Nash and Wilson County school official have given the go to resume high school basketball Saturday and the Big East can get back on the basketball court despite no one has had any organized practice or games since Monday.
Rocky Mount will host Northern Nash starting with the girls jv game at 1pm. The biggest event of the day will be the girls game as both Rocky Mount 4-0 in conference play will collide with the Lady Knights 3-0 somewhere near 4pm.
On a normal Tueday when conference games are played both jv boys and girls play before the varsity takes the floor and I don't think I have seen a girls varsity game start before 6:30 after the jv girls started at 3:30. By the end of jv girls then the jv boys warm up and then their game many have pushed 7:00pm before the varsity girls game gets under way.
The final match of the afternoon will be Gryphon boys who now stand at 3-1 in conference play taking on th Knights who have yet to win in conference play and will not have two of their better players. One Paul Cherry out for the season with a knee injury and the other a disciplinary action.
Who will have the advantage as nobody has been able to hold practice with school out for weather?
Fike and Hunt will play their game snowed out Tuesday on Saturday. At this writing Nash Central and Southern Nash had not gotten together to try to finalize playing the game they missed Tuesday on Saturday. The reason is the fact that the Big East indivual wrestling championships can be held on Saturday now at Southern Nash and the game lost between Southern and Central was to be played at Southern. Since the wrestling was already scheduled at Southern way back when the athletic directors made the seasonal schedules for all sports last year the gym is already allotted for Saturday.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Complete Mess
Schools are closed around the area again today as the secondary roads remained covered with snow and ice. Closed schools means no sports. A question I am waiting on an answer is with school out again can athletic teams play on Saturday of course depending on safe roads. If the temp get near 50 as expected today and If the decision is made for all to play Saturday I will let you know. If no games on Saturday as soon as the AD's can figure out how to play all these missed games in the next two weeks I will inform you.
Swimming and diving playoff swims were suppose to be Thursday and Friday but have been moved to Monday and Tuesday. Wrestling Duels are schedules starting Tuesday but there is an interesting twist this year. Since no team has been able to practice hardly at all this week there is a rule that if weather cancels school a wrestler is allowed to gain two pounds from his last weight in.
If wrestlers have been sitting around eating snow cream this week and gain more than two pounds must wrestle at higher weight. Saturday morning is the official weight in and that is weight you must wrestle during playoffs.
Nascar has finally gone to a playoff system where it will be a winner take all format when it gets down to the last race. The first 26 races you must win a race in order to make the new final 16 drivers format. I like the idea it is better than anything done in the past. I still don't like the idea that if you can't win the title why are you racing. A wreck by the car in 30th place can't knock a contender out of the chase.
Saturday morning at 11:00 am Campbell University will be on ESPNU for their first ever national broadcast of any Campbell sporting event. I am not sure why but Campbell is not letting the students in free for this one. They have to buy a ticket like anyone else. I have no idea why but here's my guess. You know Campbell is supported by the Baptist so I think they don't want any antics by the students put on TV. I don't know what they will do if the students buy up the tickets and still get a shot to be on national TV.
Time for chest pumping by a proud papa. There is a national website www.slowstitch.com on Wednesday ran an article written by Brooks Doughtie talking about the new NCAA Tri varsity sports for women. This is no ordinary website as it is kind of the unofficial Tri website. It has more than half million hits per day including forums on the site. If you are interested and go to that page on the right side says NCAA. How many hits is a half million? About a half million times more than I get per day.
Swimming and diving playoff swims were suppose to be Thursday and Friday but have been moved to Monday and Tuesday. Wrestling Duels are schedules starting Tuesday but there is an interesting twist this year. Since no team has been able to practice hardly at all this week there is a rule that if weather cancels school a wrestler is allowed to gain two pounds from his last weight in.
If wrestlers have been sitting around eating snow cream this week and gain more than two pounds must wrestle at higher weight. Saturday morning is the official weight in and that is weight you must wrestle during playoffs.
Nascar has finally gone to a playoff system where it will be a winner take all format when it gets down to the last race. The first 26 races you must win a race in order to make the new final 16 drivers format. I like the idea it is better than anything done in the past. I still don't like the idea that if you can't win the title why are you racing. A wreck by the car in 30th place can't knock a contender out of the chase.
Saturday morning at 11:00 am Campbell University will be on ESPNU for their first ever national broadcast of any Campbell sporting event. I am not sure why but Campbell is not letting the students in free for this one. They have to buy a ticket like anyone else. I have no idea why but here's my guess. You know Campbell is supported by the Baptist so I think they don't want any antics by the students put on TV. I don't know what they will do if the students buy up the tickets and still get a shot to be on national TV.
Time for chest pumping by a proud papa. There is a national website www.slowstitch.com on Wednesday ran an article written by Brooks Doughtie talking about the new NCAA Tri varsity sports for women. This is no ordinary website as it is kind of the unofficial Tri website. It has more than half million hits per day including forums on the site. If you are interested and go to that page on the right side says NCAA. How many hits is a half million? About a half million times more than I get per day.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
We Have A Schedule Mess
Both Wilson and Nash County schools will be closed again today which will be the third straight day. Rocky Mount and Fike foresaw trouble coming and moved their Wednesday game to Monday. They are so far the only conference games played this week.
This week was suppose to be a three game week to make up the one game for each missed from last week's weather. Now here it is Thursday. Last night the temperature hit single digits. Today it might get to 30 degrees which means there will be wet roads Thursday afternoon that might be frozen again Friday. Do you see any chance for school Friday?
Unless the schools system' select to go on Saturday with the expected high Friday near 40 the roads may be close to drivable by Saturday. If no school this week there will be four teams Northern Nash, Nash Central, Southern Nash and Hunt all needing to play seven games in the last two weeks of the season. Rocky Mount and Fike since they did play each other Monday they only six left to play.
Coach Mike Gainey told me this afternoon by text when I asked the question "How many games are you allowed to play in one week". The answer is four but he also added."we have a mess". If no other games are played for the rest of this week that will put those four schools that have seven to play having to figure out how to schedule those games. I think my thought is I would rather play four next week and have only three the final week.
Another thing to remember is there is no telling what kind of weather we might encounter in the next two weeks. Should weather cause anybody to miss any game the threat will be there to push the Big East Tournament a day or two in order to finish the regular season on the Monday when the tournament should start.
You know the way the tournament normally goes. 3/6-4/5 boys play Monday and then the girls on Tuesday. In order to make sure the tournament finishes by Saturday they just might have to go to three games per night. I don't know anyone who wants to do that.
This week was suppose to be a three game week to make up the one game for each missed from last week's weather. Now here it is Thursday. Last night the temperature hit single digits. Today it might get to 30 degrees which means there will be wet roads Thursday afternoon that might be frozen again Friday. Do you see any chance for school Friday?
Unless the schools system' select to go on Saturday with the expected high Friday near 40 the roads may be close to drivable by Saturday. If no school this week there will be four teams Northern Nash, Nash Central, Southern Nash and Hunt all needing to play seven games in the last two weeks of the season. Rocky Mount and Fike since they did play each other Monday they only six left to play.
Coach Mike Gainey told me this afternoon by text when I asked the question "How many games are you allowed to play in one week". The answer is four but he also added."we have a mess". If no other games are played for the rest of this week that will put those four schools that have seven to play having to figure out how to schedule those games. I think my thought is I would rather play four next week and have only three the final week.
Another thing to remember is there is no telling what kind of weather we might encounter in the next two weeks. Should weather cause anybody to miss any game the threat will be there to push the Big East Tournament a day or two in order to finish the regular season on the Monday when the tournament should start.
You know the way the tournament normally goes. 3/6-4/5 boys play Monday and then the girls on Tuesday. In order to make sure the tournament finishes by Saturday they just might have to go to three games per night. I don't know anyone who wants to do that.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
The Coach's Chess Match
A month ago it looked like Duke, Carolina and State basketball were headed to one of the worse years ever when all their records were added together. All of a sudden Duke looks like Duke and Carlolina and State are not as bad as once thought.
Even closer to home a chess match has been going on. Mike Gainey has one of the tallest teams in eastern North Carolina if not in the whole state. The Big East however hardly has any six five players at all. Almost every team in the league plays three guards a small forward and a power forward who has to play the center position.
Gainey's Gryphons from day one on this season has not found a guard that has shown the ability to bring the ball up court against all these teams with three guards and get the ball inside where no one has shown an ability to match the Gryphon big men. Those teams how ever have made it tough on the Gryphons to match them with the outside speed and shooting ability that teams playing against the Gryphons have shown.
So Rocky Mount has started trying to out power other teams, gamble that teams would not make a great number out outside shots and this has been a year that it seems every team shots are falling. Gainey has also gambled that he continued the up tempo game even without a guard to run the fast paced that they would have enough chances to score to over ride the negatives. For a good portion of this season that thought has not worked.
Coaches schedule games based on what he thinks his team can handle based on the ability of what he thinks his team will be when they make the schedule in the spring. This year there were no games with SouthWest Edgecombe but those two games have been against stronger 4-A programs. Hertford County is the only 2-A school on the schedule but in the past the Bears have been one of the strongest in the Northeast.
So when you play a tougher schedule and you find yourself with a weakness all of a sudden the Gryphons have six losses four to 4-A teams,Hunt and Hertford County. Teams have burned the Gryphons on the outside. Harassed the Gryphon guards enough to keep the ball from going inside like the Gryphons want. So how do you stop the other teams outside shooting?
Instead of going with the three tall men replace one with a guard. Now the Gryphons have two shooting guards a so called point guard and two tall men on the floor all the time. Still with only two big men the Gryphons are still the biggest team in the Big East and now all of a sudden they have enough speed outside to cover those hot shooting outside shooters. Now they have a rested big man coming off the bench.
The result is the Gryphons have won two conference games with the new line up in which they controlled the games most of the way. If you remember in both 2010 and 2012 it was mid January before the teams came together to put runs on to win the state championships. This team is coming together. They still have flaws.
Right now with six conference games to go they have five at home and then the last game of the season at rival Northern. Do you realize this team has played only three home games all season? The Miami Heat would be glad to be 9-6 having played 12 of 15 games on the road. Looks to me this team is right where Mike Gainey wants them. I know he wants and needs someone to say I am the guard you are looking for. If that happens that team might be a force into late Febuary or early March. The guards have got to play better to think about mid March and Chapel Hill.
Even closer to home a chess match has been going on. Mike Gainey has one of the tallest teams in eastern North Carolina if not in the whole state. The Big East however hardly has any six five players at all. Almost every team in the league plays three guards a small forward and a power forward who has to play the center position.
Gainey's Gryphons from day one on this season has not found a guard that has shown the ability to bring the ball up court against all these teams with three guards and get the ball inside where no one has shown an ability to match the Gryphon big men. Those teams how ever have made it tough on the Gryphons to match them with the outside speed and shooting ability that teams playing against the Gryphons have shown.
So Rocky Mount has started trying to out power other teams, gamble that teams would not make a great number out outside shots and this has been a year that it seems every team shots are falling. Gainey has also gambled that he continued the up tempo game even without a guard to run the fast paced that they would have enough chances to score to over ride the negatives. For a good portion of this season that thought has not worked.
