooting and a coaches son basketball wealth of knowledge. The Hines brothers Mason and Mike round out the best starting lineup in the area.
Nash Central :7-3 If there is one thing every team in this area needs to compete with Rocky Mount is height and the Bulldogs don't have enough of that. They do have speed which they will need to use to their advantage. Nate Pittman leads the way but the Bulldogs need to improve their outside shooting if they are to endure once playoff time rolls around.Jaquan Williams and L J Porcher need to lead their. There is also Daniel Pittman and Cole Smith. The Bulldogs are better than I thought they would be after what graduated last year.
Northern Nash : 4-5 No one has improved this year more than the Knights. Already with four wins after only one last season. The Knights desperately need some taller trees. They will be more competitive this year and will not go win less in the Big East. Isaiah Alston is giving Northern solid leadership and as the Knights proved in the Nash County Holiday Tournament they will win some close games this year.
Southern Nash :1-9 Graduation hit the Firebirds harder than any other team last season and so far like most Nash County teams no tall timber under the basket. Firebirds will rely heavily on Chi-Ali-Bunn for leadership this season. Already been a long season and January isn't here yet for the Firebirds.
The All Tournament team from the Nash County Holiday Tournament. M J Gainey MVP Rocky Mount, Donte Battle Rocky Mount, Daniel Pittman Nash Central, Nate Pittman Nash Central, Isaiah Alston Northern Nash and Chi-Ali-Bunn Southern Nash.
Tomorrow we will feature the girls.
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Northern Out Last Gryphons
Went to see a basketball game and a rugby match broke out. They started pushing and shoving in the first quarter and by over time Northern Nash remains unbeaten as they survive Rocky Mount 55-50. Rocky Mount had four players foul out including J'Kyra Brown who scored 31 points but the 25 scored by Lady Knight Quinesha Lynch was the difference in the game.
Northern decided to take the first quarter off as Rocky Mount lead 11-0 at the end of the first period. The Knights had cut it to 25-15 at the half but at one point Rocky Mount lead 25-8. Neither side shot very well at the foul line for if they had of this one would never have made over time by either side. Northern had whittled the Gryphon lead to three at the end of the third and lead by three with under two minutes to play but were tied at 47 at the end of regulation.
As Rocky Mount lost players because of fouls Northern kept right on moving forward and managed to win it 55-50. That first quarter it seemed as if Northern was more focused on making sure this was a rough and tumble game that they forgot they needed to score. Once they started making shots their flow came with it and the victory. Their ninth of the year without a defeat. Alexus Hill scored 10 second half point and Khadrijah Richardson had 9 to lead the Knights scoring. Carmen Richardson had nine and no other Gryphon had more than four.
In the boys championship game Nash Central lead the entire first quarter but there was a point where Rocky Mount became taller and the Nash Central basket shrunk Rocky Mount pulled to a 33-27 lead at the half but in the second half played zone most of the time and the Bulldogs couldn't make enough outside shots to keep up with the taller Gryphons who weren't letting anything inside.
Rocky Mount lead swelled to 17 down the stretch. MJ Gainey made outside shots 17 points but Donte Battle, Imanuel King and Jaquel Bryant controlled the boards. Rocky Mount does their part winning the Nash County Holiday Tournament 66-53 on the home court of the Bulldogs.
Donte Battle lead Rocky Mount with 18, but Nash Central transfer Imanuel King chipped in 14 against his old team. Nash Central had four double digit scorers but in this one they needed five or more. Nate Pittman 12 points, L J Porcher 11, Jaquan Williams 10 and Cole smith added 10.
The 3rd place of the boys game Northern Nash down two hit a trey with ten seconds to go and survived two Southern Nash shots to win 47-46.
Northern decided to take the first quarter off as Rocky Mount lead 11-0 at the end of the first period. The Knights had cut it to 25-15 at the half but at one point Rocky Mount lead 25-8. Neither side shot very well at the foul line for if they had of this one would never have made over time by either side. Northern had whittled the Gryphon lead to three at the end of the third and lead by three with under two minutes to play but were tied at 47 at the end of regulation.
As Rocky Mount lost players because of fouls Northern kept right on moving forward and managed to win it 55-50. That first quarter it seemed as if Northern was more focused on making sure this was a rough and tumble game that they forgot they needed to score. Once they started making shots their flow came with it and the victory. Their ninth of the year without a defeat. Alexus Hill scored 10 second half point and Khadrijah Richardson had 9 to lead the Knights scoring. Carmen Richardson had nine and no other Gryphon had more than four.
In the boys championship game Nash Central lead the entire first quarter but there was a point where Rocky Mount became taller and the Nash Central basket shrunk Rocky Mount pulled to a 33-27 lead at the half but in the second half played zone most of the time and the Bulldogs couldn't make enough outside shots to keep up with the taller Gryphons who weren't letting anything inside.
Rocky Mount lead swelled to 17 down the stretch. MJ Gainey made outside shots 17 points but Donte Battle, Imanuel King and Jaquel Bryant controlled the boards. Rocky Mount does their part winning the Nash County Holiday Tournament 66-53 on the home court of the Bulldogs.
Donte Battle lead Rocky Mount with 18, but Nash Central transfer Imanuel King chipped in 14 against his old team. Nash Central had four double digit scorers but in this one they needed five or more. Nate Pittman 12 points, L J Porcher 11, Jaquan Williams 10 and Cole smith added 10.
The 3rd place of the boys game Northern Nash down two hit a trey with ten seconds to go and survived two Southern Nash shots to win 47-46.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Nash Central Draws the Gryphons
Nash Central knocked off Northern Nash on Monday and Coach Rennie Taylor of Nash Central had an opportunity to scout the team that he will play for the Championship of the Nash County Christmas Tournament. Coach Taylor got a real good look as he will face Rocky Mount in the Championship game Thursday night.
Rocky Mount had little trouble controlling this one from the get go and sail on into the championship game taking down the Firebirds 57-45. This will be the second time this season the Gryphons will have faced a team on their home court trying to win a tournament as Rocky Mount beat Knightdale at Thanksgiving.
The consolation game in the girls bracket was played tonight and the home team Nash Central took advantage of their own confines and wins the 3rd place game 53-42.
Thursday night's championship game both games with be videoed by WHIG-TV and the girls game will be shown this Sunday night. The boys championship game will get air time on Sunday following Christmas. I will be behind the mic for both games. There will be three games played Thursday as the 3rd place boys game kicks off the final day of the tournament with Northern Nash meeting Southern Nash. The girls championship game takes center stage around 6:30 featuring the unbeaten Lady Knights of Northern Nash taking on once beaten Rocky Mount. The tournament wraps up with the boys championship game after the girls wrap up featuring Nash Central and R ocky Mount.
Duke played for the first time tonight as the #1 basketball team in the nation and they played like a #1 team. They had little trouble in Durham against Cornell winning 88-47. Last night the Pack took on a fairly good Stanford team and continue to show improvement. This team works well when Lo Brown drives with the ball. He opens up every body's game when he attacks the basket.
Rocky Mount had little trouble controlling this one from the get go and sail on into the championship game taking down the Firebirds 57-45. This will be the second time this season the Gryphons will have faced a team on their home court trying to win a tournament as Rocky Mount beat Knightdale at Thanksgiving.
The consolation game in the girls bracket was played tonight and the home team Nash Central took advantage of their own confines and wins the 3rd place game 53-42.
Thursday night's championship game both games with be videoed by WHIG-TV and the girls game will be shown this Sunday night. The boys championship game will get air time on Sunday following Christmas. I will be behind the mic for both games. There will be three games played Thursday as the 3rd place boys game kicks off the final day of the tournament with Northern Nash meeting Southern Nash. The girls championship game takes center stage around 6:30 featuring the unbeaten Lady Knights of Northern Nash taking on once beaten Rocky Mount. The tournament wraps up with the boys championship game after the girls wrap up featuring Nash Central and R ocky Mount.
Duke played for the first time tonight as the #1 basketball team in the nation and they played like a #1 team. They had little trouble in Durham against Cornell winning 88-47. Last night the Pack took on a fairly good Stanford team and continue to show improvement. This team works well when Lo Brown drives with the ball. He opens up every body's game when he attacks the basket.
Bomb Shell From Red Oak
Every high school goes through peaks and valleys since the kids that play for you are from a zone on a county map. There is not any recruiting of bringing one player from some where else to fill a need when you know that in up coming years where you are short on talent. High schools that consistently win year after year can look at one thing and that is coaching.
Northern Nash has once since the the Nash County Board of Education added Nash Central to their high school roster has made a big push in the state football playoffs. Other wise they have been average to not so good. It is odd to think that most of the football glory that Northern's has experienced was when they were in the 4-A class. Since the down shift to 3-A football has been very inconsistant to say the least.
The Knights like the other schools of Nash County formed the NEW conference in 2005. Northern dropped from 4-A that year and in the four years in the NEW conference went 8-38 having three straight 1-10 seasons. During the four yours as a member of the Big East 3-A the Knights are 16-29 and they are just 7-13 in the Big East.
2010 is the only year in 3-A that the Knights had a winning record and they made it to the third round going 10-4. They had a new coach and it looked for sure that the tide had turned in Red Oak. Six of the last eight years they have won two games or less. All schools pride themselves and winning football is a major pride for the Knight's family. Looking once again for a coach to bring back the glory to Death Valley the Knight's faithful prayers just may have been answered.
Today Northern Nash High school announced that Randy Raper has been hired to be their 4th coach this century. Yes you read it right Randy Raper of Hunt High School. What else could coach Raper do at Hunt. His last two teams went undefeated in the regular season.
During the last four years since Hunt joined the Big East Hunt is 47-9. They are 19-1 in Big East Conference play. If you compare Hunt with Northern over the eight years that the Knights have been back in 3-A Hunt during the same time is 87-31 while the Knights are 24-67.
