The second game in a row belonged to the big men as Terrill Hilliard and Donte Battle combined for 40 points 21-Hilliard and 19 for Battle as the Gryphons put together a solid effort in the first half to lead 46-27. Rocky Mount had only five turnovers in the first half but sloppy play lead to five in the third quarter alone as Hertford County got some hot shooting from Jqwan Ruffin who had 29 for the game.
Hertford Couny cut it to eight early in the fourth quarter but they kept themselves in the game by making 16-17 free throws. The Gryphons spurted back to keep the Bears at arms length behind.
Levon Brutus added another 16 points to the score board for the Gryphon but Hertford County had no one else helping Ruffin that hit double figures. Donte Battle had ten boards and Brian Beale had 11 for the Bears.
This is the third straight Sectional title for the Gryphons and they will be making the trip to Fayetteville for the second year in a row. They will play West Craven losers of only one game all season. West Craven and Rocky Mount squared off in the Sectional final last year in Rocky Mount with the Gryphons winning 101-85. So this game could really be a run and gun game.
The Lady Gryphons will play Tuesday night at Crown Arena in Fayetteville the small building in which the Gryphons played in last year. Wednesday when the boys play they will be playing in the big Arena across the parking lot..
Today marked the last game ever to be played in Gryphon gym. Roscoe Speight of Speight's Trophy House told me he was here for the first one in 1953 and he wasn't going to miss the last one. I think to everyone surprise the house was near full for today's game as there was a nice contingent of Bears fans. There weren't many seats available considering most folks didn't know the boys were not playing last night but many came back today. They came back to bask in the joy of victory but to be able to say I was there for the last game.