Coaches schedule games based on what he thinks his team can handle based on the ability of what he thinks his team will be when they make the schedule in the spring. This year there were no games with SouthWest Edgecombe but those two games have been against stronger 4-A programs. Hertford County is the only 2-A school on the schedule but in the past the Bears have been one of the strongest in the Northeast.
So when you play a tougher schedule and you find yourself with a weakness all of a sudden the Gryphons have six losses four to 4-A teams,Hunt and Hertford County. Teams have burned the Gryphons on the outside. Harassed the Gryphon guards enough to keep the ball from going inside like the Gryphons want. So how do you stop the other teams outside shooting?
Instead of going with the three tall men replace one with a guard. Now the Gryphons have two shooting guards a so called point guard and two tall men on the floor all the time. Still with only two big men the Gryphons are still the biggest team in the Big East and now all of a sudden they have enough speed outside to cover those hot shooting outside shooters. Now they have a rested big man coming off the bench.
The result is the Gryphons have won two conference games with the new line up in which they controlled the games most of the way. If you remember in both 2010 and 2012 it was mid January before the teams came together to put runs on to win the state championships. This team is coming together. They still have flaws.
Right now with six conference games to go they have five at home and then the last game of the season at rival Northern. Do you realize this team has played only three home games all season? The Miami Heat would be glad to be 9-6 having played 12 of 15 games on the road. Looks to me this team is right where Mike Gainey wants them. I know he wants and needs someone to say I am the guard you are looking for. If that happens that team might be a force into late Febuary or early March. The guards have got to play better to think about mid March and Chapel Hill.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Gryphons beat Weather And Fike
There is plenty of stress for those who have to take part in three conference games in one week. Those three games have been made necessary because of the brush with snow and ice that disrupted the normal two game schedule when only one game was played last week. Hearing of the impending weather was schedule to come in late Tuesday just maybe the scheduled Tuesday night match up with Northern Nash might still be possible.
Still hoping to play Tuesday Rocky Mount and Fike got together looking as though Wednesday's makeup game was in doubt so in order to beat the weather Rocky Mount High headed south to Fike High to try to at least get one game in before this pending snow. I couldn't get there myself so I don't have details but I can report that the Lady Gryphons who started tonight tied for the conference lead with Northern Nash has beaten Fike who came into tonight's game at 0-3 in conference play. Final Lady Gryphons 45 Fike 30. As far as I know no other conference teams played other than Fike and Rocky Mount so for a short time the Lady Gryphons are in first place at 4-0 while Northern remains at 3-0.
Heading to Fike who stands 14-1 and 2-1 in conference Rocky Mount 8-6 2-1 are tied with each other. Fike's only loss was a heart breaker late against Southern Nash at Southern. Rocky Mount lone conference loss was an embarrassment at Hunt. To say the least tonight is a biggie in Big East basketball. All Gryphon fans can celebrate tonight as Rocky Mount has beaten Fike 76-68. Rocky Mount remains within striking distance of Hunt 3-0 to Rocky Mount's 3-1. Fike drops to 2-2 but the bad news for them they are now two games back in the loss column.
The weathermen for a week now started out didn't know what to say about this weather impending on Tuesday. As mid day Monday the weathermen were now calling for snow covering the ground before dark Tuesday so that means the hope for Northern Rocky Mount would not be possible for Tuesday so Mike Gainey and Patricia Haggerty got together and with the possibility that school might not happen at all Wednesday and at this point maybe even Thursday the games have now been moved to One pm Saturday. They are trying to do everything they can to get at least for Rocky Mount all three of their games in this week.
It seems this storm system is moving even faster than expected and Nash and Wilson County schools are already closed Tuesday as the weatherman now says at least and inch can be on the ground by Noon. So Rocky Mount has one of their three out of the way so the next game on the schedule is Friday night at home against Nash Central for their first home game in I think it is 48 days. It would seem that by Friday school would be back in session but look they are now calling for 3-5 inches total in Nash County. If you are a person that takes notice to prediction makers especially weather men most of the time when they start calling for more than a dusting they most of the time are not willing to predict extremes so 3-5 just might be on the low side. If we were to get something like 10 inches I would doubt there will be any school for the rest of the week and if not both Friday's and Saturday's games could be in jeopardy.
At this point it only matters if you are a kid I am sure they want to miss school rest of the year. But if you are like me anything more than a dusting is too much. Boy, I sure would like some snow cream.
Big Week Ahead
Do to possible weather complication Wednesday. the Rocky Mount at Fike games have been switched to TONIGHT. Since this storm system may be here Tuesday afternoon the Northern Home game for Tuesday night has been moved to 1pm Saturday at Rocky Mount High.
Thirty per cent of the conference basket ball season is over and in order to play just three games it has taken three weeks. If weather permits another thirty per cent of the basketball season will occur this week.
Hunt 11-3 3-0 has a matchup Tuesday with Fike 14-1 2-1. Right now there are four teams at 2-1 or better in the conference and Tuesday this is the game of the Night in the Big East. These two have already faced each other during a Christmas tournament in Wilson and the Golden Demons won 52-50 .
Hunt has a Wednesday night trip to Southern Nash 6-10 2-1 and a Friday excursion to Northern Nash. Fike will Host Rocky Mount on Wednesday and Southern Nash on Friday. Hunt will face two of the three teams at 2-1 this week while Fike will will meet everyone they are tied with at 2-1.
Rocky Mount 8-6 2-1 has it's rival game with Northern Nash 6-10 0-3 Tuesday at Home, a Wednesday trip to Fike and then a home game Friday with Nash Central 4-12 0-3. They face only one of the top four teams. Southern Nash starts out Tuesday at Nash Central a home game Wednesday against Hunt and a Friday night affair at Fike. So Southern will face off against two other teams that are either tied with or trail in the standings.
Northern Nash heads to Rocky Mount Tuesday, at home Thursday with Nash Central and have a Friday visit from Hunt. Northern with three conference losses could do themselves well if they could beat Rocky Mount and Hunt. Nash Central in the same boat as Northern gets a home game with with Southern Nash Tuesday, a trip to Northern Thursday and a Rocky Mount ride on Friday. They too could do themselves a favor by knocking off the big boys but if both Northern and Central have a bad week they could be completely out of the race by Friday night.
After this week there is only two weeks to go but I think by Friday night we will have a good picture who will be heading to the playoffs and who still has a shot at the regular season Big East title. That is of course pending what the weather does this week.
Hunt 11-3 3-0 has a matchup Tuesday with Fike 14-1 2-1. Right now there are four teams at 2-1 or better in the conference and Tuesday this is the game of the Night in the Big East. These two have already faced each other during a Christmas tournament in Wilson and the Golden Demons won 52-50 .
Hunt has a Wednesday night trip to Southern Nash 6-10 2-1 and a Friday excursion to Northern Nash. Fike will Host Rocky Mount on Wednesday and Southern Nash on Friday. Hunt will face two of the three teams at 2-1 this week while Fike will will meet everyone they are tied with at 2-1.
Rocky Mount 8-6 2-1 has it's rival game with Northern Nash 6-10 0-3 Tuesday at Home, a Wednesday trip to Fike and then a home game Friday with Nash Central 4-12 0-3. They face only one of the top four teams. Southern Nash starts out Tuesday at Nash Central a home game Wednesday against Hunt and a Friday night affair at Fike. So Southern will face off against two other teams that are either tied with or trail in the standings.
Northern Nash heads to Rocky Mount Tuesday, at home Thursday with Nash Central and have a Friday visit from Hunt. Northern with three conference losses could do themselves well if they could beat Rocky Mount and Hunt. Nash Central in the same boat as Northern gets a home game with with Southern Nash Tuesday, a trip to Northern Thursday and a Rocky Mount ride on Friday. They too could do themselves a favor by knocking off the big boys but if both Northern and Central have a bad week they could be completely out of the race by Friday night.
After this week there is only two weeks to go but I think by Friday night we will have a good picture who will be heading to the playoffs and who still has a shot at the regular season Big East title. That is of course pending what the weather does this week.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Game Face
Look I grew up in a small town that on Friday night main street shut down to go see the Indians play. From 1947 until 1970 Ahoskie High won five state titles. I realize that during those days there was a western state champion and the NCHSAA champion. But we won every game in the playoffs they gave us to play.
There was a hope for every boy that when they were old enough that they could wear the black and gold. When my time came I know one of the greatest days of my life was when I received my letter from coach Al Vaughn when the first day of practice was but the most important I had been invited to try out for the team.
Every Friday on game day we were allowed to wear a gold tee shirt that said " I am a football player for Ahoskie High school and wear for me number 89." We were told the second school ended we were thinking only about that nights game and get your game face on. If it was a road game there was never one word spoken while traveling and if you lost the trip home was in total silence.
My first year out of high school I was in the press box doing color for the Indians but my main job was to read the commercials live because in those days once you went on the air it was your broadcast until sign off at the end of the game.
During my playing days while getting my game face on I on many an afternoon left my lunch on the ground somewhere and now in radio thinking that a million people in Ahoskie could be listening I was so nervous Friday afternoons and working in radio I was off on Friday afternoons and I continued the process of a good throw up heading to game time.
As I grew older and I mean much older I have been able to keep my lunch but there is still deep agony in my stomach of nerves. I guess that is the game face every time before a game. There is a major problem that has occurred for me over my 40 some years doing almost 1200 live events and even anytime I do PA.
That problem is calming down after a game. In the 70's it would be 5 in the morning on Saturday before I could think about sleep. Even today now that I am a seasoned veteran it is well past midnight before I am calm enough to think of sleep.
In today 's world where camera's are thrown in players faces right at the end of a game I understand that they are still in the middle of their game face and to ask them a question while still on the field of play can be very alarming at what can be said sometimes. In a world where TV money rules access to players will only get worse. I can see that cameras can be inserted into helmets and fans will be even more in the action. There is no telling what you might hear when those players have their game faces on.
There was a hope for every boy that when they were old enough that they could wear the black and gold. When my time came I know one of the greatest days of my life was when I received my letter from coach Al Vaughn when the first day of practice was but the most important I had been invited to try out for the team.
Every Friday on game day we were allowed to wear a gold tee shirt that said " I am a football player for Ahoskie High school and wear for me number 89." We were told the second school ended we were thinking only about that nights game and get your game face on. If it was a road game there was never one word spoken while traveling and if you lost the trip home was in total silence.
My first year out of high school I was in the press box doing color for the Indians but my main job was to read the commercials live because in those days once you went on the air it was your broadcast until sign off at the end of the game.
During my playing days while getting my game face on I on many an afternoon left my lunch on the ground somewhere and now in radio thinking that a million people in Ahoskie could be listening I was so nervous Friday afternoons and working in radio I was off on Friday afternoons and I continued the process of a good throw up heading to game time.
As I grew older and I mean much older I have been able to keep my lunch but there is still deep agony in my stomach of nerves. I guess that is the game face every time before a game. There is a major problem that has occurred for me over my 40 some years doing almost 1200 live events and even anytime I do PA.
That problem is calming down after a game. In the 70's it would be 5 in the morning on Saturday before I could think about sleep. Even today now that I am a seasoned veteran it is well past midnight before I am calm enough to think of sleep.
