Monday, February 6, 2012

There's A Fine Line

100 points is a magical number even in college.  When the guys on the end of the bench get in there is a cheer from everyone when someone rips the cords with point 100.  It is a great experience to score 100 but not to have 100 scored on you.  Friday night things got testy at Fike as Rocky Mount put three numbers on the scoreboard late in the game.

It was their senior night.  Not a very pleasant way to play your last game getting torn to shrews by a very good team.  Rocky Mount has a three man rotation on the front line that when all three are on the court there is no drop off in talent.  Their  guards is a different story as they have five to six that when a front line player tires or not playing well can replaced and there is no drop off in talent.  Rocky Mount's guards come in waves and for a team that is jittery handling the ball  points come in bunches when you give it to Rocky Mount with turnovers.

Players 11-15 for the Gryphons are probably just as talented as say Fike's 4-8 players so when it gets down the the end of the bench playing finishing a game the Gryphons are still talented.  Do you stop at midcourt and hold the ball?

Do you remember I think it was 2001 while Rocky Mount had a home football game and New Bern was leading somewhere around 52-7 with about ten minutes to go in the game and Chip Williams the coach at New Bern  had his quarterback go to one knee and John Hammett coach for the Gryphons got upset because it looked to him like New Bern was trying to embarrass Rocky Mount late in the game by not trying. His feeling was I rather give up 70 points over you kneeling on one knee with almost the whole quarter to play.  Hammett's alternatives were not good either way.

I can assure you 100 points to Fike was just like kneeling down with too much time to go was that night for Rocky Mount.  The best solution is don't  get caught where you are at the mercy of the team whipping you.

Tuesday night is the last home game of the season for the Gryphons.  Senior night and all winter sports seniors will be honored.  Morgan I think is going to sing the National Anthem. We know the boys will for sure get a home game in the sectional and with the seeding in the Pod System the girls need to finish first to guarantee at least one.  You know in football as the #2 in our conference  Nash Central went on the road.

Rocky Mount boys  had better show up ready to play against Southern Nash as they are the most improved team in the league.  They are now 4-4 and in the fight for third spot in the conference but they have both Rocky Mount and Nash Central this week.

The next time the Gryphons play at home after this Tuesday it will be one and done if you lose.  The Latest Power ratings have the Gryphons as the 20th best public school in North Carolina.  Two potential Eastern playoff teams West Craven and Chapel Hill are 5th and 8th and these rating include 4-A and 3-A.