Raper seeking a new challenge after spending almost all of his adult life at Hunt believes in hard nose football. Run that football and throw if you must. If you look at Raper's record at Hunt running the football will win you a lot of football games. During those years when he had a quarterback that could throw if needed Hunt has been great.
I am sure all of the Northern Nash Knight fans are cheering in the streets at the opportunity that has fallen their way. I am sure at Hunt the flags are at half mast over the shock. Welcome Randy Raper to Nash County. Welcome back Northern Nash. You got a gem!
Northern Nash has once since the the Nash County Board of Education added Nash Central to their high school roster has made a big push in the state football playoffs. Other wise they have been average to not so good. It is odd to think that most of the football glory that Northern's has experienced was when they were in the 4-A class. Since the down shift to 3-A football has been very inconsistant to say the least.
The Knights like the other schools of Nash County formed the NEW conference in 2005. Northern dropped from 4-A that year and in the four years in the NEW conference went 8-38 having three straight 1-10 seasons. During the four yours as a member of the Big East 3-A the Knights are 16-29 and they are just 7-13 in the Big East.
2010 is the only year in 3-A that the Knights had a winning record and they made it to the third round going 10-4. They had a new coach and it looked for sure that the tide had turned in Red Oak. Six of the last eight years they have won two games or less. All schools pride themselves and winning football is a major pride for the Knight's family. Looking once again for a coach to bring back the glory to Death Valley the Knight's faithful prayers just may have been answered.
Today Northern Nash High school announced that Randy Raper has been hired to be their 4th coach this century. Yes you read it right Randy Raper of Hunt High School. What else could coach Raper do at Hunt. His last two teams went undefeated in the regular season.
During the last four years since Hunt joined the Big East Hunt is 47-9. They are 19-1 in Big East Conference play. If you compare Hunt with Northern over the eight years that the Knights have been back in 3-A Hunt during the same time is 87-31 while the Knights are 24-67.
Raper seeking a new challenge after spending almost all of his adult life at Hunt believes in hard nose football. Run that football and throw if you must. If you look at Raper's record at Hunt running the football will win you a lot of football games. During those years when he had a quarterback that could throw if needed Hunt has been great.
I am sure all of the Northern Nash Knight fans are cheering in the streets at the opportunity that has fallen their way. I am sure at Hunt the flags are at half mast over the shock. Welcome Randy Raper to Nash County. Welcome back Northern Nash. You got a gem!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
The Match Up Wanted
The opening round of the Nash County Christmas Tournament has produced opening night results that everyone wanted to see. Unbeaten Northern Nash had all the wanted for a half from the home standing Lady Bulldogs of Nash Central but the second half was all Lady Knights as Northern rolls to a Thursday night finals with a 51-29 victory.
Northern beat Rocky Mount in the opening round of the Christmas Tournament last year and then proceeded to lose to Rocky Mount four times for the rest of the season, RM took the regular season game at RM. The last game of the regular season RM over came a 14 point Northern lead to win at Northern. One week later again at Northern; RM won the Big East Tournament. Then one week later with all the marbles on the table with a trip to the Regional on the line Rocky Mount won the bigget game ever between the two schools. There is no doubt Northern will be ready Thursday
night with practically the entire team back.
Rocky Mount opened the night by taking down Southern Nash 46-27. Rocky Mount has one blemish on their record to date and that was a home lost to unbeaten South Central by three. The Gryphons will have the best player in J'Kyra Brown but the question for RM will be if Brown gets enough help to compete with a Northern team which will play ten players.
The third game of the night the host Nash Central boys beat Northern Nash 66-52 to move into Thursday night finals. They will not know who they will play until Wednesday night when Rocky Mount takes on Southern Nash.
Wednesday night will start with the 3rd place girls game which will be the host Nash Central against Southern Nash and then the Rocky Mount- Southern boys game. Thursday will feature three games as the third place boys game will begin the night and then both the girls and boys championship games. Both of the remaining nights will be playd at Nash Central
Northern beat Rocky Mount in the opening round of the Christmas Tournament last year and then proceeded to lose to Rocky Mount four times for the rest of the season, RM took the regular season game at RM. The last game of the regular season RM over came a 14 point Northern lead to win at Northern. One week later again at Northern; RM won the Big East Tournament. Then one week later with all the marbles on the table with a trip to the Regional on the line Rocky Mount won the bigget game ever between the two schools. There is no doubt Northern will be ready Thursday
night with practically the entire team back.
Rocky Mount opened the night by taking down Southern Nash 46-27. Rocky Mount has one blemish on their record to date and that was a home lost to unbeaten South Central by three. The Gryphons will have the best player in J'Kyra Brown but the question for RM will be if Brown gets enough help to compete with a Northern team which will play ten players.
The third game of the night the host Nash Central boys beat Northern Nash 66-52 to move into Thursday night finals. They will not know who they will play until Wednesday night when Rocky Mount takes on Southern Nash.
Wednesday night will start with the 3rd place girls game which will be the host Nash Central against Southern Nash and then the Rocky Mount- Southern boys game. Thursday will feature three games as the third place boys game will begin the night and then both the girls and boys championship games. Both of the remaining nights will be playd at Nash Central
Monday, December 17, 2012
AP All State Team Has Two From Area
Tyquan Lewis of Tarboro High School and Lewis Neal of Hunt have made the Associated Press All State Football team. Both players are defensive players and both will play their college ball some place else other than in North Carolina. Lewis is heading to Ohio State and Neal to LSU.
The Sandlappers of South Carolina beat North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl all star football game on Saturday 23-19.. Both Lewis and Neal played in the game. Neal from his down lineman position had a sack and two pass bat downs in the game.
Duke has returned to the top spot in the latest college basketball poll after Indiana lost on Saturday to Butler. This is the 16th year during the coach K coaching legacy at Duke that the Blue Devils have been #1 while he was their coach. That is the NCAA record if that is a record that is kept up with. Despite not losing last week Carolina fell to 22nd and State holds on to 25th in the latest voting.
The Carolina Panthers won their fifth game of the season yesterday beating the Chargers. Today the Charlotte Observer ran and ad bought by Panther fans who own Personal license seating criticizing Jerry Richardson in his handling of the team.
From the get go this season RG3 and Andrew Luck have been bantered around as the only candidates for Rookie of the year. Hold the phone folks but Russell Wilson just might be the best rookie in the NFL this year. He has tossed 21 tds and only had 9 ints and Seattle is in position to make the playoffs.
If you look at the way the schedule is set up in the NFL it is hard to figure who is the best team because if you look at all of them nobody that has beaten this season more than two teams with winning records. You play six division games and then ten teams. The average NFL team plays ten teams per season with losing records and that leaves only six games against winning teams . If you beat all the losers and half of your so called tough games you can go 12-4 13-3.
If I had to pick right now Denver would be my odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. In the last five years Denver has had a decent defense but their offense has kept the defense in trouble all the time and it has been hard to tell about their defense. With Peyton Manning the defense is seldom in trouble because of the lack of their offense. Would not shock me to see the Redskins in the Super Bowl. You know when your backup quarterback wins with ease it must mean the Redskins are a good team.
The Sandlappers of South Carolina beat North Carolina in the Shrine Bowl all star football game on Saturday 23-19.. Both Lewis and Neal played in the game. Neal from his down lineman position had a sack and two pass bat downs in the game.
Duke has returned to the top spot in the latest college basketball poll after Indiana lost on Saturday to Butler. This is the 16th year during the coach K coaching legacy at Duke that the Blue Devils have been #1 while he was their coach. That is the NCAA record if that is a record that is kept up with. Despite not losing last week Carolina fell to 22nd and State holds on to 25th in the latest voting.
The Carolina Panthers won their fifth game of the season yesterday beating the Chargers. Today the Charlotte Observer ran and ad bought by Panther fans who own Personal license seating criticizing Jerry Richardson in his handling of the team.
From the get go this season RG3 and Andrew Luck have been bantered around as the only candidates for Rookie of the year. Hold the phone folks but Russell Wilson just might be the best rookie in the NFL this year. He has tossed 21 tds and only had 9 ints and Seattle is in position to make the playoffs.
If you look at the way the schedule is set up in the NFL it is hard to figure who is the best team because if you look at all of them nobody that has beaten this season more than two teams with winning records. You play six division games and then ten teams. The average NFL team plays ten teams per season with losing records and that leaves only six games against winning teams . If you beat all the losers and half of your so called tough games you can go 12-4 13-3.
If I had to pick right now Denver would be my odds on favorite to win the Super Bowl. In the last five years Denver has had a decent defense but their offense has kept the defense in trouble all the time and it has been hard to tell about their defense. With Peyton Manning the defense is seldom in trouble because of the lack of their offense. Would not shock me to see the Redskins in the Super Bowl. You know when your backup quarterback wins with ease it must mean the Redskins are a good team.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Nash County Tournament This Week
Rocky Mount boys basketball team heads into the Nash County Tournament as the only boys team still undefeated. The Gryphons disposed of the Rampants of Rose High Friday night 56-42. They will meet Southern Nash in the opening round Wednesday night.
The other boys game will feature Northern Nash and Nash Central. The Knights have a 500 record as they face off against the Bulldogs at Nash Central. Already the Knights have put 4 games in the win column after having won only once all of last season. This week will tell the Knights how far they have improved since last season and will give them a good look at just how well they may do when conference starts
The Lady Gryphons had little problem with Rose on Friday winning 76-40. They will take on Southern Nash Tuesday night at Nash Central. The Lady Gryphons lone loss was at the hands of South Central who still remains unbeaten on the season. Everyone totally expects Northern Nash Lady Knights to be waiting Thursday night but they must first meet the home team Nash Central. The Lady Knights remain undefeated and they have not had a fourth quarter yet that they were pushed. I think they are averaging winning by about 40 per contest. The Nash County Tournament is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Nash Central.