In today 's world where camera's are thrown in players faces right at the end of a game I understand that they are still in the middle of their game face and to ask them a question while still on the field of play can be very alarming at what can be said sometimes. In a world where TV money rules access to players will only get worse. I can see that cameras can be inserted into helmets and fans will be even more in the action. There is no telling what you might hear when those players have their game faces on.
Friday, January 24, 2014
Much Needed Win
Tonight Rocky Mount went back to a two big men lineup and with the addition of quicker feet on the outside Rocky Mount defense leads to 57-45 win over Southern Nash. The victory and with a Hunt 67-45 win over Nash Central Hunt has the outright lead in Big East boys basketball.
Thomas Cooper and Kenaz Cooper both got starts tonight for Mike Gainey's Gryphon and on the defensive end the Gryphons forced the Firebirds into 22 turnover while committing only 16 themselves. That is still a high number16 but tonight the Gryphons had a purpose and that was to play defense.
Immanuel King scored a double double 12 points 12 rebounds to lead the way but he spent time on the bench in foul trouble and he and Thomas Cooper both fouled out. While in there Cooper gave Rocky Mount more movement on offense and was part of a scrambling defense. Kenaz Cooper and Blake Helms got more minutes and it paid off for all of the Gryphons.
Rocky Mount grabbed 38 rebounds to 25 for Southern. Southern also gave the ball away more in turnovers 22-16. Donte Battle and Isaiah Alton joined King with 12 points. Tahj Deans 10 points and six rebounds was the top Southern performer.
It is still not what Mike Gainey wants but for the first time in a month Rocky Mount played as if they wanted to be there. Want to sometimes is the name of the game.
The Lady Gryphons acted in the first half as if they were still out for snow as the Lady Birds of Southern charged out to a 27-17 half time lead and at times it seemed the Gryphons didn't know who was on their team as twice inbound passes went out of bounds not thrown to anyone.
By the end of the game constant defensive pressure by Rocky Mount and in the second half the Gryphons figured out who was on their side and cut down on the turnovers and won 49-43 to hang on to their share of first in the Big East heading to a Tuesday night showdown at Rocky Mount with Northern.
Keyanna Spivey 13 points and 6 rebounds lead the offense. Carmen Richardson also scored 13 as 5of hers came done the stretch at the foul line as Rocky Mount held the lead. Rocky Mount had 14 turnovers in the first half but started the third and did 't have their first until they had tied the score at 33. By games end the Gryphons committed 25 miscues while the Lady Birds totaled 18.
Destiny Burgess was a one man wrecking crew for Southern as Rocky Mount found the only way to stop her was to get her to foul out late in the game. Burgess threw down 26 points and hauled down 10 of Southrrn's 22 rebounds. Rocky Mount won the rebounding collecting 26.
All Day Saturday at Northern Nash is the Big East Wrestling Tournament. It starts at nine and will take all day.
WHIG was in the House at Southern Nash at the Rocky Mount Southern boys game can be seen at 2pm Saturday afternoon.
Thomas Cooper and Kenaz Cooper both got starts tonight for Mike Gainey's Gryphon and on the defensive end the Gryphons forced the Firebirds into 22 turnover while committing only 16 themselves. That is still a high number16 but tonight the Gryphons had a purpose and that was to play defense.
Immanuel King scored a double double 12 points 12 rebounds to lead the way but he spent time on the bench in foul trouble and he and Thomas Cooper both fouled out. While in there Cooper gave Rocky Mount more movement on offense and was part of a scrambling defense. Kenaz Cooper and Blake Helms got more minutes and it paid off for all of the Gryphons.
Rocky Mount grabbed 38 rebounds to 25 for Southern. Southern also gave the ball away more in turnovers 22-16. Donte Battle and Isaiah Alton joined King with 12 points. Tahj Deans 10 points and six rebounds was the top Southern performer.
It is still not what Mike Gainey wants but for the first time in a month Rocky Mount played as if they wanted to be there. Want to sometimes is the name of the game.
The Lady Gryphons acted in the first half as if they were still out for snow as the Lady Birds of Southern charged out to a 27-17 half time lead and at times it seemed the Gryphons didn't know who was on their team as twice inbound passes went out of bounds not thrown to anyone.
By the end of the game constant defensive pressure by Rocky Mount and in the second half the Gryphons figured out who was on their side and cut down on the turnovers and won 49-43 to hang on to their share of first in the Big East heading to a Tuesday night showdown at Rocky Mount with Northern.
Keyanna Spivey 13 points and 6 rebounds lead the offense. Carmen Richardson also scored 13 as 5of hers came done the stretch at the foul line as Rocky Mount held the lead. Rocky Mount had 14 turnovers in the first half but started the third and did 't have their first until they had tied the score at 33. By games end the Gryphons committed 25 miscues while the Lady Birds totaled 18.
Destiny Burgess was a one man wrecking crew for Southern as Rocky Mount found the only way to stop her was to get her to foul out late in the game. Burgess threw down 26 points and hauled down 10 of Southrrn's 22 rebounds. Rocky Mount won the rebounding collecting 26.
All Day Saturday at Northern Nash is the Big East Wrestling Tournament. It starts at nine and will take all day.
WHIG was in the House at Southern Nash at the Rocky Mount Southern boys game can be seen at 2pm Saturday afternoon.
Back To Normal
The weather has played havoc with high school sports this week first postponing all Tuesday games and never allowing games to be made up on Wednesday. Now all those missed Tuesday games will be made up either on next Wednesday or Thursday.
Everyone will play their normal Tuesday night conference games featuring Northern Nash at Rocky Mount. Fike at Hunt and Southrrn at Nash Central. Wednesday Rocky Mount will travel to Fike. Right now Hunt is 2-0 in conference will travel to Southern Nash. By time theses two square off two other games will have been played. Nash Central will travel Northern Nash on the 30th. All teams will then play their Friday night conference games meaning each will play three conference games next week weather pending how ever as there are forecasts calling for some wintery weather next week.
So tonight it is back to basketball as I will be at Southern Nash joining Edward Green who will do play by play as we will record the boys game which will be replayed Sunday night with the Rocky Mount boys. Southern 6-9 2-0 have already met Rocky Mount in the finals of the Nash County Christmas tournament but Rocky Mount 7-6 1-1 has won only once since that mid December meeting when they beat Southern by 12.
Fike 14-1 1-1 will visit Northern Nash 6-9 0-2. Northern didn't get good news on the Paul Cherry knee injury as he is out for the year. Hunt 10-3 2-0 rides from west Wilson to Nash Central 4-12 0-2.
Even though their records will not say so but the girls Big East games of the week will be Nash Central 12-4 1-1 hosting Hunt 7-6 0-2. Hunt is 0-2 after losing to at this point the top two girls team in Northern and Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount 8-4 2-0 will head south to Southern Nash 7-7 1-1. Fike 8-7 0-2 scoots over from Wilson to play Northern 13-1 2-0.
Right now at this point in the boys play both Northern Nash and Nash Central standing at 0-2 can not afford another defeat. To say the least both are desperate and any team desperate can be a handful and tonight Fike and Hunt need to be ready.
The same thing applies on the girls side as the desperate teams are Hunt and Fike. Both Nash Central and Northern had better have their full attention on the games tonight.
Everyone will play their normal Tuesday night conference games featuring Northern Nash at Rocky Mount. Fike at Hunt and Southrrn at Nash Central. Wednesday Rocky Mount will travel to Fike. Right now Hunt is 2-0 in conference will travel to Southern Nash. By time theses two square off two other games will have been played. Nash Central will travel Northern Nash on the 30th. All teams will then play their Friday night conference games meaning each will play three conference games next week weather pending how ever as there are forecasts calling for some wintery weather next week.
So tonight it is back to basketball as I will be at Southern Nash joining Edward Green who will do play by play as we will record the boys game which will be replayed Sunday night with the Rocky Mount boys. Southern 6-9 2-0 have already met Rocky Mount in the finals of the Nash County Christmas tournament but Rocky Mount 7-6 1-1 has won only once since that mid December meeting when they beat Southern by 12.
Fike 14-1 1-1 will visit Northern Nash 6-9 0-2. Northern didn't get good news on the Paul Cherry knee injury as he is out for the year. Hunt 10-3 2-0 rides from west Wilson to Nash Central 4-12 0-2.
Even though their records will not say so but the girls Big East games of the week will be Nash Central 12-4 1-1 hosting Hunt 7-6 0-2. Hunt is 0-2 after losing to at this point the top two girls team in Northern and Rocky Mount. Rocky Mount 8-4 2-0 will head south to Southern Nash 7-7 1-1. Fike 8-7 0-2 scoots over from Wilson to play Northern 13-1 2-0.
Right now at this point in the boys play both Northern Nash and Nash Central standing at 0-2 can not afford another defeat. To say the least both are desperate and any team desperate can be a handful and tonight Fike and Hunt need to be ready.
The same thing applies on the girls side as the desperate teams are Hunt and Fike. Both Nash Central and Northern had better have their full attention on the games tonight.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Little League Changes Coming
If you have ever watched ESPN when they televised the Regional Little League finals and you wished that someday just maybe Rocky Mount could be in that game or even better go to Williamsport PA for the Little League World Series? If you have had that dream it could come true.
The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation has applied to the Little League International to become part of that organization. It seems according to Lynn Driver of RM Parks Rec that the city is fairly certain that their application is being accepted and if it does they will be assigned to NC District 6 which covers most of eastern North Carolina from Durham and Wilmington. This would put Rocky Mount in the same district as Wilson, Garner, Clayton, Fayetteville and Wilmington.
Rocky Mount has applied for Nash and Edgecome County to be their playing district and that would mean any player in the RM little league program that lives in either county would be eligible to play in the playoffs if they make the all star teams as has been the procedure in the past. It is hoped that Rocky Mount will continue to have two teams as they have had in the past.
The age group will be from 7-12 years old much like The Tar Heel association was. There are too many benefits as why this change is good for Rocky Mount to talk about all of them here today. The biggest advantage is the chance to possibly make it to the LL World Series which has been in existence for more than 75 years and 2.6 million children take part every year. Little League International offers liability and accident insurance to all players and coaches. LL International offers umpire clinics and even education videos for parents making sure baseball is a fun experience for the parents and their children.
Rocky Mount Parks And Rec has won several State and District Championships over the last 25 years while participating in the Tar Heel program. If you want to compare this, this is like jumping from Division 2 football to D1. This is moving up to the big time. I would suspect there will be a feeling out process over a couple of years and success might take a while.
I think Rocky Mount Rec has gone about as far as they can go with Tar Heel as many championship they have one. There are so many advantages that makes this is a great move. There is a possibility that Rocky Mount could host District, state and even Regional. Wouldn't it be great that one day ESPN would here covering the Regional finals. That would never happen if RM Parks and Rec stayed in The Tar Heel Association.
How soon before the little league season starts ? The entire month of February you can go on line and register your child for the 2014 baseball spring season. Go to www.rockymountnc.gov/parks
It's time to play ball!.
The Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation has applied to the Little League International to become part of that organization. It seems according to Lynn Driver of RM Parks Rec that the city is fairly certain that their application is being accepted and if it does they will be assigned to NC District 6 which covers most of eastern North Carolina from Durham and Wilmington. This would put Rocky Mount in the same district as Wilson, Garner, Clayton, Fayetteville and Wilmington.
