Gryphons Start New Year With A Bang

Both Varsity Basketball teams did what they were suppose to on the opening night of Big East Conference basketball as the boys ripped into Fike 72-44 while the Lady Gryphons go over 80 again downing the Lady Golden Demons of Fike 84-47.

Rocky Mount boys opened conference play as Mike Gainey started three big men and two guards. They may still have been in shock from losing a 16 point lead last week at Broughton High in the Holiday Tournament   but the offense sputtered for most of the game but one thing that stayed constant the whole game was the Gryphon defense.  I don't think Fike got five open shots all night as there was a hand in the face of every shooter all over the court.

Mr Smooth -Terrill Hilliard(I wish I had one more hand to keep up with assists) lead the charge scoring 21 points pulling down nine rebounds.  Terrill help bring the house down in the fourth quarter going towards the goal for an uncontested layup instead lopped a pass to  K J Peoples who tried to make Mike Gainey buy a new rim.  That play topped off about three minutes of championship basketball in which the Gryphons lead of 56-37 became a 72-39 lead.  If and just about every good team has to opportunity to say this if this teams finally realizes that if they can start playing 25 minutes a game this way they could play for the big prize again this year.  But they need more of that kind of play over the sputtering that occurred most of the game.

K J Peoplses had a double double 10 points 12 rebounds.  Donte Battle was the only other double digit scocer with 10.  Rocky Mount won the rebounding war 43-30.  They caused 24 Golden Demon  turnovers while committing only 16 themselves.  11 players scored in the game and ten had a least one rebound.

The Lady Gryphons either full court pressed Fike every time down court or met them at mid court and Fike struggled to get into any kind of offensive flow and the Lady Gryphons win their 10th game in 12 tries.  Carmen Richardson who early in the year looked as if she was scared to shoot has come a long ways since the season started  was one of four double digit scorers with 13 and most were from the outside.  Alexus Cooper who now has had 12 games to see that her knee will let her give it her all is now beginning to become the point guard Pam Gainey expected last year before her season ending injury scored 16.

The two old reliables J'Kyra Bown 24 points and Tia Hudgins 19 points  help the Lady Gryphons to an easy win.  11 different players corralled a rebound which the Lady Gryphons won 36-22.  They forced 36 turnovers  while they committed 26 themselves but many happened during the mop up time.

Both teams hit the hardwood Wednesday night at home hosting Hertford County in the final non conference tilt of the year.  By the way if you didn't see the Holiday Tournament last week then tonight was the first time you could see the girls in their new uni's.  The boys had to play in their old ones tonight until they won again so I suspect both teams will be wearing their new uniforms.

First Week A Big Week

The Rocky Mount High School Gryphons boys basketball team coming off two straight losses during the Holiday Tournament in Raleigh stick their hand right in the conference frying pan tonight as they host Fike. 

The Gryphons play Fike tonight, host Hertford County Wednesday and then just maybe we will see what might be for the lead in conference play as they travel to Nash Central Friday.  They met the Bulldogs in the finals of the Holiday tournament Nash County style December 21st and won by five after having a big lead and then giving it all back but one point.  I am a believer that the home team has an eight point advantage in high school basketball so since they played a five point game on a neutral floor at Southern Nash then the Gryphons will have their work cut out for them to win in the Pound.

During the Holiday tournament in Raleigh the Gryphons relied on Terrill Hilliard and the guards must become factors both shooting and ball handling  from this point forward.  It seems this team is wide open all the time and they need to find an in between gear where they play under control but not a slow down.

Having already taken both Fike and Hertford County to the wood shed once this year  the worse thing the Lady Gryphons have to worry about is themselves.  I suspect in both those games Pam Gainey will come out full court defense and pressure both teams ball handling.  Their trip Friday night will be for either Nash Central or Rocky Mount to be the team to fight Northern for first place.  Nash Central has vastly improved this year and both teams lost to Northern in the Holiday Tournament  by double digits at Southern Nash.  The winner places themselves in a position for first while the loser will be chasing to catch up.

Since Rocky Mount only has eight home games  during the regular season until the playoffs and two happen tonight and Wednesday if you want to see them at home you had better come this week.