Still no official word yet on the new football coach at Northern. I think you might be hearing the word first part of the week.
Carolina struggles to beat ECU in the Dean Dome. I don't know how many years Roy Williams has left as coach of the Tar Heels but Jeff Lebo sure did look mighty comfortable sitting on the bench while he and Roy Williams talked before the game. There is no doubt for Carolina fans this years team does not have that big man under the basket with nine foot arms that can swat any shot up close to the basket away.
State is beginning to look more like the team everyone expected this year. If they are lacking one thing it is that big man which I just talked about Carolina didn't have. If State did they would be awesome. All the hype this year about the three incoming freshman the least talked about was T J Warren. He is by far the best of the three.
Tonight I will be appearing with Wes Bradshaw on WHIG-TV during their All New Sports Show at 8.00pm. We were suppose to wrap up the high school football season and we will probably do that but our focus will now be more on the life of Charles Austin. If you have satellite remember it will be streamed on WHIG.Com. I think Wes is planning to open up the telephone lines and let everyone tell their tales about how Charles effected their lives.
The other boys game will feature Northern Nash and Nash Central. The Knights have a 500 record as they face off against the Bulldogs at Nash Central. Already the Knights have put 4 games in the win column after having won only once all of last season. This week will tell the Knights how far they have improved since last season and will give them a good look at just how well they may do when conference starts
The Lady Gryphons had little problem with Rose on Friday winning 76-40. They will take on Southern Nash Tuesday night at Nash Central. The Lady Gryphons lone loss was at the hands of South Central who still remains unbeaten on the season. Everyone totally expects Northern Nash Lady Knights to be waiting Thursday night but they must first meet the home team Nash Central. The Lady Knights remain undefeated and they have not had a fourth quarter yet that they were pushed. I think they are averaging winning by about 40 per contest. The Nash County Tournament is Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at Nash Central.
Still no official word yet on the new football coach at Northern. I think you might be hearing the word first part of the week.
Carolina struggles to beat ECU in the Dean Dome. I don't know how many years Roy Williams has left as coach of the Tar Heels but Jeff Lebo sure did look mighty comfortable sitting on the bench while he and Roy Williams talked before the game. There is no doubt for Carolina fans this years team does not have that big man under the basket with nine foot arms that can swat any shot up close to the basket away.
State is beginning to look more like the team everyone expected this year. If they are lacking one thing it is that big man which I just talked about Carolina didn't have. If State did they would be awesome. All the hype this year about the three incoming freshman the least talked about was T J Warren. He is by far the best of the three.
Tonight I will be appearing with Wes Bradshaw on WHIG-TV during their All New Sports Show at 8.00pm. We were suppose to wrap up the high school football season and we will probably do that but our focus will now be more on the life of Charles Austin. If you have satellite remember it will be streamed on WHIG.Com. I think Wes is planning to open up the telephone lines and let everyone tell their tales about how Charles effected their lives.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
He Made An Impact
Today many in this area especially those from the sports community will be saying good bye to a friend. Charles Alston was a 1976 graduate of Rocky Mount Senior High School. Early on he helped with the afternoon edition of the Evening Telegram. This last year he helped with the Nashville Graphics. His main job was working in the Home and Garden department at Sears. He worked at Sears so long that as the elder statesman who got to pick first on which day off you took each week and you can bet if there was something important going on concerning the Rocky Mount Gryphons that was Charle's day off. He planned vacation around State Championship weekends just in case one of our teams was there.
He never married and his life away from work was the Gryphons. Any sports record that you might know about anything to do with the Gryphons Charles Alston is the person who researched it to come up with that stat. Charles goal was he wanted to have a stat on any sport about Rocky Mount High that there was a history to look up. He spent hours pouring through the archives at Braswell Library for box scores of baseball games. Do you know how much time that must take and Charles was no where near finished?
2001 First Media decided to start doing all football, basketball and baseball games of Rocky Mount High. Having only moved here in 1995 I knew very little of the history. Yes I knew of Danny Talbott, Phil Ford and the likes but I knew nothing of the Hank Jones's of Rocky Mount history. My very first broadcast of Gryphon basketball I had Charles as my halftime guest and as long as there was Gryphon's on the radio Charle's was there with me. later we changed over to the game of the week and included all schools of the area but for about four years Charles was my right hand man.
Coming back from a ball game one night Charles had recently started the Web site of Rocky Mount and we talked about me doing an opinion about once a week on the site. In August of 2008 Charles set me up with this blog and this has been a daily thing for me since. On and average day now this site has grown to where around 125 people read this on a daily average.
What kind of an impact has Charles Alston had in the area. If this blog can be any indication my top three blog days as far as how many have look at it on a daily basis is telling. The most viewed day was the 24 hours after the basketball team won the title in 2010. 550 people viewed this blog that day. Just this year when both basketball teams played in Regional finals 499 hit this site. The next week when the boys won their second title 475 people came to read my view. Monday night and the next 24 hours there were 455 hits on this site the 4th biggest day.
I have read many people who would love to see something named for Charles and I am all for it. The football press box at the Athletic Complex is one of the best press boxes for high schools in the state. Yes the Gryphon's no longer play there but as the city tries to use that football facility and of course the Viking Down East Classic will be an annual event there. NC Wesleyan after thought and the locker rooms are refurbished should use the Complex. Charles Alston spend many a night there and I believe next year during the Viking Down East Classic would be a great time to name the press box in his name.
He never married and his life away from work was the Gryphons. Any sports record that you might know about anything to do with the Gryphons Charles Alston is the person who researched it to come up with that stat. Charles goal was he wanted to have a stat on any sport about Rocky Mount High that there was a history to look up. He spent hours pouring through the archives at Braswell Library for box scores of baseball games. Do you know how much time that must take and Charles was no where near finished?
2001 First Media decided to start doing all football, basketball and baseball games of Rocky Mount High. Having only moved here in 1995 I knew very little of the history. Yes I knew of Danny Talbott, Phil Ford and the likes but I knew nothing of the Hank Jones's of Rocky Mount history. My very first broadcast of Gryphon basketball I had Charles as my halftime guest and as long as there was Gryphon's on the radio Charle's was there with me. later we changed over to the game of the week and included all schools of the area but for about four years Charles was my right hand man.
Coming back from a ball game one night Charles had recently started the Web site of Rocky Mount and we talked about me doing an opinion about once a week on the site. In August of 2008 Charles set me up with this blog and this has been a daily thing for me since. On and average day now this site has grown to where around 125 people read this on a daily average.
What kind of an impact has Charles Alston had in the area. If this blog can be any indication my top three blog days as far as how many have look at it on a daily basis is telling. The most viewed day was the 24 hours after the basketball team won the title in 2010. 550 people viewed this blog that day. Just this year when both basketball teams played in Regional finals 499 hit this site. The next week when the boys won their second title 475 people came to read my view. Monday night and the next 24 hours there were 455 hits on this site the 4th biggest day.
I have read many people who would love to see something named for Charles and I am all for it. The football press box at the Athletic Complex is one of the best press boxes for high schools in the state. Yes the Gryphon's no longer play there but as the city tries to use that football facility and of course the Viking Down East Classic will be an annual event there. NC Wesleyan after thought and the locker rooms are refurbished should use the Complex. Charles Alston spend many a night there and I believe next year during the Viking Down East Classic would be a great time to name the press box in his name.
Friday, December 14, 2012
App State Keeps It In House
There seems to be this trend in sports regardless of what sport it is colleges like to pick their very own to be the next coach. That's what Appalachian State has done in picking their new head football coach replacing the 24 year coach and three time National Champion Jerry Moore.
The Mountaineers have called on their only quarterback who lead them to their only undefeated season in the history 1995. He also happened to be the offensive coordinator for Jerry Moore and also quarterbacks coach. Today Scott Satterfield was named the new head coach in Boone.
Tonight Winston Salem State plays for the National Championship in D-2 football. They will be trying to finish the season 15-0. They meet Valdosta State a team that has won the title twice this century.
Jeff Lebo is taking his ECU Pirates to Chapel Hill tonight to meet the Tar Heels in basketball. I don't think this is the first time that he has been to the Hill since he started coaching but I not quite sure about that.
Today for sure the seven Catholic schools of the Big East gave notice they would with draw from the Big East This will eliminate a big Chuck of the original members St Johns, Georgetown, Seton Hall. Don't look like there is going to be much of a Big East for ECU to go join now.
Skip Holtz has already been hired as the new football coach at Louisiana Tech. I think Skip was without a job 30 minutes maybe.
I took a look the other day at the RPI ratings for college basketball teams and Duke is #1. N C State maybe #25 in the voting polls but are 13th in the RPI. Carolina ranked 11th in the polls is 51st in RPI. If the RPI which tells more than anything how tough your schedule has been to date and Duke at 9-0 you would think that tells us Duke is going to be near the top all year.
State fans are disappointed with a 6-2 record but just maybe it is a sign that down the road they just might be as good as fans hoped. Carolina fans are not really excited about the team so far and if they don't look all that good playing a soft schedule what does that say for the whole season? Don't get all excited this is only the first month of the season and the RPI will juggle as time goes on.
The Mountaineers have called on their only quarterback who lead them to their only undefeated season in the history 1995. He also happened to be the offensive coordinator for Jerry Moore and also quarterbacks coach. Today Scott Satterfield was named the new head coach in Boone.
Tonight Winston Salem State plays for the National Championship in D-2 football. They will be trying to finish the season 15-0. They meet Valdosta State a team that has won the title twice this century.