Rocky Mount has applied for Nash and Edgecome County to be their playing district and that would mean any player in the RM little league program that lives in either county would be eligible to play in the playoffs if they make the all star teams as has been the procedure in the past. It is hoped that Rocky Mount will continue to have two teams as they have had in the past.
The age group will be from 7-12 years old much like The Tar Heel association was. There are too many benefits as why this change is good for Rocky Mount to talk about all of them here today. The biggest advantage is the chance to possibly make it to the LL World Series which has been in existence for more than 75 years and 2.6 million children take part every year. Little League International offers liability and accident insurance to all players and coaches. LL International offers umpire clinics and even education videos for parents making sure baseball is a fun experience for the parents and their children.
Rocky Mount Parks And Rec has won several State and District Championships over the last 25 years while participating in the Tar Heel program. If you want to compare this, this is like jumping from Division 2 football to D1. This is moving up to the big time. I would suspect there will be a feeling out process over a couple of years and success might take a while.
I think Rocky Mount Rec has gone about as far as they can go with Tar Heel as many championship they have one. There are so many advantages that makes this is a great move. There is a possibility that Rocky Mount could host District, state and even Regional. Wouldn't it be great that one day ESPN would here covering the Regional finals. That would never happen if RM Parks and Rec stayed in The Tar Heel Association.
How soon before the little league season starts ? The entire month of February you can go on line and register your child for the 2014 baseball spring season. Go to www.rockymountnc.gov/parks
It's time to play ball!.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Just Thinking
The NFL announced last week that Philip Rivers won the comeback player of the year award. My question is where did he go to comeback from? This is truly one of those situations where the talking heads do more talking than giving you facts. Four of the last six years Rivers has had a 100 or better QB rating. In 2011 and 2012 his rating was 89 and 88 which is the average rating of all Qb's every year. I guess they consider going back to great instead of average is coming back. Should have gone to a player who missed all year from injury but came back to have a great 2013 season.
Talking about talking heads, I have heard a lot of noise over the Richard Sherman's street talk after the Seattle win Sunday but have not heard one say anything at all about the choke sign that he gave the 9ers bench. I hope the NFL fines him big time for everything he did both on the field and the after interviews.
First of all these men the worst of the bunch get paid a half million dollars a year. Regardless whether they believe it or not they are examples to young people and if the NFL allows this to go unpunished the NFL will not survive as the most watched sports in America. All this talk about Crabtree being mediocre only degrades Sherman's own effort. Think about this if San Fran put their worse receiver on Sherman then they must not think he is too good. I think if the talking heads could think they would see Sherman degraded his own performance. He put himself above the team.
I do understand we all fail during several moments in our lives. A baseball player is considered to be a good hitter if he hits 300. It doesn't matter about your average the only at bat that matters is the one right now. You either get a hit or fail. The last 30 seconds of Sunday's game Richard Sherman failed at his last at but what matters now that he comes back at gets his average back up.
I think you saw in the fourth quarter the negative of the so called modern day quarterback. All that running Kaepernic did in the game he was tired by the fourth and threw several passes short in the fourth quarter. In fact the Sherman bat down was thrown short and if it had been on the money Sherwin would have been the goat instead of the loud mouth.
What in the world has happened to fundamentals in the NFL. Most of these head hunting tackles that you see now days are not taught that way. Everyone has ben taught keep your head up. A basic tackle fundamental is hit and grasp, defensive backs try to knock runners down and their arms are no where near trying to wrap up a runner.
Don't care what professional sport there is they have all become something other than the sport they are suppose to be. Pro basketball no longer knows what traveling is. I hate to hear all these people who say the NFL has rules to help the offense. Every time a receiver crosses the line of scrimmage their is a wrestling match until the ball arrives. Baseball nobody bunts and base stealing is a lost art. Baseball has become the three run Homer.
Just in case you didn't hear the NCAA last week made Tri Athlon a varsity sport for women. That means they will start having a NCAA National Championship in Tri this coming school year. There are more than 200 colleges in the NCAA that have Club Tri's. Tri is the fastest growing Olympic sport. I think just maybe North Carolina and Duke might add this to their varsity level sports but doubt State will. Just might be somebody in my family (Brooks) will be affected by this announcement in the future. We will wait and see.
Talking about talking heads, I have heard a lot of noise over the Richard Sherman's street talk after the Seattle win Sunday but have not heard one say anything at all about the choke sign that he gave the 9ers bench. I hope the NFL fines him big time for everything he did both on the field and the after interviews.
First of all these men the worst of the bunch get paid a half million dollars a year. Regardless whether they believe it or not they are examples to young people and if the NFL allows this to go unpunished the NFL will not survive as the most watched sports in America. All this talk about Crabtree being mediocre only degrades Sherman's own effort. Think about this if San Fran put their worse receiver on Sherman then they must not think he is too good. I think if the talking heads could think they would see Sherman degraded his own performance. He put himself above the team.
I do understand we all fail during several moments in our lives. A baseball player is considered to be a good hitter if he hits 300. It doesn't matter about your average the only at bat that matters is the one right now. You either get a hit or fail. The last 30 seconds of Sunday's game Richard Sherman failed at his last at but what matters now that he comes back at gets his average back up.
I think you saw in the fourth quarter the negative of the so called modern day quarterback. All that running Kaepernic did in the game he was tired by the fourth and threw several passes short in the fourth quarter. In fact the Sherman bat down was thrown short and if it had been on the money Sherwin would have been the goat instead of the loud mouth.
What in the world has happened to fundamentals in the NFL. Most of these head hunting tackles that you see now days are not taught that way. Everyone has ben taught keep your head up. A basic tackle fundamental is hit and grasp, defensive backs try to knock runners down and their arms are no where near trying to wrap up a runner.
Don't care what professional sport there is they have all become something other than the sport they are suppose to be. Pro basketball no longer knows what traveling is. I hate to hear all these people who say the NFL has rules to help the offense. Every time a receiver crosses the line of scrimmage their is a wrestling match until the ball arrives. Baseball nobody bunts and base stealing is a lost art. Baseball has become the three run Homer.
Just in case you didn't hear the NCAA last week made Tri Athlon a varsity sport for women. That means they will start having a NCAA National Championship in Tri this coming school year. There are more than 200 colleges in the NCAA that have Club Tri's. Tri is the fastest growing Olympic sport. I think just maybe North Carolina and Duke might add this to their varsity level sports but doubt State will. Just might be somebody in my family (Brooks) will be affected by this announcement in the future. We will wait and see.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Same Old Two At The Top
All after school school activities have been cancelled for Nash County school for this afternoon and night pending the potential snow storm approaching. This means all sporting events are postponed for tonight.
Tonight game three in the ten game Big East girls basketball schedule. There are two tied at the top and if you go by the past you would say. "What's new". Northern Nash 13-1 2-0 stands tied with Rocky Mount 8-4 2-0. There is no surprise that Northern is there but I don't think they were going to be quite this good. After losing J'Kyra Brown to ECU and with no returning height at all Rocky Mount seemed doomed to rebuilding but lo and behold their young freshman are much better than anyone other than Pam Gainey could ask for.
Northern gets the tough assignment tonight as they play Nash Central 12-4 1-1. Central who owns the second best record overall could cause trouble for Northern. Northern has not really been pushed at all so far in the two conference games to date. The Bulldogs lost a close one to Rocky Mount and in order to stay in the running they need a big win.
Fike 7-6 0-2 will host Rocky Mount. Fike is in need of a conference win and a victory over Rocky Mount would be a big step. Rocky Mount's two conference wins have been close ones and a road game at Fike will probably be another close one. I would suspect if the Gryphons want to stay with Northern they will need to win all their games against everyone else.
Hunt 8-7 0-2 travels to Southern Nash 7-7 1-1. Southern will have their hands full with Hunt due to their extreme size. Rocky Mount was able to negate the Hunt size by defensive pressure making Hunt's big girls play the whole court. Southern will need the same thing with pressure and they will need to make outside shots.
Tomorrow we will have some what clear idea of where the Big East Girls are headed. Will it be Northern and Rocky Mount or will Nash Central become a player. After all the non conference action is over there is no girls team at this point below 500.
It will be a while before I pick the Super Bowl but after Sunday's NFL playoff games I stand at 8-2. Anybody notice that I picked the Bronco's by ten and I picked the Seahawks 23-17. This is my Richard Sherman pat myself on the back move of the week.
Tonight game three in the ten game Big East girls basketball schedule. There are two tied at the top and if you go by the past you would say. "What's new". Northern Nash 13-1 2-0 stands tied with Rocky Mount 8-4 2-0. There is no surprise that Northern is there but I don't think they were going to be quite this good. After losing J'Kyra Brown to ECU and with no returning height at all Rocky Mount seemed doomed to rebuilding but lo and behold their young freshman are much better than anyone other than Pam Gainey could ask for.
Northern gets the tough assignment tonight as they play Nash Central 12-4 1-1. Central who owns the second best record overall could cause trouble for Northern. Northern has not really been pushed at all so far in the two conference games to date. The Bulldogs lost a close one to Rocky Mount and in order to stay in the running they need a big win.
Fike 7-6 0-2 will host Rocky Mount. Fike is in need of a conference win and a victory over Rocky Mount would be a big step. Rocky Mount's two conference wins have been close ones and a road game at Fike will probably be another close one. I would suspect if the Gryphons want to stay with Northern they will need to win all their games against everyone else.
Hunt 8-7 0-2 travels to Southern Nash 7-7 1-1. Southern will have their hands full with Hunt due to their extreme size. Rocky Mount was able to negate the Hunt size by defensive pressure making Hunt's big girls play the whole court. Southern will need the same thing with pressure and they will need to make outside shots.
Tomorrow we will have some what clear idea of where the Big East Girls are headed. Will it be Northern and Rocky Mount or will Nash Central become a player. After all the non conference action is over there is no girls team at this point below 500.
It will be a while before I pick the Super Bowl but after Sunday's NFL playoff games I stand at 8-2. Anybody notice that I picked the Bronco's by ten and I picked the Seahawks 23-17. This is my Richard Sherman pat myself on the back move of the week.
Monday, January 20, 2014
Finally Conference Play In Earnest
Exams are out of the way, the Christmas break was almost a month ago and even Thanksgiving was during the basketball season. Two straight weeks with just a single conference game will take a back seat as with four weeks to go there are eight conference games left. One fifth of the way here is a look at the Big East boys heading forward.
Standing in a tie for first is Hunt and Southern Nash. Yes that is right Southern is in a tie for the lead. Since Southern has been either in the NEW or the Big East conference I don't remember them being 2-0. They are 5-9 over all but where it counts in conference they haven't loss. Remember they played for the championship of the Nash County Christmas Tournament so they are 3-1 against conference members this year.
Hunt has played along with Rocky Mount the toughest schedule to date with several nice wins over 4-A schools. They stand at 10-3. After Tuesday night there will be only one at the top as Hunt travels to Southern so one will lead the pack come midnight Tuesday.
