Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Undefeated NO More

The top 2 seeds in the Eastern Sectional undefeated West Craven 29-0 met the Gryphons of Rocky Mount High School 26-2 in the opening game of the Eastern Regional of 3-A High School Basketball. Both teams earned their way to the Regionals after successfully winning 3 games in the Sectional on their home courts last week. The game started at 7:00 pm at Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville.

Carmen Richardson made a lay up at the end of the 3rd quarter to give the Gryphons a 50 to 46 lead and that was the momentum changer that a game for 3 quarters had gone back and forth turned the  Gryphons way. The Gryphons lead 50 to 46 at the third.

The Gryphons came out and blitzed the Eagles in the first couple of minutes to jump to a 61 to 48 lead. For the last 5 minutes of the game Rocky Mount ran  a motion offense keeping the ball away from the Eagles. The Gryphons advance to the Regional Final  after holding WC to only 4 points while the Gryphons score 21.

FINAL SCORE Gryphons 71  WC 50.

The game started out as a run and gun a fair. You could tell these were 2 quality teams going head to head. At the end of the first quarter the game was tied 16-16. The second quarter started out just like the first quarter and both teams were going up and down the court. The two super star players, one on each team showed their super star status. J'Kyra Brown led the way for the Gryphons scoring 16 points. Jamie Cherry their top scorer led the way the way with 15. Tia Hudgins added 10 for the Gryphons. West Craven dominated the boards mostly on the offensive end as they had 25 rebounds to the Gryphons 15. West Craven had 7 turnovers where the Gryphons only had 6. This was truly 2 top teams going head to head in the first half.

J Brown led the Gryphons scoring 31 points but she had plenty of help. Tia Hudgins 19, Carmen Richardson had 9 as the leading scorers for the Gryphons. Jamie Cherry led the Eagles scoring 21.
WC led the rebounding with 31 but only got 6 in the second half. Rocky Mount finished the game with 27.

The Lady Gryphons advance to the Regional finals Saturday at high Noon at Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville. They will play Burlington Williams who was a 47-46 winner over Chapel Hill.  The Gryphon boys who were in attendance to watch their girl teammates will play their Regional game Wednesday night at 7:00 pm at Crown.

GRYPHONS 71  West Craven 50