Who Else Did You Expect

Northern Nash Girls have played Rocky Mount girls eight times in the past two basketball seasons.  Friday night they will meet for the ninth time each having won four times with the Big East Tournament championship on the line.  Northern played a Fike team that decided the only way to beat the Lady Knights is go with an all guard line up and play keep away and it worked for about 12 minutes.The relentless Northern pressure finally succumbed  the Lady Golden Demons with Northern winning 45-.39.  The playoff #2 seed from the Big East was on the line in the Rocky Mount -Nash Central game and the second half was all Gryphons with the Lady Gryphons winning 56-33.

The opening game of the night saw Fike come out and dribble the ball and Northern's pressure defense was knocking the ball loose but it seemed to roll right to a Fike player or out of bounds keeping Northern from getting it.  Fike lead 6-5 at the end of the first.  Fike's lead ballooned to 11-5 before  before Fike began tiring plus the ball finally took some Knight bounces and by the half Northern lead 16-13.

Fike forcing the delay game as much as possible brought out Northern's most athletic player in Aluxus Hill who lead the scoring parade  with 15.  Fike keeping it close finished the third quarter down 24-20.  Up until the two minute mark in the fourth Northern had forged to a ten point 40-30 lead  but E J Proctor who for the most part was a one woman Fike wrecking crew scored 21 points on the night and lead with six rebounds,at the point where Fike had 30 points only three other baskets had been made by a Fike player other than Proctor.

Northern made just enough free throws down the stretch to remain unbeaten at 21-0.  They will try to head to the playoffs undefeated at 6pm Friday at Hunt against their arch rival Rocky Mount.

In the night cap Nash Central out rebounded Rocky Mount by a 43-32 margin but where Rocky Mount dominated the game was Rocky Mount had only five turnovers each half while they caused the Lady Bulldogs into 23.  The Lady Bulldogs ahead 17-14 at the start of the second quarter committed 12 turnovers  in the second and early third quarter and Rocky Mount took advantage of every one jumping to a 44-28 lead at the end of the third.  It was mop up time from there.

Still looking as if she is playing at about 90% J'Kyra Brown lead Rocky Mount scoring 22 points and tonight she had a jump shot which is the first time since her knee injury  just over two week ago.  Carmen Richardson added 15  while J'Kyra Brown lead Rocky Mount with eight boards.  J'Lynn Westry lead the scoring for the Bulldogs with 13 and minute point guard Miya Styles lead the rebounds  with nine.

Rocky Mount and Northern Nash face off at 6pm Friday night for the Tournament crown while the Rocky Mount boys and Hunt boys co-champs of the Big East regular season play for the #1 seed from the Big East at 7:30.

I realize that the four Nash County Schools are just about like the  Big Four is to the ACC but the crowds have been poor this week at Hunt.  Don't count on that happening tomorrow night when the Girls tangle at 6pm.   Many people didn't get in last week in the season ending game at Rocky Mount.  Remember Northern had already locked up first so there is a lot more on the line Friday night.

WHIG-TV is taping both games and I will be doing the girls game which will be shown Sunday night.Wes Bradshaw will be behind the mic in the boys game.