Fike and Rocky Mount are both tied at 1-1 in the Big East but right now these two seem headed in different directions as Fike's only blemish is a loss at Southern. They stand at 13-1. Seems as if the wheels have fallen off at Rocky Mount 7-6 they have been torch twice this weekend losing by 28 at Hunt and Saturday in the MLK Tournament at Riverside High lost by 21 to Northern Durham. These two square off at Fike Tuesday.
The two teams right now without a conference win Nash Central and Northern Nash collide Tuesday and when the ball quits bouncing one will still be looking for their first conference win. Northern stands 6-8 while Nash Central 2-11.
So Tuesday will provide us with a battle for first, a battle for the middle and a battle to stay out of last place. Life goes on in Big East basketball.
Standing in a tie for first is Hunt and Southern Nash. Yes that is right Southern is in a tie for the lead. Since Southern has been either in the NEW or the Big East conference I don't remember them being 2-0. They are 5-9 over all but where it counts in conference they haven't loss. Remember they played for the championship of the Nash County Christmas Tournament so they are 3-1 against conference members this year.
Hunt has played along with Rocky Mount the toughest schedule to date with several nice wins over 4-A schools. They stand at 10-3. After Tuesday night there will be only one at the top as Hunt travels to Southern so one will lead the pack come midnight Tuesday.
Fike and Rocky Mount are both tied at 1-1 in the Big East but right now these two seem headed in different directions as Fike's only blemish is a loss at Southern. They stand at 13-1. Seems as if the wheels have fallen off at Rocky Mount 7-6 they have been torch twice this weekend losing by 28 at Hunt and Saturday in the MLK Tournament at Riverside High lost by 21 to Northern Durham. These two square off at Fike Tuesday.
The two teams right now without a conference win Nash Central and Northern Nash collide Tuesday and when the ball quits bouncing one will still be looking for their first conference win. Northern stands 6-8 while Nash Central 2-11.
So Tuesday will provide us with a battle for first, a battle for the middle and a battle to stay out of last place. Life goes on in Big East basketball.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Easily Forgotten
Saturday I went back to my home town to celebrate the life of Daryl Allen. Lost sometimes is the wins and losses coaches get credit for is the fact sometimes sports can be a symbol of pride for a community.
One of the speakers was Doctor Rodney Sessoms one of Daryl's many players who reminded all of us what Daryl Allen did for the town of Ahoskie. Allen's first year of 1970 in Ahoskie was the first full year of total intergration of the school system. As and assistant Ahoskie won the 2A state football title. 1971 Alen's first year as head coach Ahoskie now playing in 3-A opened up winning their first eight games.
In 2010 right here in Rocky Mount in the midst of of economic disaster for our area Rocky Mount High School lifted a community up with pride winning the basketball title. Everyone was able to hold their heads high for we all had a reason to be proud and it helped us through bad times.
What Sessoms reminded us all was in 1970 racial tensions were fever pitch high as two groups of people came together and the best thing that happened to the community of Ahoskie was a successful football team lead by a man who didn't see colors of faces only their heart and their football abilities.
Watching a church full of people honor a man who was more than a football coach but a man that shaped lives of teenagers who as they have gone forth in life carried with them the teaching of a man that may have saved their lives but most of all he help save a community.
Today we are down to the final four of pro football. The first eight games I have gone 6-2. The first game of the day is the old timers bowl where Brady and Manning square off in Denver. They met once all ready in New England and at the half Denver lead 24-0. New England came back but I don't Think there will be the tale today. Denver 34 New England 24
Seattle will be a place of low scoring and plenty of defense. Just the way big MO is moving right now it appears as if San Fran is going to win this one so why then am I picking the Hawks. Home field for the Seahawks. Look scoring only 23 on the Panthers last week was not all that impressive the way they dominated the game and they will not dominate Seattle. 23-17 .
One of the speakers was Doctor Rodney Sessoms one of Daryl's many players who reminded all of us what Daryl Allen did for the town of Ahoskie. Allen's first year of 1970 in Ahoskie was the first full year of total intergration of the school system. As and assistant Ahoskie won the 2A state football title. 1971 Alen's first year as head coach Ahoskie now playing in 3-A opened up winning their first eight games.
In 2010 right here in Rocky Mount in the midst of of economic disaster for our area Rocky Mount High School lifted a community up with pride winning the basketball title. Everyone was able to hold their heads high for we all had a reason to be proud and it helped us through bad times.
What Sessoms reminded us all was in 1970 racial tensions were fever pitch high as two groups of people came together and the best thing that happened to the community of Ahoskie was a successful football team lead by a man who didn't see colors of faces only their heart and their football abilities.
Watching a church full of people honor a man who was more than a football coach but a man that shaped lives of teenagers who as they have gone forth in life carried with them the teaching of a man that may have saved their lives but most of all he help save a community.
Today we are down to the final four of pro football. The first eight games I have gone 6-2. The first game of the day is the old timers bowl where Brady and Manning square off in Denver. They met once all ready in New England and at the half Denver lead 24-0. New England came back but I don't Think there will be the tale today. Denver 34 New England 24
Seattle will be a place of low scoring and plenty of defense. Just the way big MO is moving right now it appears as if San Fran is going to win this one so why then am I picking the Hawks. Home field for the Seahawks. Look scoring only 23 on the Panthers last week was not all that impressive the way they dominated the game and they will not dominate Seattle. 23-17 .
Friday, January 17, 2014
Team Without A Rudder
Tonight the top team in the Big East took the court and their name is Hunt. deploying Three guard , small forward and a power forward Hunt out ran out shot and held on to the ball in routing Rocky Mount 86-58.
Coach Mike Gainey going with the three big men lineup were no match for the outside shooters for Hunt. Keenon Tabron blistered the Gryphons for 29 points. Hunt full court pressure forced 22 turnovers most coming from the big men handling the ball at midcourt due to the fact the Gryphons are still looking for a point guard who will take charge so the big men can get in the low post. Just about every guard on the team got one minute to show he could bring the ball up court and none accepted the role.
Sure looks to me that Gainey will have to go back to any two big men probably Battle and King and bring Bryant off the bench. The shooting combo of Alston and Caudle and someone to be the point guard has to be employed just for the ability to cover the outside shooters. I believe tonight was as bad of performance as I have ever seen from A Gryphon during the Mike Gainey era.
Hunt proved tonight that their victory over 2-A powerhouse Kinston was no fluke. Donte Battle scored 17 of His 19 in the second half and Isaiah Alston with five threes for 15. Hunt is now tied with Southern Nash a 66-56 winners over Northern Nash.
At the opposite end of the spectrum the Lady Gryphons have veteran guards and young inside people and tonight the tall Hunt Lady Warriors jump off to a 7-0 lead. Hunt is the tallest team in the league but the constant full court pressure turned the tide but this one went to the wire. Carmen Richardson broke a 51-51 tie with under a minute to play and the Lady Gryphons come home winners 55-51 over Hunt. Hunt has the size to match Northern Nash but they cannot match the athletic ability of Northern.
Hunt out rebounded Rocky Mount 44-34 with Alexis Williams hauling down 19 boards. The quickness of the Gryphons forced 20 turnovers. Carmen Richardson lead RM with 21 points. T T Thomas followed with 12 but Thomas lead the defensive push. The inside players of Keyanna Spivey, Tarmara Harper, Ashley Hatfield and Tiara Hinton though small against Hunt big inside have shown to understand how to get position on defense and this girls team has proven to be a big surprise this season. The Lady Gryphons are tied a top the Big East with Northern who beat Southern 54-28.
Coach Mike Gainey going with the three big men lineup were no match for the outside shooters for Hunt. Keenon Tabron blistered the Gryphons for 29 points. Hunt full court pressure forced 22 turnovers most coming from the big men handling the ball at midcourt due to the fact the Gryphons are still looking for a point guard who will take charge so the big men can get in the low post. Just about every guard on the team got one minute to show he could bring the ball up court and none accepted the role.
Sure looks to me that Gainey will have to go back to any two big men probably Battle and King and bring Bryant off the bench. The shooting combo of Alston and Caudle and someone to be the point guard has to be employed just for the ability to cover the outside shooters. I believe tonight was as bad of performance as I have ever seen from A Gryphon during the Mike Gainey era.
Hunt proved tonight that their victory over 2-A powerhouse Kinston was no fluke. Donte Battle scored 17 of His 19 in the second half and Isaiah Alston with five threes for 15. Hunt is now tied with Southern Nash a 66-56 winners over Northern Nash.
At the opposite end of the spectrum the Lady Gryphons have veteran guards and young inside people and tonight the tall Hunt Lady Warriors jump off to a 7-0 lead. Hunt is the tallest team in the league but the constant full court pressure turned the tide but this one went to the wire. Carmen Richardson broke a 51-51 tie with under a minute to play and the Lady Gryphons come home winners 55-51 over Hunt. Hunt has the size to match Northern Nash but they cannot match the athletic ability of Northern.
Hunt out rebounded Rocky Mount 44-34 with Alexis Williams hauling down 19 boards. The quickness of the Gryphons forced 20 turnovers. Carmen Richardson lead RM with 21 points. T T Thomas followed with 12 but Thomas lead the defensive push. The inside players of Keyanna Spivey, Tarmara Harper, Ashley Hatfield and Tiara Hinton though small against Hunt big inside have shown to understand how to get position on defense and this girls team has proven to be a big surprise this season. The Lady Gryphons are tied a top the Big East with Northern who beat Southern 54-28.
Missing A Friend And Legend
Some days are better than others and Thursday turn out to be one of the others when I learned of the death of Daryl Allen long time high school football coach of Ahoskie High School and later when Murfreesboro and Ahoskie High became one. He is the eighth all time winningest high school coach in North Carolina winning 305 while losing only 118 in his 36 year coaching career.
Allen came to Ahoskie my senior year in high school of 1970 and spent one year as an assistant to his college friend Al Vaughn who retired with two state titles at the end of the 1971 school year. The football season of 1971 Allen became head coach and that was my first year in the radio booth as the color man for Ahoskie Football.
After following Jack Young 1947-1963 with three state titles and Vaughn's two the community opinion was Daryl Allen was to soft spoken to possibly continue the tradition of Ahoskie football. Four times he took the Cougars and when it became HC to four state title games. Allen coached when it took five wins to win a title and his 72 percent winning also includes a 74 per cent playoff record.
In 1977 when I took over the play by play duties Allen allowed me access to watch game film on Sunday nights when all the coaches watched game film. I wanted to be prepared what to expect from Ahoskie's opponent as well as what we were going to do and Daryl Allen taught me the game of football listening him dissect game film.
I walked in his office one spring and he tells me he is going to run the Radar defense this upcoming season. He tells me that his nose guard on defense will only be 160 pounds and from a three point stance the opposing lines will push him around. He says the radar all 11 defensive players stand up allowing for their speed. That year the defense gave up 36 points during the regular season. Year by year he adapted to what his players could play not what style he knew, he knew them all and what type player it would take to play it.
I heard him only cuss twice at a practice during the 17 years I was on the practice field and in both instances he stop practice to apologize for his language. He taught me there was more ways to teach football than yelling . Over the years since moving to Rocky Mount my visits with him have been few and far between.
I feel privileged to have been able to be a part of a football program with Daryl Allen having been involved. He surly helped me become a better broadcaster teaching me football. Allen's funeral will be Saturday at 2pm at Ahoskie First Baptist. Daryl Allen was 76 years old.
