Double Knockout From The Gryphons

Rocky Mount High school's  two basketball programs will host the Sectional Finals for the second year in a row as the Lady Gryphon played their most complete game of the year in destroying South Central 59-39 while the boys had to beat Nash Central for the fourth time this year 85-70.

There was little doubt from the opening bell that the Lady Gryphons were looking for revenge of the 20 point drubbing that they took from the eventual State Champions Falcons in Rocky Mount last year.  Rocky Mount swarming defense created nine Falcon turnovers in the first quarter and that is all the Gryphons needed to lead by ten at the quarter 16-6. The lead jumped to 16 at the half and the Gryphons never gave the Lady Falcons any hope that the Gryphons would finally slack up.

J'Kyra Brown was once again missing outside shots but still put in 21 under the basket.  Alexus Cooper chipped in 15.  Brown pulled down 12 rebounds while Tia Hudgins grabbed 11 ricochets.    This was a game won by defensive pressure and Carmen Richardson and Amani Kipp all had a part in this rout.

Hayley McCorkle who was one of the players that killed Rocky Mount last year scored 11 and had seven rebounds but it was no where near enough for the Falcons.  Rocky Mount out rebounded South Central 38-25.  The Gryphons forced 23 turnovers  while having only 15 themselves.  Up next for Rocky Mount and if it is a Friday Night it must be time for Northern Nash.

Northern on the road at C B Aycock laid a licking on them 49-22 to set up the sectional final and fifth meeting of the year against Rocky Mount.  There is one thing for sure as the Big East will sent another girls team to the Regional for the second year in a row.

Rocky Mount boys ran into a Bulldog team that was determined to pull an upset on Rocky Mount's home floor and the Bulldogs played even Steven tied at 39 at the half. Over the past Several weeks the guards for Rocky Mount have controlled play by creating turnovers and getting easy layups for themselves but tonight Rocky Mount needed the inside game from Terrill Hilliard who tossed in 31.  Donte Battle added 18 and pulled down ten boards but Donte as a sophomore is becoming a man in the middle and the Bulldogs had many altered shots or deflected shots during the game.  Rocky mount started from the opening of the third quarter to distance themselves from the Bulldogs until the final victory by 15.

Nash Central finishes the season with eight losses and four they can put the blame on Rocky Mount.  This POD system keeping them in same sectional as Rocky Mount just may have cost them a trip to the Regional because the Bulldogs are a very good team  and the one team that they don't match up that well with is Rocky Mount.  Jalen Hendricks had 20 to lead  a determined effort by the Bulldogs.  Nate Pittman provided 12 points.

Rocky Mount won the rebounding 33-26 and the turnover game was about even at 18-17 Nash Central.  Rocky Mount will play Hertford County who tonight in Ahoskie knocked the Firebirds of Southern Nash out of the playoffs with a 69-61 win.

The Big East girls have dominated the playoffs so far as the #3 seed Nash Central girls traveled to Cleveland where they come home with a 56-35 win.  As of this writing we don't who they play but it will probably be West Craven  the #1 seed in the east bracket.  The only Big East girls team to lose in the playoffs is Hunt and they lost to conference foe Rocky Mount so the Big East Girls are perfect heading into Friday.