Jeff Lebo is taking his ECU Pirates to Chapel Hill tonight to meet the Tar Heels in basketball. I don't think this is the first time that he has been to the Hill since he started coaching but I not quite sure about that.
Today for sure the seven Catholic schools of the Big East gave notice they would with draw from the Big East This will eliminate a big Chuck of the original members St Johns, Georgetown, Seton Hall. Don't look like there is going to be much of a Big East for ECU to go join now.
Skip Holtz has already been hired as the new football coach at Louisiana Tech. I think Skip was without a job 30 minutes maybe.
I took a look the other day at the RPI ratings for college basketball teams and Duke is #1. N C State maybe #25 in the voting polls but are 13th in the RPI. Carolina ranked 11th in the polls is 51st in RPI. If the RPI which tells more than anything how tough your schedule has been to date and Duke at 9-0 you would think that tells us Duke is going to be near the top all year.
State fans are disappointed with a 6-2 record but just maybe it is a sign that down the road they just might be as good as fans hoped. Carolina fans are not really excited about the team so far and if they don't look all that good playing a soft schedule what does that say for the whole season? Don't get all excited this is only the first month of the season and the RPI will juggle as time goes on.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Private School Dilemna
The big news last week from the NCHSAA was that the Board Of Directors voted to do away with the POD System. All the schools within the association will vote on that in the spring. A couple of other items were talked about and adopted waiting for a spring vote and they are related to the dominance of private school have during the playoffs.
No private school student can play sports at that school unless they live within the county in which the school is in or no more than 25 miles away. Any Private school who has appeared in the regional of any sport in six of the last eight years would have to jump up in classification if they have met this standard. That would move Cardinal Gibbons Volleyball who has played in the 3-A State Championship game every year they have been in the public playoffs will have to play in the 4-A playoffs next year. The NCHSAA is desperately making these changes to keep the entire body of public schools from asking another vote to try to vote out private schools. 85% of the voting schools last year voted to oust Private school but just enough obstained from voting to keep from getting the required number to pass on any vote.
Speaking of private schools the seven Catholic Basketball playing schools of the Big East agree in principle today to withdraw from the Big East. Every one of them play less than D-1 football so they are not concerned about football playoff money as other schools are and will go their own way.
Josh Hamilton now plays for the LA Angels after agreeing to a new Contract for five years worth 125 million. I hope the Angels don't have a bad weather year next year with all the salaries they have to pay for their free agents. Now that the New York Yankeees are in the save mode the Angels are now the most over paid team in the world.
Funeral Arrangements have been finalized for Charles Alston. The Visitation is set for noon Saturday at Pope Funeral Home on 325 Nash Street in down town Rocky Mount. The Funeral service will follow at 1pm.
No private school student can play sports at that school unless they live within the county in which the school is in or no more than 25 miles away. Any Private school who has appeared in the regional of any sport in six of the last eight years would have to jump up in classification if they have met this standard. That would move Cardinal Gibbons Volleyball who has played in the 3-A State Championship game every year they have been in the public playoffs will have to play in the 4-A playoffs next year. The NCHSAA is desperately making these changes to keep the entire body of public schools from asking another vote to try to vote out private schools. 85% of the voting schools last year voted to oust Private school but just enough obstained from voting to keep from getting the required number to pass on any vote.
Speaking of private schools the seven Catholic Basketball playing schools of the Big East agree in principle today to withdraw from the Big East. Every one of them play less than D-1 football so they are not concerned about football playoff money as other schools are and will go their own way.
Josh Hamilton now plays for the LA Angels after agreeing to a new Contract for five years worth 125 million. I hope the Angels don't have a bad weather year next year with all the salaries they have to pay for their free agents. Now that the New York Yankeees are in the save mode the Angels are now the most over paid team in the world.
Funeral Arrangements have been finalized for Charles Alston. The Visitation is set for noon Saturday at Pope Funeral Home on 325 Nash Street in down town Rocky Mount. The Funeral service will follow at 1pm.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Tip In Keeps Gryphons Unbeaten
A missed shot tip in by Donte Battle with two seconds to go in the game gave Rocky Mount High a two point lead and Battle added two free throws as time expires as Rocky Mount escapes from Hertford county with out a loss on this very young basketball season with a 63-59 win..
It took all of the first and most of the second quarter before the Gryphons found the lead and by mid fourth quarter had extended the lead to 11 points only to see Hertford County tie the game late leading up to Battle's Heroics. Battle finished the night with 22 points. Michael Hines scored 12 followed by brother Mason with 11. Jaquel Bryant was the fourth double digit scorer with 10. Rocky Mount has another road game Friday night as they travel to Greenville to play Rose High School before heading to Nash Central next week for the Nash County Tournament
There was never any doubt as the Lady Gryphons jumped to an 11-1 lead and never looked back in beating Hertford County for the second time this season. J'Kyra Brown scored her usual 31 but this night she had plenty of help from Kelsey Daniels 16 points, Carmen Richardson 11, Destini Parker 11 and Sakeya Battle 11. Those five players scored all 80 points in a 80-40 romp over Hertford County.
Tonight ESPN announced that former Tarboro football standout Todd Gurley had won the Herbie Award as ESPN's top freshman football player in college football this year. Interesting that Johnny Football Johnny Mansiel the Heisman Trophy winner didn't win the ESPN award too. Gurley rushed for 1,260 yards this season and is the first Georgia freshman since 1980 to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. The last Georgia freshman to do it was a guy named Hershal Walker.
The NHL season has been cancelled all the way to December 31st. If I was the NHL and it's players I would be worried that there seems to be nobody that cares whether they play or not. Has anybody really missed it?
Today ECU Athletic Director Terry Holland announce that he will step down. Holland who came to Greenville in 2004 has done a very good job in his time with the Pirates. It is hard to believe that Holland is 70 years old. I remember when he played basketball at Davidson College when Lefy Driesell was coach. I know a lot of Pirate fans are disappointed that only football got into the Big East . If the Big East continues to fall apart there might not be a Big East for ECU football by 2014.
It took all of the first and most of the second quarter before the Gryphons found the lead and by mid fourth quarter had extended the lead to 11 points only to see Hertford County tie the game late leading up to Battle's Heroics. Battle finished the night with 22 points. Michael Hines scored 12 followed by brother Mason with 11. Jaquel Bryant was the fourth double digit scorer with 10. Rocky Mount has another road game Friday night as they travel to Greenville to play Rose High School before heading to Nash Central next week for the Nash County Tournament
There was never any doubt as the Lady Gryphons jumped to an 11-1 lead and never looked back in beating Hertford County for the second time this season. J'Kyra Brown scored her usual 31 but this night she had plenty of help from Kelsey Daniels 16 points, Carmen Richardson 11, Destini Parker 11 and Sakeya Battle 11. Those five players scored all 80 points in a 80-40 romp over Hertford County.
Tonight ESPN announced that former Tarboro football standout Todd Gurley had won the Herbie Award as ESPN's top freshman football player in college football this year. Interesting that Johnny Football Johnny Mansiel the Heisman Trophy winner didn't win the ESPN award too. Gurley rushed for 1,260 yards this season and is the first Georgia freshman since 1980 to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. The last Georgia freshman to do it was a guy named Hershal Walker.
The NHL season has been cancelled all the way to December 31st. If I was the NHL and it's players I would be worried that there seems to be nobody that cares whether they play or not. Has anybody really missed it?
Today ECU Athletic Director Terry Holland announce that he will step down. Holland who came to Greenville in 2004 has done a very good job in his time with the Pirates. It is hard to believe that Holland is 70 years old. I remember when he played basketball at Davidson College when Lefy Driesell was coach. I know a lot of Pirate fans are disappointed that only football got into the Big East . If the Big East continues to fall apart there might not be a Big East for ECU football by 2014.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Following A legend
Can anyone remember who the coach was who replaced Vince Lombardi as coach of the Green Bay Packers? How about who replaced John Wooden at UCLA? Yesterday SouthWest Edgecombe announce that Jonathan Cobb will replace his father as football coach.
Dad Raymond has been a head coach in Edgecombe County (25 years)almost as long as Jonathan is old 29 years old . What might help is dad Raymond just might be a volunteer assistant next year. Has Jonathan got the genes in his body to win football games like dad? Only time will tell. Good luck Raymond in retirement and good luck Jonathan following a legend.
I was reading the article in the Telegram this morning and it is funny the way peoples lives intertwine and they don't know it. Johnathan talked about the saddest he had ever been on the football field was the night in 1991 when North Edgecombe lost at Gates County. I was there doing the game on the Ahoskie Radio station and Gates co. won 8-6. That was the night that Milton Shaw needed 86 yards to break the all time rushing record in North Carolina High school history. He got only 68 in his last game.
Northern Nash is putting the finishing touches on their interviews and there might be an announcement coming there before the week is over on their new coach.
Face book has been alive today with tributes to Charles Alston. It is very funny how death brings out the good memories about people. Even though in our soul we cry about his death there is this thing about people getting together to talk about the good times is therapeutic and helps us all get by.
I was reminded of a story today involving Charles, Wes Bradshaw, "Base Ball" Britt Johnson and Braxton Hill. Charles and I left Rocky Mount to go to a football game against Havelock. We picked up Wes, "Baseball" and Braxton in Greenville and the car load of us rode to the game. Now for those of you that know all of us this was a car load.
After the game we stopped at Denny's in Greenville and everyone piles out of the car and Charles is the last one out and everyone is standing behind my car and the springs on my car are just about on the ground. We all laughed about that for months. Wes and Baseball could sound just like him when they mocked him. We all picked at him, made fun at him and we all loved him. Yes death is painful for those left behind and yet the memories of the good times will last us for ever.