Allen came to Ahoskie my senior year in high school of 1970 and spent one year as an assistant to his college friend Al Vaughn who retired with two state titles at the end of the 1971 school year. The football season of 1971 Allen became head coach and that was my first year in the radio booth as the color man for Ahoskie Football.
After following Jack Young 1947-1963 with three state titles and Vaughn's two the community opinion was Daryl Allen was to soft spoken to possibly continue the tradition of Ahoskie football. Four times he took the Cougars and when it became HC to four state title games. Allen coached when it took five wins to win a title and his 72 percent winning also includes a 74 per cent playoff record.
In 1977 when I took over the play by play duties Allen allowed me access to watch game film on Sunday nights when all the coaches watched game film. I wanted to be prepared what to expect from Ahoskie's opponent as well as what we were going to do and Daryl Allen taught me the game of football listening him dissect game film.
I walked in his office one spring and he tells me he is going to run the Radar defense this upcoming season. He tells me that his nose guard on defense will only be 160 pounds and from a three point stance the opposing lines will push him around. He says the radar all 11 defensive players stand up allowing for their speed. That year the defense gave up 36 points during the regular season. Year by year he adapted to what his players could play not what style he knew, he knew them all and what type player it would take to play it.
I heard him only cuss twice at a practice during the 17 years I was on the practice field and in both instances he stop practice to apologize for his language. He taught me there was more ways to teach football than yelling . Over the years since moving to Rocky Mount my visits with him have been few and far between.
I feel privileged to have been able to be a part of a football program with Daryl Allen having been involved. He surly helped me become a better broadcaster teaching me football. Allen's funeral will be Saturday at 2pm at Ahoskie First Baptist. Daryl Allen was 76 years old.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
The Great Debate
Does Rocky Mount need a multi purpose arena that seats at least Five thousand people? Do we need it in downtown? Those of you that want any kind of arena to make money guess what none do at
least not many. Regardless of the cost Rocky Mount needs more than a 1200 seat Dunn Center. A question that interest me as who came up the figure five thousand. Listen for a city who charges you extra on your light bill for power we don't even get why not build a ten thousand seat building.
First of all yes we do need a entertainment complex where our citizens can go and have plenty of parking well lit for security and easy to get to. Well that eliminates any location down town. Just for entertainment purposes the 19,000 seat PNC arena has 8,000 parking spaces. If you have ever been in the PNC that equates to about one parking space for 2.5 people in one car. A 5,000 seat building would need 2,000 parking spaces. If you have been any where in down Rocky Mount the space just needed for the parking lot you would have to tear half the buildings down to find the space.
I can see it now the answer for down town is build a parking deck. Have you ever been stuck in that parking deck at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill after a football game. You get home early Sunday morning after a Saturday afternoon game. What kind of four lane streets is this building going to be near to help get the traffic in and out. Just think how long it takes to get 400 cars out of any high school parking lot and this new building could have five times more cars.
The largest building east of I-95 in our area is Minges in Greenville about 8,000 seats. If we are going to spend money why not build something that would be the biggest in the area. If say 10,000 seat you could have some big name concerts. Broadway type productions just might come. What I visualize is a stage in one end similar to the small arena in Fayetteville called the Crown Arena.
I know that our city official who love to spend our money are dead set on a building in downtown to revitalize it. But if you can't get to. Then when you do go can't park within a mile of the place which then puts your personal safety in jeopardy nobody is going to go. Then downtown remains dead and we have another 32 million added to our light bill.
So please city officials who have their hands in our pockets willing to spend our money. If you build it they will not come unless it has access off highway 64. Sports complex area fits that bill. Just thinking top of my head say the property across from Nash Community College. I know there has to be someone on the city council that has property somewhere off 64 that we could buy from them to build this building. Seems they always find a way to help each other make money for themselves and we pay for it.
least not many. Regardless of the cost Rocky Mount needs more than a 1200 seat Dunn Center. A question that interest me as who came up the figure five thousand. Listen for a city who charges you extra on your light bill for power we don't even get why not build a ten thousand seat building.
First of all yes we do need a entertainment complex where our citizens can go and have plenty of parking well lit for security and easy to get to. Well that eliminates any location down town. Just for entertainment purposes the 19,000 seat PNC arena has 8,000 parking spaces. If you have ever been in the PNC that equates to about one parking space for 2.5 people in one car. A 5,000 seat building would need 2,000 parking spaces. If you have been any where in down Rocky Mount the space just needed for the parking lot you would have to tear half the buildings down to find the space.
I can see it now the answer for down town is build a parking deck. Have you ever been stuck in that parking deck at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill after a football game. You get home early Sunday morning after a Saturday afternoon game. What kind of four lane streets is this building going to be near to help get the traffic in and out. Just think how long it takes to get 400 cars out of any high school parking lot and this new building could have five times more cars.
The largest building east of I-95 in our area is Minges in Greenville about 8,000 seats. If we are going to spend money why not build something that would be the biggest in the area. If say 10,000 seat you could have some big name concerts. Broadway type productions just might come. What I visualize is a stage in one end similar to the small arena in Fayetteville called the Crown Arena.
I know that our city official who love to spend our money are dead set on a building in downtown to revitalize it. But if you can't get to. Then when you do go can't park within a mile of the place which then puts your personal safety in jeopardy nobody is going to go. Then downtown remains dead and we have another 32 million added to our light bill.
So please city officials who have their hands in our pockets willing to spend our money. If you build it they will not come unless it has access off highway 64. Sports complex area fits that bill. Just thinking top of my head say the property across from Nash Community College. I know there has to be someone on the city council that has property somewhere off 64 that we could buy from them to build this building. Seems they always find a way to help each other make money for themselves and we pay for it.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Basketball Schedule Change
The Rocky Mount Gryphon basketball team has not played a home game since December 13th when they beat Rose 71-54. Their next scheduled home game was suppose to have been next Tuesday against Fike in the third conference game of the season. Received a text from Mike Gainey this week stating the two games with Fike are flip flopping. Next Tuesday's game will now be at Fike and the game for Febuary 6th will now be at Rocky Mount.
So when will the Gryphons play their next home game? It will not be this Friday as they are scheduled for a trip to Hunt 9-3 1-0 while Rocky Mount is 7-4 1-0. Also Friday Southern Nash 4-9 1-0 will visit Northern Nash 6-8 0-1. Fike 13-1 0-1 travels to Nash Central 4-10 0-1.
We already know the Gryphons will not play at home next Tuesday cause they are at Fike. How about the following Friday January 24th. Sorry Charlie but they travel to Southern then. By the way following this Friday night's game they travel to Northern Durham to play Saturday in the Martin Luther King Memorial Tournament where they will play Riverside. So ok are the Gryphons ever going to play another another home game?
Yes Tuesday January 28th a Tuesday of all days Northern Nash will pay a visit to the Rocky Mount gym. But, if the Gryphons have already played at Nash Central, Hunt,Fike, and Southern Nash what does that mean. Starting with the Northern game Rocky Mount will play five straight conference home games and will not hit the road until the regular season's last night. The Gryphons will host the Big East conference tournament.
As you may have seen over the weekend a high school player from the Raleigh broke the backboard on a slam dunk and until a new back board arrives his school is one short. He is a sensation on You Tube and local TV has made him out a hero. If you watch the replay you will notice he hung on the rim ever how short a time until the backboard came down. I don't care how a superman everyone can makes the player the actual cause of the shattered glass was a defect in the glass and if you have ever noticed backboard breaking never occurred until the retractable rims were created. Every dunk when the rim comes down ever so slightly comes out of it's position in the backboard and pops back in place once the player lets go of the rim. Sorry but I don't see where the hero worship comes from in this deal.
So when will the Gryphons play their next home game? It will not be this Friday as they are scheduled for a trip to Hunt 9-3 1-0 while Rocky Mount is 7-4 1-0. Also Friday Southern Nash 4-9 1-0 will visit Northern Nash 6-8 0-1. Fike 13-1 0-1 travels to Nash Central 4-10 0-1.
We already know the Gryphons will not play at home next Tuesday cause they are at Fike. How about the following Friday January 24th. Sorry Charlie but they travel to Southern then. By the way following this Friday night's game they travel to Northern Durham to play Saturday in the Martin Luther King Memorial Tournament where they will play Riverside. So ok are the Gryphons ever going to play another another home game?
Yes Tuesday January 28th a Tuesday of all days Northern Nash will pay a visit to the Rocky Mount gym. But, if the Gryphons have already played at Nash Central, Hunt,Fike, and Southern Nash what does that mean. Starting with the Northern game Rocky Mount will play five straight conference home games and will not hit the road until the regular season's last night. The Gryphons will host the Big East conference tournament.
As you may have seen over the weekend a high school player from the Raleigh broke the backboard on a slam dunk and until a new back board arrives his school is one short. He is a sensation on You Tube and local TV has made him out a hero. If you watch the replay you will notice he hung on the rim ever how short a time until the backboard came down. I don't care how a superman everyone can makes the player the actual cause of the shattered glass was a defect in the glass and if you have ever noticed backboard breaking never occurred until the retractable rims were created. Every dunk when the rim comes down ever so slightly comes out of it's position in the backboard and pops back in place once the player lets go of the rim. Sorry but I don't see where the hero worship comes from in this deal.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Who Is Really Most Valuable
I don't think there is any doubt that when the NFL mvp award is announced that Peyton Manning will win the award hands down. The records he has broken this year and the record his team has who else could it be.
We will for the remainder of this week have to listen to all of the talking heads tell us how good both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are. If they are far in a way the best of the lot in the NFL just who is the most valuable to his team. I am going to present evidence that is not even close between the two.
In 2011 when Peyton Manning sat out the entire season the Indianapolis Colts went from the division winner to the worse team in the NFL and receiving the number one draft pick. Peyton Manning was so valuable to the Colts that without him they were awful.
Tom Brady played less than a half in the first game in the 2008 season. His replacement Matt Cassell led the Patroits to a 10-5 record the last games of the season. He had a 88 quarterback rating and by the next season that one year earned him a big time contract with Kansas City. To say the least Cassell quarterback rating has only been 80 since and Cassell has at best been average NFL quarterback.
I say that Tom Brady has been a by product of the Bill Bellichek system and any quarterback that Bellichek chooses can run the system. So I think that Brady has had the fortune of being at the right place at the right time. If it wasn't for an injury Tom Brady May have been a lifetime backup. I am not saying Brady is not one of the top quarterbacks today he is just not the most valuable as perceived by the media.
Today we are heading to Fayetteville to Methodist College where former Gryphon Tabias Hilliard is turning into a solid basketball player. While a member of the 2012 Gryphon state championship Tabias was a point guard that distributed to others but after a nice freshman year Hilliard is averaging 9.8 points per game and leading the team in assist with 3.8 per game. We talked about Tom Brady being at the right place at the right time and Tobias Hilliard has a home in Fayetteville.
We will for the remainder of this week have to listen to all of the talking heads tell us how good both Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are. If they are far in a way the best of the lot in the NFL just who is the most valuable to his team. I am going to present evidence that is not even close between the two.
