Raining Inside And Out

Just maybe the rout of Rose last week lingered in the minds of the 2013/2014 Rocky Mount Gryphons but South Central brought in a talented group of guards who had no other choice but to shoot outside shots because the Gryphon  big men owned the inside.  The Falcons made nine three pointers on the night and each one seemed to keep Rocky Mount at bay until the about the two minute mark of the third quarter.  Isaiah Alston found his three form and rained down seven over the next six minutes scoring 29 on the night as the Gryphons survive South Central 76-74.

Rocky Mount dominated the backboards winning  that phase 40-22.  Immanuel King lead the way hauling down 18 boards and he added 17 points for good measure. Donte Battle added nine rebounds and 18 points.

Rocky Mount trailed 19-16 after the first quarter.  38-27 at the half and before they finally got their engines running trailed 42-27 early in the third quarter but cut the lead to 56-51 after three.  The Gryphons lead by three, three different times down the stretch but could never get out go the clutches of the Falcons.  Jermaine Wilis who had four threes finished with 21 points and Tyree Suggs had four threes himself also  tossing in 21

The Lady Gryphons won their first game of the year beating South Central 47-41.  The Lady Gryphons were coasting along having lead the entire game and were leading 34-29 after Carmen Richardson scored eight straight points but she tumbled to the floor clutching her knee with about 1:49 to play in the 3rd quarter.  From that point on the Lady Gryphons would make only one basket by freshman Michelle Gainey.  It wasn't because they were not shooting nothing was going in.  Rocky Mount made 11 free throws.  The good news Richardson returned to the game   to help solidify that Pam Gainey defense that put the clamps on the Falcons down the stretch

Carmen Richardson lead the Gryphons with 19 T T Thomas added 11. South Central won the rebounding  38-32 but the Lady Gryphons cut the total in half in the fourth quarter getting rebound and putting the ball by up but missed every one.  Tamara Harper yanked down 9 rebounds for Rocky Mount.  The Gryphons caused 24 turnovers while giving the ball away only  13 times.

Northern Nash girls stay undefeated beating Conly while the Northern boys lost by six.