Dad Raymond has been a head coach in Edgecombe County (25 years)almost as long as Jonathan is old 29 years old . What might help is dad Raymond just might be a volunteer assistant next year. Has Jonathan got the genes in his body to win football games like dad? Only time will tell. Good luck Raymond in retirement and good luck Jonathan following a legend.
I was reading the article in the Telegram this morning and it is funny the way peoples lives intertwine and they don't know it. Johnathan talked about the saddest he had ever been on the football field was the night in 1991 when North Edgecombe lost at Gates County. I was there doing the game on the Ahoskie Radio station and Gates co. won 8-6. That was the night that Milton Shaw needed 86 yards to break the all time rushing record in North Carolina High school history. He got only 68 in his last game.
Northern Nash is putting the finishing touches on their interviews and there might be an announcement coming there before the week is over on their new coach.
Face book has been alive today with tributes to Charles Alston. It is very funny how death brings out the good memories about people. Even though in our soul we cry about his death there is this thing about people getting together to talk about the good times is therapeutic and helps us all get by.
I was reminded of a story today involving Charles, Wes Bradshaw, "Base Ball" Britt Johnson and Braxton Hill. Charles and I left Rocky Mount to go to a football game against Havelock. We picked up Wes, "Baseball" and Braxton in Greenville and the car load of us rode to the game. Now for those of you that know all of us this was a car load.
After the game we stopped at Denny's in Greenville and everyone piles out of the car and Charles is the last one out and everyone is standing behind my car and the springs on my car are just about on the ground. We all laughed about that for months. Wes and Baseball could sound just like him when they mocked him. We all picked at him, made fun at him and we all loved him. Yes death is painful for those left behind and yet the memories of the good times will last us for ever.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Gryphon Legend Dead
He knew every football stat and every baseball hit record and he could tell you who should be on the all time Gryphon team for any sports. He was the unofficial Sports Information Director for Rocky Mount High school. Charles Alton who everyone in North Carolina high school sports knew from somewhere and some time died today at age 54.
He helped get North Carolina Ihigh.com rolling for North Carolina High Schools as well as the care taker of the Rocky Mount High Web site. This website as you see it today was set up by Charles as I have no idea how to get all of this off the ground other than where to go and what to do to type a story. The Gryphon Grapevine was Charles personal account of Rocky Mount High. He had not kept that up to date this fall with his new work schedule.
Details are not known at this time but Alston who worked at Sears until it closed earlier this year and just this fall he was working at the new smaller Sears store. He failed to show up for work this morning and they went to check up on him.
If you wanted to know anything about Rocky Mount High School athletics Charles was the man if you wanted an answer. You would find him on his days off in Braswell library looking at old copies of newspapers to get more stats from the past. I don't know whether he ever played any varsity sports at Rocky Mount Senior High, I know he was in the band but there has never been anyone more dedicated to one place as Charles was to Rocky Mount High.
I had heard of Charles even before I moved to Rocky Mount and never met him until I started covering Rocky Mount basketball on the radio in the winter of 2001. Mike Gainey had told me if I wanted to know any thing about Gryphon basketball see Charles so I had him as a halftime guest and from then on Charles rode with me to every game for the next couple of years and even helped do color commentary when we only did the Gryphon Games.
Charles has two surviving brothers who live out of the area. We will let you know when details of the arrangements are made.
It's A sad day in Gryphonland
He helped get North Carolina Ihigh.com rolling for North Carolina High Schools as well as the care taker of the Rocky Mount High Web site. This website as you see it today was set up by Charles as I have no idea how to get all of this off the ground other than where to go and what to do to type a story. The Gryphon Grapevine was Charles personal account of Rocky Mount High. He had not kept that up to date this fall with his new work schedule.
Details are not known at this time but Alston who worked at Sears until it closed earlier this year and just this fall he was working at the new smaller Sears store. He failed to show up for work this morning and they went to check up on him.
If you wanted to know anything about Rocky Mount High School athletics Charles was the man if you wanted an answer. You would find him on his days off in Braswell library looking at old copies of newspapers to get more stats from the past. I don't know whether he ever played any varsity sports at Rocky Mount Senior High, I know he was in the band but there has never been anyone more dedicated to one place as Charles was to Rocky Mount High.
I had heard of Charles even before I moved to Rocky Mount and never met him until I started covering Rocky Mount basketball on the radio in the winter of 2001. Mike Gainey had told me if I wanted to know any thing about Gryphon basketball see Charles so I had him as a halftime guest and from then on Charles rode with me to every game for the next couple of years and even helped do color commentary when we only did the Gryphon Games.
Charles has two surviving brothers who live out of the area. We will let you know when details of the arrangements are made.
It's A sad day in Gryphonland
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Brown Needs Help
The Lady Gryphon basketball team made it all the the way to the Eastern Regional finals in 2012. If the Lady Gryphons were to get back there again this year there is one obstacle standing in their way and that is of course the Lady Knights of Northern Nash.
The Gryphons have one of the best girl basketball players in this area and even in the past decade. J'Kyra Brown has the ability to dribble and be a point guard, shoot a three pointer, block shots under the basket. One of her best traits as a teammate is she tries to let others be part of the game and like this past Friday night there becomes a point when I need to take over or we are going to lose.
You may remember that in just about every meeting last year with Northern there were periods that every point the Gryphons got came from J'Kyra. South Central deployed a defense Friday night in which I think you will see more and more. They had a small guard play man to man on her and before you would know it she was doubled and tripled team. Despite the defense she scored 29 but by late in the fourth she was wore out from all the pressure from the defense.
The Lady Gryphons will be taller up front and will be a hard team to drive to the basket and score on this year which will force teams to have to shoot from the outside. That will help the defense. This past Friday the the Lady Gryphons didn't lose because of their defense it was no one other than J'Kyra scored enough to win the game.
Carmen Richardson scored nine points and Destini Parker had 8. That is not bad scoring from you second and third scorers. Kelsey Daniels had six inside points and Sakeya Battle had two points. They were the only players to score in the game.
As this season unfolds more and more teams will double and triple cover J'Kyra and when the others receive a pass and if they are in position to score they will have to take open shots. It is hard to make it if you don't shoot . The Lady Gryphons are so use to get the ball to J and I will watch her score. We all hear the word team work all the time and passing the ball to someone else that might be able to score better than me is a good thing. J'Kyra is really good at being able to do that. This team right now doesn't have enough people willing to shoot when they are open.
J'Kyra shoots from within the flow of the game. There are players who will shoot from anywhere and anytime and take plenty of bad shots. J'Kyra doesn't take many shots that are not part of the flow of the game. She is an excellent passer who finds open players but they have to be willing to shoot and not return the ball right back to her who is still being double teamed.
That is one thing that sports is all about. Learning to play the game. If this team every game has one who scores 20 and the rest are five and six points this will wind up to be a long season. That is one of the things that made last years team really good Tia Hudgins could score inside. It doesn't matter where the points come from this Lady Gryphon team needs to help J'Kyra be great. If others can score then J will score more too when teams can't afford to double and triple team her.
The Gryphons have one of the best girl basketball players in this area and even in the past decade. J'Kyra Brown has the ability to dribble and be a point guard, shoot a three pointer, block shots under the basket. One of her best traits as a teammate is she tries to let others be part of the game and like this past Friday night there becomes a point when I need to take over or we are going to lose.
You may remember that in just about every meeting last year with Northern there were periods that every point the Gryphons got came from J'Kyra. South Central deployed a defense Friday night in which I think you will see more and more. They had a small guard play man to man on her and before you would know it she was doubled and tripled team. Despite the defense she scored 29 but by late in the fourth she was wore out from all the pressure from the defense.
The Lady Gryphons will be taller up front and will be a hard team to drive to the basket and score on this year which will force teams to have to shoot from the outside. That will help the defense. This past Friday the the Lady Gryphons didn't lose because of their defense it was no one other than J'Kyra scored enough to win the game.
Carmen Richardson scored nine points and Destini Parker had 8. That is not bad scoring from you second and third scorers. Kelsey Daniels had six inside points and Sakeya Battle had two points. They were the only players to score in the game.
As this season unfolds more and more teams will double and triple cover J'Kyra and when the others receive a pass and if they are in position to score they will have to take open shots. It is hard to make it if you don't shoot . The Lady Gryphons are so use to get the ball to J and I will watch her score. We all hear the word team work all the time and passing the ball to someone else that might be able to score better than me is a good thing. J'Kyra is really good at being able to do that. This team right now doesn't have enough people willing to shoot when they are open.
J'Kyra shoots from within the flow of the game. There are players who will shoot from anywhere and anytime and take plenty of bad shots. J'Kyra doesn't take many shots that are not part of the flow of the game. She is an excellent passer who finds open players but they have to be willing to shoot and not return the ball right back to her who is still being double teamed.
That is one thing that sports is all about. Learning to play the game. If this team every game has one who scores 20 and the rest are five and six points this will wind up to be a long season. That is one of the things that made last years team really good Tia Hudgins could score inside. It doesn't matter where the points come from this Lady Gryphon team needs to help J'Kyra be great. If others can score then J will score more too when teams can't afford to double and triple team her.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Duke Remains Unbeaten
The Duke Blue Devils went to their home away from home on Saturday and beat Temple in New Jersey. Duke who routinely plays games across the Hudson River from New York has lost only once since the building was opened.Can you remember the game? Christian Laettner's freshman year in a game against Connecticut and the freshman had a one on one with no time on the clock or just a few tenths to go in the game an Laettner missed the front end and Duke lost I think it was 70-69.
I remember Coach K ran out to console his freshman and that might be the best coaching move in the history of college basketball. Laettner never missed many more in his college career. There is no doubt that Coach K is was on the best coaches ever and this Duke team is off to a 9-0 start. I frankly think they are playing somewhat over their ability but that's K's influence. Duke is going to be a hard team to beat in the ACC.