In 2011 when Peyton Manning sat out the entire season the Indianapolis Colts went from the division winner to the worse team in the NFL and receiving the number one draft pick. Peyton Manning was so valuable to the Colts that without him they were awful.
Tom Brady played less than a half in the first game in the 2008 season. His replacement Matt Cassell led the Patroits to a 10-5 record the last games of the season. He had a 88 quarterback rating and by the next season that one year earned him a big time contract with Kansas City. To say the least Cassell quarterback rating has only been 80 since and Cassell has at best been average NFL quarterback.
I say that Tom Brady has been a by product of the Bill Bellichek system and any quarterback that Bellichek chooses can run the system. So I think that Brady has had the fortune of being at the right place at the right time. If it wasn't for an injury Tom Brady May have been a lifetime backup. I am not saying Brady is not one of the top quarterbacks today he is just not the most valuable as perceived by the media.
Today we are heading to Fayetteville to Methodist College where former Gryphon Tabias Hilliard is turning into a solid basketball player. While a member of the 2012 Gryphon state championship Tabias was a point guard that distributed to others but after a nice freshman year Hilliard is averaging 9.8 points per game and leading the team in assist with 3.8 per game. We talked about Tom Brady being at the right place at the right time and Tobias Hilliard has a home in Fayetteville.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Peyton Or Tom One Is In Super Bowl.
I like the wild Card week better than divisional weekend because it seems the games are better and closer. A couple had interesting finishes this weekend but for the most part all four games this weekend weren't that close.
Seattle had complete control of New Orleans in fact only being down 16-0 at the half could have been worse for the Saints. The Hawks were trying to run the clock out the entire second half and to me bury who ever you play until the 4th quarter. Then start trying to end the game
I think Indy had too much emotion used up in coming back like they did against KC. Then the next issue is playing on the road. Those of you who believe in the pass happy NFL all four teams that won this weekend all won the the war of the ground game. Funny isn't that during the year the the passing touchdown record is broken nobody won by just flinging it. Tom Brady didn't even throw a touchdown.
Of all the games this weekend the SF/Carolina game went exactly how I thought. Cam and company simply aren't good enough against a very good defense. Carolina has as good of defense as anybody
And holding the 9er 's to 23 was great on their part. Panther fans have every reason to think the future is bright. You would expect Cam to continue to improve and hope the defense is just as good next year.
The Bronco -Charger game was simply a game where San Diego needed to stop Denver on third down they couldn't. They held Peyton to 24 but didn't score enough themselves. The weather did have and effect in this game 27 of the 41 points were scored when the team were going left to right on tour TV dial with the wind. This game was won because Peyton score a touchdown in each quarter going in the wind and San Diego scored none.
What we have is San Francisco travels to Seattle while New England heads west to Denver . The Super Bowl has great ratings regardless of what teams are in it but what is for sure that either Manning or Brady will be in the Super Bowl. Neither may be every ones darlings except for the media. they will now have three weeks to tell us how great one of them is. This week they will talk about both but the two Super Bowl weeks lord help us all from the media.
Seattle had complete control of New Orleans in fact only being down 16-0 at the half could have been worse for the Saints. The Hawks were trying to run the clock out the entire second half and to me bury who ever you play until the 4th quarter. Then start trying to end the game
I think Indy had too much emotion used up in coming back like they did against KC. Then the next issue is playing on the road. Those of you who believe in the pass happy NFL all four teams that won this weekend all won the the war of the ground game. Funny isn't that during the year the the passing touchdown record is broken nobody won by just flinging it. Tom Brady didn't even throw a touchdown.
Of all the games this weekend the SF/Carolina game went exactly how I thought. Cam and company simply aren't good enough against a very good defense. Carolina has as good of defense as anybody
And holding the 9er 's to 23 was great on their part. Panther fans have every reason to think the future is bright. You would expect Cam to continue to improve and hope the defense is just as good next year.
The Bronco -Charger game was simply a game where San Diego needed to stop Denver on third down they couldn't. They held Peyton to 24 but didn't score enough themselves. The weather did have and effect in this game 27 of the 41 points were scored when the team were going left to right on tour TV dial with the wind. This game was won because Peyton score a touchdown in each quarter going in the wind and San Diego scored none.
What we have is San Francisco travels to Seattle while New England heads west to Denver . The Super Bowl has great ratings regardless of what teams are in it but what is for sure that either Manning or Brady will be in the Super Bowl. Neither may be every ones darlings except for the media. they will now have three weeks to tell us how great one of them is. This week they will talk about both but the two Super Bowl weeks lord help us all from the media.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Can't Get Any Worse
The three Tocacco Roads teams can't get any closer to the bottom of the ACC than they are this morning. Carolina is last at 0-3 and Duke and State are 1-2. They all have one thing in common. They don't have a quarterback. All three are blind as to what to do in half court offense.
Carolina to me has the hardest road to hoe because I don't think they are very good. If you look at Roy Williams what I see in him reading between the lines I don't think he thinks the team he has
right now which is not the team he thought he would have is not very good either.
The lone year Duke had Austin Rivers they had a hard time building a team around a player who knew that was going to be one and done. They never played team ball the way Coach K wants team defense. It looks to me they have the same problem this year as they have a player who has no idea there are four other players on the court wearing the same color uniform as he does.
State has a guard in Cat Barber who is a run up and down guard that has no idea when they are in a half court offense how to get the ball inside the 3 point line. Lewis who thought he was going to be the starter isn't playing well at all when he is in there. If I was State knowing his team plays better running I would press all the time just to get my team moving.
The good news is the season is still early but if all three continue to play the way they are playing now nobody will go 500 in conference play. I don't think it has ever happened that all three looked this bad all at the same time.
Today we will look at TaShaun Mabry the former Gryphon who is playing at Tarleton State in Texas. Tarleton is undefeated at 13-0. Mabry is the first player off the bench and the 3rd leading scorer on the team at 10.8 points per game. He has been red hot shooting 45 per cent of his threes.
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Carolina to me has the hardest road to hoe because I don't think they are very good. If you look at Roy Williams what I see in him reading between the lines I don't think he thinks the team he has
right now which is not the team he thought he would have is not very good either.
The lone year Duke had Austin Rivers they had a hard time building a team around a player who knew that was going to be one and done. They never played team ball the way Coach K wants team defense. It looks to me they have the same problem this year as they have a player who has no idea there are four other players on the court wearing the same color uniform as he does.
State has a guard in Cat Barber who is a run up and down guard that has no idea when they are in a half court offense how to get the ball inside the 3 point line. Lewis who thought he was going to be the starter isn't playing well at all when he is in there. If I was State knowing his team plays better running I would press all the time just to get my team moving.
The good news is the season is still early but if all three continue to play the way they are playing now nobody will go 500 in conference play. I don't think it has ever happened that all three looked this bad all at the same time.
Today we will look at TaShaun Mabry the former Gryphon who is playing at Tarleton State in Texas. Tarleton is undefeated at 13-0. Mabry is the first player off the bench and the 3rd leading scorer on the team at 10.8 points per game. He has been red hot shooting 45 per cent of his threes.
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Friday, January 10, 2014
Fike Falls From The Unbeatens
I questioned on this blog Monday the quality of the Fike boys undefeated 12-0 team as to who they had beaten this year to prepare them for the Big East Basketball Season. Tonight Fike traveled to Southern Nash and the Firebirds were ready to give the Golden Demons all they wanted. Southern Knocks Fike into the loss column for the first time with a 50-49 win. The Southern girls pick up their first conference win beating the Lady Golden Demons 53-48 .
Rocky Mount and Nash Central boys have already met before Christmas with the Gryphons winning by 12 on a neutral court at Northern Nash. Tonight Rocky Mount travels to the Bulldog gym and you would think tonight this is the Bulldogs chance but not so. Rocky Mount dominant the Bulldogs 53-27. Yes that score is right. Seems every rebound belonged to the Gryphons.
Two of those teams looking to challenge Northern met for the second time this year and for the second time Rocky Mount wins a close one 52-45 over Nash Central. Carmen Richardson led the Gryphons with 26 points. So after the first night of Conference Northern,Rocky Mount and Southern all are tied for first in the Big East.
Northern Nash girls started on the road in what might have proven to be at the second best team in the Big East when they traveled to Hunt. The Lady Knights start off Big East Conference play with a 57-40 victory over the Lady Warriors. If it proves out Hunt is second best in the conference then it looks like a log jam fighting for second.
I promised that we would look at local high school players who now play college basketball and today we look toward Charlotte and Queens College. Tia Hudgins was a small forward/power forward when playing at a Rocky Mount. The 5'8" player has had to adjust to playing guard in college and Tia is doing rather well. Queens is 4-7 so far this season and Hudgins is averaging 8.6 points per game. while in high school Hudgins had a magnet in her hand and she always knew where the rebounds were going to be. She hasn't lost that trait at Queens as she is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game.
Two of those teams looking to challenge Northern met for the second time this year and for the second time Rocky Mount wins a close one 52-45 over Nash Central. Carmen Richardson led the Gryphons with 26 points. So after the first night of Conference Northern,Rocky Mount and Southern all are tied for first in the Big East.
Northern Nash girls started on the road in what might have proven to be at the second best team in the Big East when they traveled to Hunt. The Lady Knights start off Big East Conference play with a 57-40 victory over the Lady Warriors. If it proves out Hunt is second best in the conference then it looks like a log jam fighting for second.
I promised that we would look at local high school players who now play college basketball and today we look toward Charlotte and Queens College. Tia Hudgins was a small forward/power forward when playing at a Rocky Mount. The 5'8" player has had to adjust to playing guard in college and Tia is doing rather well. Queens is 4-7 so far this season and Hudgins is averaging 8.6 points per game. while in high school Hudgins had a magnet in her hand and she always knew where the rebounds were going to be. She hasn't lost that trait at Queens as she is averaging 6.8 rebounds per game.
The Next Week Of NFL Playoffs
We get another weekend of Saturday/Sunday double headers this weekend as the four teams that got byes must be ready to face teams that already have playoff wins under their belt. I was three and one last weekend and let's see where we are heading this weekend. Let's get it started with the home team Carolina Panthers.
The Panthers get a home game against a team that has two offensive players back in Davis and Crabtree. You could see what those two do for Colin Caepernick. All of a sudden he is not in a slump any more. Winning hides flaws and really this winning ways for the Carolina Panthers has come from the defense not the offense. Yes Cam has had two winning drives the last two games but quite frankly if the defense didn't keep'em in the game those winning drives would never happen.
SteveSmith'sinjury hampers the offense for the Cats. I know the Panthers won the division but I think they would be better off with a team full of players never in the playoffs they would be better served to have played last week. Do you honestly believe this games is 10-9 again this time. Carolina might get ten but the 9'ers will get more than nine. SF 27 Panthers 10.
Last time New Orleans play in Seattle they got slaughtered. The Saints got their first playoff road will but they will not get their second one this year. Seattle has too much defense for Drew and company. One thing that Russell Wilson does for Seattle he doesn't lose the game like a Dalton will in Cincinnati. He let 's the D control the game and scores enough to win. Seattle 26 New Orleans 17.
