Follow Up

I was unable to attend last night's Northern -Rocky Mount game as I had to be in Greenville.  Thanks to Randy Langley, Paul Andre and Wayne Wallace in keeping me up to date on all the action and results.  I am glad to see Aluxus Hill was able to play for Northern last night without any effect from the knee injury she sustained Friday night.  I don't care what team it is in order to be your best you need everyone that can contribute to do so every night.  Just ask Duke right now what it means to have one of you best players on the bench injured.

Northern had five players in the game to score at least eight points.  Camille Branch for the second game in a row came off the bench to score 15, Quinesha Lynch, 13, Alexus Hill 9, Jordan Oldham 8 and Khadijrah Richardson 8.  Rocky Mount had two players J'Kyra Brown 27 and Carmen Richardson 12 the only two to score at least 8.  That's is like playing 5 against 2.

Rocky Mount boys had eight players score at least 3 against Northern.  The Knights did well playing inspired ball against Rocky Mount considering they had a player out with sickness and two suspended.  Just ask N C State about how an inspired team can play.

Friday Rocky Mount travels to Nash Central and Northern goes to Hunt.  Southern Nash and Fike will also play.  Yes there are just two full weeks left in the regular season and now is the time to start that push to finish up the season as high up in the standings as you can.  Remember the lower seed always hits  the road and in basketball playing a team on their home court in a packed gym with every body hollering against you is not an easy thing to try to win even when you are a really good team.

The saga of N C State basketball continues the roller coaster ride.  I view State as a Joe Average person who won the lottery.  When they beat Duke that was their lottery.  Joe Average spends his money and looks up and finds he is out of money a can't remember what he spent it on.  State's victory over Duke they been on national TV shows and since then haven't play well at all.  They spent their lottery winnings up all ready.

State can be a great team when they play inspired.  Can you remember the last time Duke played in a game and can say they were flat.  I think the teams on the mountain top know what it took to get to the top and what it takes to stay there.  State didn't stay at the mountain top long.  We all live and learn and if they do they can climb back up to the top before this season is over.

I am going to use TaShawn Mabry as an example.  One of the greatest players ever for Rocky Mount.  C J Leslie is very similar in style of play  and when I say that I am talking about at times was a player nobody could handle but at other times seem to not have focus.  His senior year during the playoffs Mabry played like a man possessed and lead Rocky Mount to a title.  If Leslie  plays in a similar fashion before the end of the year he could lead State to an NCAA Title.  He is probably going pro after this season and a super NCAA playoffs could make him climb up the draft ladder.  I realize I'm hoping more than expecting but that is a possibility.