N C State won in their annual game in Reynolds Coliseum against Cleveland ST. You know who Cleveland St is? That is the team that Jerry Tarkanian who use to be in trouble with the NCAA all the time when he coached UNLV. He was upset at the way the NCAA doled out punishment and made the statement when Kentucky got in trouble. " Lookout Cleveland St the NCAA is mad with Kentucky". The reference was that all the major schools the NCAA looked the other way but nailed the Cleveland States of the world when ever they violated the rules.
The Pack is 6-2 and I know most fans of the Wolfpack are disappointed that they are not #1 in the nation after all the hype this team got in the preseason. Let me remind all of you that this team has played a rather tough schedule compared to other Pack teams under Sidney Lowe. In past years even playing lighter schedules the Pack would have been 4-3 so you had not sleep on this team.
N C State can truly feel honored at the coverage that they have received through ESPN with the V Foundation being the flagship or ESPN's public service. Mark Godfrey's stint as a color commentator for ESPN those ESPN camera's love N C State and Godfrey's has a whole lot of Valvano in him and he is not shy around a camera. Godfrey may not be a Coach K on the sidelines and that has yet to prove out one way or the other but he doesn't take a back seat to the players committing to come to the Pack.
I remember Coach K ran out to console his freshman and that might be the best coaching move in the history of college basketball. Laettner never missed many more in his college career. There is no doubt that Coach K is was on the best coaches ever and this Duke team is off to a 9-0 start. I frankly think they are playing somewhat over their ability but that's K's influence. Duke is going to be a hard team to beat in the ACC.
N C State won in their annual game in Reynolds Coliseum against Cleveland ST. You know who Cleveland St is? That is the team that Jerry Tarkanian who use to be in trouble with the NCAA all the time when he coached UNLV. He was upset at the way the NCAA doled out punishment and made the statement when Kentucky got in trouble. " Lookout Cleveland St the NCAA is mad with Kentucky". The reference was that all the major schools the NCAA looked the other way but nailed the Cleveland States of the world when ever they violated the rules.
The Pack is 6-2 and I know most fans of the Wolfpack are disappointed that they are not #1 in the nation after all the hype this team got in the preseason. Let me remind all of you that this team has played a rather tough schedule compared to other Pack teams under Sidney Lowe. In past years even playing lighter schedules the Pack would have been 4-3 so you had not sleep on this team.
N C State can truly feel honored at the coverage that they have received through ESPN with the V Foundation being the flagship or ESPN's public service. Mark Godfrey's stint as a color commentator for ESPN those ESPN camera's love N C State and Godfrey's has a whole lot of Valvano in him and he is not shy around a camera. Godfrey may not be a Coach K on the sidelines and that has yet to prove out one way or the other but he doesn't take a back seat to the players committing to come to the Pack.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Boys Win Girls Fall
The Rocky Mount Gryphon boys remained undefeated tonight at home as they beat South Central by a 54-39 score. This game was a tale of two different halves. The Gryphons had a great half of defense pushing the Falcons away from the basket and force many long range shots. South Central only turned the ball over twice in the first half. The Gryphons held the Falcons to only 21 first half points.
The Gryphon offense look like an Abrams Army tank with one wheel missing. They were running wide open and all over everybody and with 12 turnovers could only put eight points on the board in the second quarter and 21 for the half.
Then it seemed as the second half started that South Central could not get down court at all without the Gryphons knocking the ball loose and it jumped started the offense and the Gryphons had command the entire second half. The Falcons had 14 turnovers and many lead to Gryphon points.
Donte Battle lead the way with 22 points and 8 rebounds. On the night the Gryphons gathered 39 carom's while SC had 32. Rocky Mount had four different players with at least five rebounds in game. Mason Hines 5 boards 4 points. Jaquel Bryant 10 points five grabs. M J Gainey 7 point five rebounds. Ric Cherry lead SC with15 points almost half of the Falcons total.
The South Central girls broke open a close game in the last minute to knock Rocky Mount from the ranks of the unbeaten 55-52. Lady Gryphon J'Kyra doubled teamed all night let her team mates carry the load for the first two and a half quarters but down 38- 32 Brown scored twelve straight points without a Falcon point to give the Gryphons the lead but in the fourth quarter not enough help was provided by her Gryphon team mates and Rocky Mount falls .
Brown had 29 points while Carmen Richardson had 9. SC was lead by Daniela Murphy with 22. Next week Rocky Mount travels Tuesday to Hertford County and Friday to Rose before they play in the Nash County Tournament at Nash Central the following week.
Northern Nash boys one game win streeak ended witha 48-40 loss to SouthWest Edgecombe while Northern Girls humbled SWE again just like they have to everyone else so far this season.
The end of the golf season Cousin Lauren Doughtie failed to make the top list on the Futures Tour to qualify fo the LPGA Tour for 2013. Last weekend was the Q school for the LPGA and Lauren found herself tied for the last spot with seven other people and only three get in. I am very happy to say Lauren survived the playoff and has won her LPGA card for 2013. She shot a -3 for the weekend to get into the playoff.
The Gryphon offense look like an Abrams Army tank with one wheel missing. They were running wide open and all over everybody and with 12 turnovers could only put eight points on the board in the second quarter and 21 for the half.
Then it seemed as the second half started that South Central could not get down court at all without the Gryphons knocking the ball loose and it jumped started the offense and the Gryphons had command the entire second half. The Falcons had 14 turnovers and many lead to Gryphon points.
Donte Battle lead the way with 22 points and 8 rebounds. On the night the Gryphons gathered 39 carom's while SC had 32. Rocky Mount had four different players with at least five rebounds in game. Mason Hines 5 boards 4 points. Jaquel Bryant 10 points five grabs. M J Gainey 7 point five rebounds. Ric Cherry lead SC with15 points almost half of the Falcons total.
The South Central girls broke open a close game in the last minute to knock Rocky Mount from the ranks of the unbeaten 55-52. Lady Gryphon J'Kyra doubled teamed all night let her team mates carry the load for the first two and a half quarters but down 38- 32 Brown scored twelve straight points without a Falcon point to give the Gryphons the lead but in the fourth quarter not enough help was provided by her Gryphon team mates and Rocky Mount falls .
Brown had 29 points while Carmen Richardson had 9. SC was lead by Daniela Murphy with 22. Next week Rocky Mount travels Tuesday to Hertford County and Friday to Rose before they play in the Nash County Tournament at Nash Central the following week.
Northern Nash boys one game win streeak ended witha 48-40 loss to SouthWest Edgecombe while Northern Girls humbled SWE again just like they have to everyone else so far this season.
The end of the golf season Cousin Lauren Doughtie failed to make the top list on the Futures Tour to qualify fo the LPGA Tour for 2013. Last weekend was the Q school for the LPGA and Lauren found herself tied for the last spot with seven other people and only three get in. I am very happy to say Lauren survived the playoff and has won her LPGA card for 2013. She shot a -3 for the weekend to get into the playoff.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Bye Bye POD
Today at the winter meeting of the Board of Directors of the NCHSAA they voted to eliminate the POD system for the football playoffs in 4-A-3-A and 2-A. It will stay as it is in 1-A since most off all the teams that play 1-A are either east of I-95 and west of Statesville.
Thank goodness as we will no longer be faced with Southern Nash the #2 in the Big East playing Hunt the #1 in the first round any more. Maybe it will be the third round or later before the top two in each conference square off against each other if they survived to get that far in the playoffs. Up until the POD system was put in place the Big East football routinely put two teams in the third round.
Congratulations to the Knights of Northern Nash basketball team as they beat Tarboro Tuesday night which ended a one year drought in wins in basketball. The losing streak has gone into the twenty something category but last week on this site we commented about how close Northern had been so far this year that last year teams ripped the Knights in the non-conference games last year. The Knights will be competitive when conference starts in January.
By the way so far this year nobody has played the Lady Knights close and we all know they had a big chunk of last year's team back. They are playing as if they want to get back to the Regional like they did two years ago and were on the door step last year playing Rocky Mount in the sectional final.
So far this year both of the Gryphon basketball teams are undefeated but as they say we will get a chance to see where they are Friday night as they host South Central. The Falcons both boys and girls have been a playoff pain for Rocky Mount in the last few years.
You know once N C State started looking for a basketball coach to replace Sidney Lowe there was embarrassment for how long it was taking to find a coach and it seemed everyone on the wish list said no. Seems as if Tennessee is finding that looking for a new football coach in today's world where everyone can tell when a private plane leaves any airport is not easy to do any more. Guaranteed contracts, buyouts etc that coaches aren't just drooling to go as fast as they use to.
Yow learned her lessons this go round about hiring their new football coach and nobody knew anything until the bombshell hit. I sure would like to see that any coach who leaves to go anywhere else at least wait until all games are played before switching teams. Every team that has a new coach will be going to bowl games without the coach that got them to the dance. That's not fair to the players.
The presidents of all of the Universities of the ACC have sent out a statement telling everyone how committed they are to staying in the ACC. New members Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Syracuse were in the statement. Earlier this week we on this site had mentioned about the rumors of Georgia Tech quitting the ACC for the Big Ten but they signed off on this statement too. Maryland of course was not included.
Thank goodness as we will no longer be faced with Southern Nash the #2 in the Big East playing Hunt the #1 in the first round any more. Maybe it will be the third round or later before the top two in each conference square off against each other if they survived to get that far in the playoffs. Up until the POD system was put in place the Big East football routinely put two teams in the third round.
Congratulations to the Knights of Northern Nash basketball team as they beat Tarboro Tuesday night which ended a one year drought in wins in basketball. The losing streak has gone into the twenty something category but last week on this site we commented about how close Northern had been so far this year that last year teams ripped the Knights in the non-conference games last year. The Knights will be competitive when conference starts in January.
By the way so far this year nobody has played the Lady Knights close and we all know they had a big chunk of last year's team back. They are playing as if they want to get back to the Regional like they did two years ago and were on the door step last year playing Rocky Mount in the sectional final.
So far this year both of the Gryphon basketball teams are undefeated but as they say we will get a chance to see where they are Friday night as they host South Central. The Falcons both boys and girls have been a playoff pain for Rocky Mount in the last few years.
You know once N C State started looking for a basketball coach to replace Sidney Lowe there was embarrassment for how long it was taking to find a coach and it seemed everyone on the wish list said no. Seems as if Tennessee is finding that looking for a new football coach in today's world where everyone can tell when a private plane leaves any airport is not easy to do any more. Guaranteed contracts, buyouts etc that coaches aren't just drooling to go as fast as they use to.
Yow learned her lessons this go round about hiring their new football coach and nobody knew anything until the bombshell hit. I sure would like to see that any coach who leaves to go anywhere else at least wait until all games are played before switching teams. Every team that has a new coach will be going to bowl games without the coach that got them to the dance. That's not fair to the players.
The presidents of all of the Universities of the ACC have sent out a statement telling everyone how committed they are to staying in the ACC. New members Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Syracuse were in the statement. Earlier this week we on this site had mentioned about the rumors of Georgia Tech quitting the ACC for the Big Ten but they signed off on this statement too. Maryland of course was not included.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
"Voice Of the Pirates"
I hate to hear of the news that Jeff Charles "Voice of the ECU Pirates has Colon Rectal Cancer. My prayers go out to Jeff and his family during this fight. I have known Jeff for as long as he has been the "VOP" in fact I can not say that we are friends but I have been with him several times over the years either in a press box or some where in Williams Arena. I remember the first time we met was soon after he became the "VOP" he was at Chowan College during a Chowan Junior College game and I interviewed him at halftime. I don't recall why he was there that night. He was just there watching the game and Bob Burke Chowan's coach introduced me to him and of course I had to get him on the radio.
There have been plenty of dominate teams in college sports in the past. UCLA winning 10 basketball titles in 12 years. Oklahoma winning 47 straight football games back in the fifties. But there has never been a more dominate team in any sport than the Tar Heels women's soccer program. The Heels won their 22nd championship in I think 31 years that the NCAA has given a championship out in soccer.
This is the first time that I have spoken about him but North Edgecombe basketball product Montrezl Harrell is having a solid start to his college basketball career at the University of Louisville. He has started one of their eight games and is averaging 16 minutes per game. He is shooting 63% from the floor averaging 3.8 rebounds and is scoring at 4.4 points per game. Louisville's only loss to date is to Duke.
I don't know whether you have heard this or not but the New Orleans Hornets just might be changing their nickname from the Hornets to the Pelicans. I have always thought that teams needed to have nicknames that related to their area and the hornets just doesn't fit the city of New Orleans. The only negative thing I can think of about the Pelicans is don't associate them are fighters light nicknames tend to be. Let's go you fighting Pelicans just doesn't sound right.
Whether they change their name or not sits in the hands of the NBA. If the NBA can figure out how everyone can make money off changing I am sure they will be for it. Should the Hornets nickname be dropped Michael Jordan has expressed interest in bringing the nickname back to Charlotte and drop the Bobcats and return to the Hornets the way it use to be before George Shinn up and moved the Hornets to New Orleans ten years ago. Charlotte has now won 7 games this season which ties them with all the wins they had last year. Yes there is a team worst than them in the NBA this year and it is the Washington Wizards who have won just twice.
There have been plenty of dominate teams in college sports in the past. UCLA winning 10 basketball titles in 12 years. Oklahoma winning 47 straight football games back in the fifties. But there has never been a more dominate team in any sport than the Tar Heels women's soccer program. The Heels won their 22nd championship in I think 31 years that the NCAA has given a championship out in soccer.
This is the first time that I have spoken about him but North Edgecombe basketball product Montrezl Harrell is having a solid start to his college basketball career at the University of Louisville. He has started one of their eight games and is averaging 16 minutes per game. He is shooting 63% from the floor averaging 3.8 rebounds and is scoring at 4.4 points per game. Louisville's only loss to date is to Duke.
I don't know whether you have heard this or not but the New Orleans Hornets just might be changing their nickname from the Hornets to the Pelicans. I have always thought that teams needed to have nicknames that related to their area and the hornets just doesn't fit the city of New Orleans. The only negative thing I can think of about the Pelicans is don't associate them are fighters light nicknames tend to be. Let's go you fighting Pelicans just doesn't sound right.
Whether they change their name or not sits in the hands of the NBA. If the NBA can figure out how everyone can make money off changing I am sure they will be for it. Should the Hornets nickname be dropped Michael Jordan has expressed interest in bringing the nickname back to Charlotte and drop the Bobcats and return to the Hornets the way it use to be before George Shinn up and moved the Hornets to New Orleans ten years ago. Charlotte has now won 7 games this season which ties them with all the wins they had last year. Yes there is a team worst than them in the NBA this year and it is the Washington Wizards who have won just twice.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Football Future of The ACC-Carolina and State.
Maryland's recent decision to leave the ACC is about like if you were wading in the water at the beach and a shark bumped into you and there is bleeding but no serious problem. Rumors persist that Georgia Tech is the next ACC team to run to the Big Ten. Should that actually happen the ACC would have lost the DC/Baltimore TV market and the Atlanta market. Then that shark got a nibble of your leg this go round.
Where we are heading in this football world called division one football? It moves more every day that football will be a different animal all together and all other sports will stay in a different conference. If that is where we are heading then Notre Dame is the only school that has done the right thing all along. Stayed independent in football and now has shifted to the ACC for everything else. I hope we are not headed to that scenario but it sure does look like it.
If that is where our sports world is headed where does Carolina and N C State in this new to be world? Both have stadiums that seat 60,000 and both pay their coaches 2 million or more. More rumors have filled team forums about Carolina and Virginia joining the Big Ten Super football conference and Virginia Tech and N C State joining the Big 12 while Florida State and Clemson would join the SEC. What kind of new world is this?
I would think in any kind of movement join this or join that you would think that State and Carolina could or should be strong enough to say I want to stay in the ACC and the ACC could stay as a strong top four or top five super conference. Now today all these rumors running rampant about Larry Fedora going to Tennessee.
Is football so bad at both North Carolina and N C State that a coach making 2 million dollars jumps and runs after one year and goes to and SEC school which right now is near the bottom of the SEC. I understand that Tennessee is traditionally a great football school but the last five years no very good although they did humble the Wolfpack in the season opener. They do have a stadium that seats 95,000
I hope that this is a agents ploy to throw Fedora's name out and he's hoping Carolina gives Fedora a raise after having an outstanding 8-4 season with all the complications Carolina had to put up with. If this does happen and Fedora leaves for Tennessee or any SEC job opening this only tells me that if Carolina can't hold Fedora for more than one year then the ACC is heading down the road to the same fate in the very near future.
Where we are heading in this football world called division one football? It moves more every day that football will be a different animal all together and all other sports will stay in a different conference. If that is where we are heading then Notre Dame is the only school that has done the right thing all along. Stayed independent in football and now has shifted to the ACC for everything else. I hope we are not headed to that scenario but it sure does look like it.
If that is where our sports world is headed where does Carolina and N C State in this new to be world? Both have stadiums that seat 60,000 and both pay their coaches 2 million or more. More rumors have filled team forums about Carolina and Virginia joining the Big Ten Super football conference and Virginia Tech and N C State joining the Big 12 while Florida State and Clemson would join the SEC. What kind of new world is this?
I would think in any kind of movement join this or join that you would think that State and Carolina could or should be strong enough to say I want to stay in the ACC and the ACC could stay as a strong top four or top five super conference. Now today all these rumors running rampant about Larry Fedora going to Tennessee.
Is football so bad at both North Carolina and N C State that a coach making 2 million dollars jumps and runs after one year and goes to and SEC school which right now is near the bottom of the SEC. I understand that Tennessee is traditionally a great football school but the last five years no very good although they did humble the Wolfpack in the season opener. They do have a stadium that seats 95,000
I hope that this is a agents ploy to throw Fedora's name out and he's hoping Carolina gives Fedora a raise after having an outstanding 8-4 season with all the complications Carolina had to put up with. If this does happen and Fedora leaves for Tennessee or any SEC job opening this only tells me that if Carolina can't hold Fedora for more than one year then the ACC is heading down the road to the same fate in the very near future.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Bama Wins Thriller
Tarboro's Todd Gurley scored two touchdowns and ran for 123 yards to lead Georgia but in the end Alabama wins the SEC Championship 32-28 Georgia. Alabama will play Notre Dame for the national championship in college football in early January. In the era of the wide open offenses the two teams playing for the title will be run first and defensive football teams.
I think Slim Pickens was the big winner in the ACC championship game as there seemed to be more seats disguised as empty seats than filled ones. Florida State as the champion of the ACC will play Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl. State will be playing in the Music City Bowl at noon of December 31st. ECU is heading to the R&L Bowl in New Orleans on December 22nd. Duke will play in the Belk Bowl on December 27th at 6.30pm
North Carolina State announced Dave Doeren formerly of Northern Illinois as their 34th new football coach Sunday .Doeren for the last two years has lead NI to a 23-4 record. He came to NI from Wisconsin where he was the defensive coordinator. One of the main stresses that Debbie Yow made about who she wanted was a young enthusiastic coach who could recruit. Doeren is 41 years old today and had been a recruiting coordinator some in his past while he was defensive coordinator at Wisconsin.
Tarboro's lost Saturday in the championship game makes them 72-6 in this five year run to five straight state championship games. East Lincoln also was the first team all year to hold Tarboro to 34 points or less. Those two fumbles inside the ten were worth at least 12 points and if they had of made one of two two point conversions that would have been 34 points for Tarboro so you really have to give it to the Mustang defense. They made the plays to win the game.
Duke is looking mighty good for this early in the basketball season and Carolina is not. Both won Saturday. You know one of the biggest problems a program like Carolina has is that this team will be judged by comparison to other Carolina teams. If I had to pick right now this Carolina team will be lucky if they win 20-22 games which isn't bad at all but not for Carolina where 30 wins is expected every year.
I think Slim Pickens was the big winner in the ACC championship game as there seemed to be more seats disguised as empty seats than filled ones. Florida State as the champion of the ACC will play Northern Illinois in the Orange Bowl. State will be playing in the Music City Bowl at noon of December 31st. ECU is heading to the R&L Bowl in New Orleans on December 22nd. Duke will play in the Belk Bowl on December 27th at 6.30pm
North Carolina State announced Dave Doeren formerly of Northern Illinois as their 34th new football coach Sunday .Doeren for the last two years has lead NI to a 23-4 record. He came to NI from Wisconsin where he was the defensive coordinator. One of the main stresses that Debbie Yow made about who she wanted was a young enthusiastic coach who could recruit. Doeren is 41 years old today and had been a recruiting coordinator some in his past while he was defensive coordinator at Wisconsin.
Tarboro's lost Saturday in the championship game makes them 72-6 in this five year run to five straight state championship games. East Lincoln also was the first team all year to hold Tarboro to 34 points or less. Those two fumbles inside the ten were worth at least 12 points and if they had of made one of two two point conversions that would have been 34 points for Tarboro so you really have to give it to the Mustang defense. They made the plays to win the game.
Duke is looking mighty good for this early in the basketball season and Carolina is not. Both won Saturday. You know one of the biggest problems a program like Carolina has is that this team will be judged by comparison to other Carolina teams. If I had to pick right now this Carolina team will be lucky if they win 20-22 games which isn't bad at all but not for Carolina where 30 wins is expected every year.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sportsmanship Should Come First
We have become a me-me me society. The only important person is me and what ever I have to do to get me what I want I will do. During the state championship 3-AA game Northern Guilford had established that they by far were the better team and late in the game lead Charlotte Catholic 57-26. UNC Five Star recruit T J Logan had shown the world that Carolina was getting a football player that indeed just might step in next year in Chapel Hill and replace Gio Bernard should he decide to turn pro this spring.
Logan had rush for 430 yards and tied the state record for touchdowns in a game at seven when Northern Guilford faked a punt late in the game and let Logan go 80 yards for the state record in touchdowns in a game and also giving him over 510 yards rushing in one game.
Boo birds rang down and I am sure most of those boos were coming from the Charlotte Catholic side of the field. After the game the Northern Guilford coach explained that they wanted Logan to get the record. You know I don't have any problem getting a record when it is in the coarse of winning the game. In this case the game had already been won. It is more important to me to put every player I have that has worked hard to help get our team to this point to have their turn to say I was part of a state championship game.
The final score will not be remembered two years from now but I can bet you that every time some one hears the name North Guilford for the rest of eternity all they will think about is the team who ran up the score for a record.
Somewhere in our society has forgotten about our fellow man. Every team that lost in the state championship games yesterday had worked their tails off to just get there. Some won and some lost. There is that old adage "It's how you play the game".
Despite how much the coach may have wanted a record for a player he wanted that record for himself. It wasn't enough to just say we are state champions. He wanted to be able to say I am a state championship coach and we set a record to get it. All the while he smeared Charlotte Catholic face in the mud. He tried to embarrass them just so he could get a record to go on his resume'.
Our only team that played yesterday lost a heart breaker in the 2-A finals. Thank God we had a coach representing us who gave credit to the other team and didn't put the blame on his teams failures. I don't think or let me say this I know of no instance in the three Tarboro State championships where Jeff Craddock tried to embarrass the other team. Between Rocky Mount's two basketball titles Mike Gainey and Pat Smith's baseball title I know of nothing that would embarrass us about the way they acted in victory.
Sportsmanship should always come first in victory and defeat.
Logan had rush for 430 yards and tied the state record for touchdowns in a game at seven when Northern Guilford faked a punt late in the game and let Logan go 80 yards for the state record in touchdowns in a game and also giving him over 510 yards rushing in one game.
Boo birds rang down and I am sure most of those boos were coming from the Charlotte Catholic side of the field. After the game the Northern Guilford coach explained that they wanted Logan to get the record. You know I don't have any problem getting a record when it is in the coarse of winning the game. In this case the game had already been won. It is more important to me to put every player I have that has worked hard to help get our team to this point to have their turn to say I was part of a state championship game.
The final score will not be remembered two years from now but I can bet you that every time some one hears the name North Guilford for the rest of eternity all they will think about is the team who ran up the score for a record.
Somewhere in our society has forgotten about our fellow man. Every team that lost in the state championship games yesterday had worked their tails off to just get there. Some won and some lost. There is that old adage "It's how you play the game".
Despite how much the coach may have wanted a record for a player he wanted that record for himself. It wasn't enough to just say we are state champions. He wanted to be able to say I am a state championship coach and we set a record to get it. All the while he smeared Charlotte Catholic face in the mud. He tried to embarrass them just so he could get a record to go on his resume'.
Our only team that played yesterday lost a heart breaker in the 2-A finals. Thank God we had a coach representing us who gave credit to the other team and didn't put the blame on his teams failures. I don't think or let me say this I know of no instance in the three Tarboro State championships where Jeff Craddock tried to embarrass the other team. Between Rocky Mount's two basketball titles Mike Gainey and Pat Smith's baseball title I know of nothing that would embarrass us about the way they acted in victory.
Sportsmanship should always come first in victory and defeat.
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Tarboro Meets Their Match
The Tarboro Vikings quest for their 4th straight state title fell short at the hands of the Mustangs of East Lincoln 24-20. Tarboro fumbled four times in the first half and lost three of them and then once again in the second half which they lost also.
Two of those first half fumbles cost the Vikings at least 12 points because one occurred at the five yard line and the other at the nine taking away what would have been enough points to win the game. The four fumbles in the first half were more fumbles than what the Viking had put on the ground in their previous four playoff games.
The Mustang quarterback Garrett Young complete 12 of his 18 tosses in the first half and every one seemed to be bigger than the one before. Garrett's two touchdown tosses enabled the Mustangs to lead 17-6 at the half.
The Vikings played the third quarter the way they have played every other playoff game this year and had regained the lead 20-17 by the end of the third quarter. The Viking Defense held Garrett to only 2-12 passing in the third quarter but after the Vikings took the lead Garrett had one more drive left in him and took the Mustangs for the winning touchdown with 7:55 to play going four for six passing on the drive.
The Viking made two fourth down plays on their final drive that started at their own 27 but were faced with a fourth and two at the Mustangs 20 yard line with 1:15 to play and Quinton Roberson was stopped in the back field and the Viking dominance of the 2-A state titles was over. Roberson had 27 carries on the day for 205 yards.
Sure did look like Tarboro was on their way after a bad snap from the shotgun went out of the endzone for the Mustangs and Tarboro cut the lead to 17-8 early in the third quarter. The only drive that East Lincoln had in the third quarter resulted in a Tarboro interceptions which they brought out to their 21 yard line. In quick order Tarboro took it to the house to cut the lead to 17-14 but Young threw another interception in which Tarboro Tarboro returned 40 yards. That set up a Tra Marshall touchdown run and Tarboro was in the lead .
The Vikings lost four fumbles in the game. Missed all three of their two point conversions. I don't care how good you are four turnovers against a very good football team is hard for anybody to win. The Tarboro Vikings sandwich three state title between two state title losses as East Lincoln is the 2-A State Champs a 24-20 winner over Tarboro.
Two of those first half fumbles cost the Vikings at least 12 points because one occurred at the five yard line and the other at the nine taking away what would have been enough points to win the game. The four fumbles in the first half were more fumbles than what the Viking had put on the ground in their previous four playoff games.
The Mustang quarterback Garrett Young complete 12 of his 18 tosses in the first half and every one seemed to be bigger than the one before. Garrett's two touchdown tosses enabled the Mustangs to lead 17-6 at the half.
The Vikings played the third quarter the way they have played every other playoff game this year and had regained the lead 20-17 by the end of the third quarter. The Viking Defense held Garrett to only 2-12 passing in the third quarter but after the Vikings took the lead Garrett had one more drive left in him and took the Mustangs for the winning touchdown with 7:55 to play going four for six passing on the drive.
The Viking made two fourth down plays on their final drive that started at their own 27 but were faced with a fourth and two at the Mustangs 20 yard line with 1:15 to play and Quinton Roberson was stopped in the back field and the Viking dominance of the 2-A state titles was over. Roberson had 27 carries on the day for 205 yards.
Sure did look like Tarboro was on their way after a bad snap from the shotgun went out of the endzone for the Mustangs and Tarboro cut the lead to 17-8 early in the third quarter. The only drive that East Lincoln had in the third quarter resulted in a Tarboro interceptions which they brought out to their 21 yard line. In quick order Tarboro took it to the house to cut the lead to 17-14 but Young threw another interception in which Tarboro Tarboro returned 40 yards. That set up a Tra Marshall touchdown run and Tarboro was in the lead .
The Vikings lost four fumbles in the game. Missed all three of their two point conversions. I don't care how good you are four turnovers against a very good football team is hard for anybody to win. The Tarboro Vikings sandwich three state title between two state title losses as East Lincoln is the 2-A State Champs a 24-20 winner over Tarboro.
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