Indianapolis at New England sends the miracle team Indy to New England who lost another defender this week for the year. I can't see a team giving 45 surviving on the road but look I don't see the Patriots being all that good either. I think some how or other New England gets another Brady tuck rule call and wins. Pats 34 Indy 27
Talking about somebody who has pressure on him this week but Peyton Manning needs to back up this season with a Super Bowl win but do you really believe the Broncos D can hold down San Diego after Von Miller is out for the Broncs. Philip Rivers is 2-0 against Manning in playoff games and he has won five of the last seven trips to Denver. I'm telling you San Diego defense which has had all their starters in the lineup for the last five games which are five wins. Denver only had three games all season that they scored less than 30. 28,27 and 20. San Diego D was the 28 and 20. I believe in the Bolo magic.The Chargers are the non bye week team that is going to win it all if the D stays Healthy. Chargers 35 Denver 27.
The Panthers get a home game against a team that has two offensive players back in Davis and Crabtree. You could see what those two do for Colin Caepernick. All of a sudden he is not in a slump any more. Winning hides flaws and really this winning ways for the Carolina Panthers has come from the defense not the offense. Yes Cam has had two winning drives the last two games but quite frankly if the defense didn't keep'em in the game those winning drives would never happen.
SteveSmith'sinjury hampers the offense for the Cats. I know the Panthers won the division but I think they would be better off with a team full of players never in the playoffs they would be better served to have played last week. Do you honestly believe this games is 10-9 again this time. Carolina might get ten but the 9'ers will get more than nine. SF 27 Panthers 10.
Last time New Orleans play in Seattle they got slaughtered. The Saints got their first playoff road will but they will not get their second one this year. Seattle has too much defense for Drew and company. One thing that Russell Wilson does for Seattle he doesn't lose the game like a Dalton will in Cincinnati. He let 's the D control the game and scores enough to win. Seattle 26 New Orleans 17.
Indianapolis at New England sends the miracle team Indy to New England who lost another defender this week for the year. I can't see a team giving 45 surviving on the road but look I don't see the Patriots being all that good either. I think some how or other New England gets another Brady tuck rule call and wins. Pats 34 Indy 27
Talking about somebody who has pressure on him this week but Peyton Manning needs to back up this season with a Super Bowl win but do you really believe the Broncos D can hold down San Diego after Von Miller is out for the Broncs. Philip Rivers is 2-0 against Manning in playoff games and he has won five of the last seven trips to Denver. I'm telling you San Diego defense which has had all their starters in the lineup for the last five games which are five wins. Denver only had three games all season that they scored less than 30. 28,27 and 20. San Diego D was the 28 and 20. I believe in the Bolo magic.The Chargers are the non bye week team that is going to win it all if the D stays Healthy. Chargers 35 Denver 27.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Extra Effort
Yes Northern Nash's Alexus Hill was the "Extra Effort " award winner this week from Tom Suiter and WRAL TV. Patricia Haggerty the athletic director at Northern who was Alexus coach during volleyball season said that in her 20 years at Northern that Alexus is probably the best girl athlete at Northern during that time. She should know she been there for all of the girls that have passed through Northern. Alexus is about more than just an athlete. Suiter did an excellent job on this story.
The Big East begins basketball conference play Friday with Rocky Mount traveling to Nash Central. Hunt will host Northern Nash and Fike travels to Southern Nash. After Friday Monday through Thursday is exams so the next basketball action in next Friday the 17th.
I don't know if you got the feeling I had during the BCS championship game that Brent Musburger wanted Auburn and the SEC to win. How many times did he say Auburn was playing for the 4th quarter because Florida State didn't have to play any conference game this year in the 4th. Certainly he was implying the ACC wasn't good enough to prepare FSU for the 4th quarter quality of the SEC. Did anybody notice The Seminoles won the 4th Quarter 21-10. Just maybe the Auburn conference teams they played didn't prepare them for the ACC champs.
I am going to try to update you from here on out during basketball on local players playing in college.
Today we are going to look at Nash Central's Trey Sumler the redshirt junior for Western Carolina. Trey started the season on suspension for an on campus incident but the 6'2" guard is averaging 19.8 points per game. Those of you that saw Trey play for Nash Central might remember Trey could bomb it from anywhere on the court. He is hitting 43 per cent of his threes and is averaging 4
rebounds and four assists. Trey's game is an NBA style so as a redshirt junior Trey might draw interest and who knows he just might declare for the NBA this spring. He started this season having scored 1439 points in his college career for the Catamounts.
The Big East begins basketball conference play Friday with Rocky Mount traveling to Nash Central. Hunt will host Northern Nash and Fike travels to Southern Nash. After Friday Monday through Thursday is exams so the next basketball action in next Friday the 17th.
I don't know if you got the feeling I had during the BCS championship game that Brent Musburger wanted Auburn and the SEC to win. How many times did he say Auburn was playing for the 4th quarter because Florida State didn't have to play any conference game this year in the 4th. Certainly he was implying the ACC wasn't good enough to prepare FSU for the 4th quarter quality of the SEC. Did anybody notice The Seminoles won the 4th Quarter 21-10. Just maybe the Auburn conference teams they played didn't prepare them for the ACC champs.
I am going to try to update you from here on out during basketball on local players playing in college.
Today we are going to look at Nash Central's Trey Sumler the redshirt junior for Western Carolina. Trey started the season on suspension for an on campus incident but the 6'2" guard is averaging 19.8 points per game. Those of you that saw Trey play for Nash Central might remember Trey could bomb it from anywhere on the court. He is hitting 43 per cent of his threes and is averaging 4
rebounds and four assists. Trey's game is an NBA style so as a redshirt junior Trey might draw interest and who knows he just might declare for the NBA this spring. He started this season having scored 1439 points in his college career for the Catamounts.
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
ACC Football
The ACC took a big step in shutting up the SEC? The ACC was 2-0 in the BCS games while the SEC was 0-2. To make this lingo in basketball terms since we live the ACC basketball country Auburn and Alabama losing BCS games is like Duke and Carolina losing on the same weekend in the NCAA basketball playoffs.
I do however believe the SEC losing is good for college football. Those of you that remember that the best thing that ever happen to college basketball was NC State beating UCLA and knocking down ironically the seven year rein of the Bruins as National Champions. Since 1974 no team has won more than four titles which has opened up the hope that if you get in the NCAA tournament you have a shot.
Now that the football is going to a four team playoff here is my view of what will happen in the future. Three or four years from now there will be cry to expand to eight teams and not long after that 16. When college football gets to 16 teams in that will be the equivavent of 64 in the basketball tournament 12 of those 16 will have a legitimate chance to win the playoff college football will sky rocket.
Women's college basketball will never become a big time money making sport until more than one team can win the title. Over the years it has been Tennessee then Connecticut as the favorites every year. I understand that the top teams draw more people so regionals are always near the top teams home. Back in the day when UCLA was winning all the titles in the men's basketball they were the only team west of the Mississippi and always hosted the west regional. As good as they were then who can beat them on their home court to get to the final four. Who can beat the Connecticut women in a regional in Connecticut every year.
I do however believe the SEC losing is good for college football. Those of you that remember that the best thing that ever happen to college basketball was NC State beating UCLA and knocking down ironically the seven year rein of the Bruins as National Champions. Since 1974 no team has won more than four titles which has opened up the hope that if you get in the NCAA tournament you have a shot.
Now that the football is going to a four team playoff here is my view of what will happen in the future. Three or four years from now there will be cry to expand to eight teams and not long after that 16. When college football gets to 16 teams in that will be the equivavent of 64 in the basketball tournament 12 of those 16 will have a legitimate chance to win the playoff college football will sky rocket.
Women's college basketball will never become a big time money making sport until more than one team can win the title. Over the years it has been Tennessee then Connecticut as the favorites every year. I understand that the top teams draw more people so regionals are always near the top teams home. Back in the day when UCLA was winning all the titles in the men's basketball they were the only team west of the Mississippi and always hosted the west regional. As good as they were then who can beat them on their home court to get to the final four. Who can beat the Connecticut women in a regional in Connecticut every year.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Who Beat Who Now
Last week we took a look at all 12 teams that made the playoffs and how their won-loss record against each other stacked up. San Diego had the best over all record but had to play a team on the road that ironically had beaten them. Didn't matter the team with the best record won San Diego.
Now a week later let's look at who is left and how they stack up against each other. We will start with San Diego. They split during the season with Denver losing at home 20-28 but won in December in Denver 27-20. That is an overall score of 56-55 Denver in the two matchups. San Diego beat Indy in
San Diego 19-9. They did not play New England. 2-1 overall record amongst AFC team left.
Denver is where you really have to start wondering about the great year Denver had and how good was it really. 1-1 with San Diego. lost 33-39 to Indy and loss 31-34 at New England. Peyton Manning is 0-2 against Philip Rivers in playoff games. 1-3 against the other AFC teams.
Indianapolis lost at San Diego 9-19 beat Denver 39-33. Did not play New England. 1-1 against the other AFC playoff teams.
New England beat Denver 34-31 in New England so they stand 1-0. You just might say New England did't play too many teams that were good.
Over in the NFC Carolina lost opening day at home to Seattle 7-12. Split with New Orleans losing
On Bourbon street 13-31 winning at home 17-13. Beat San Francisco 10-9 in Frisco. 2-2 against the survivors.
New Orleans split with Carolina winning at home 31-13 and losing in Carolina 17-13. New Orleans beat SF 23-20 but lost 34-7 at Seattle. 2-2 against each other.
Seattle beat Carolina 12-7 at Carolina. Crushed New Orleans in Seattle 34-7. Split with SF losing in Frisco 17-19 but won at home 29-3. 3-1 against the other foes.
San Francisco split with Seattle winning 19-17 and losing in the Great Northwest 29-3. Lost at home to Carolina 9-10. Lost to The Saints 23-20 . 1-3
If you use the crystal ball of stats to make predictions look for the Super Bowl to have two NC State quarterbacks facing off against each other. Peyton got his work cut out to throw TD's against the Chargers.
Now a week later let's look at who is left and how they stack up against each other. We will start with San Diego. They split during the season with Denver losing at home 20-28 but won in December in Denver 27-20. That is an overall score of 56-55 Denver in the two matchups. San Diego beat Indy in
San Diego 19-9. They did not play New England. 2-1 overall record amongst AFC team left.
Denver is where you really have to start wondering about the great year Denver had and how good was it really. 1-1 with San Diego. lost 33-39 to Indy and loss 31-34 at New England. Peyton Manning is 0-2 against Philip Rivers in playoff games. 1-3 against the other AFC teams.
Indianapolis lost at San Diego 9-19 beat Denver 39-33. Did not play New England. 1-1 against the other AFC playoff teams.
New England beat Denver 34-31 in New England so they stand 1-0. You just might say New England did't play too many teams that were good.
Over in the NFC Carolina lost opening day at home to Seattle 7-12. Split with New Orleans losing
On Bourbon street 13-31 winning at home 17-13. Beat San Francisco 10-9 in Frisco. 2-2 against the survivors.
New Orleans split with Carolina winning at home 31-13 and losing in Carolina 17-13. New Orleans beat SF 23-20 but lost 34-7 at Seattle. 2-2 against each other.
Seattle beat Carolina 12-7 at Carolina. Crushed New Orleans in Seattle 34-7. Split with SF losing in Frisco 17-19 but won at home 29-3. 3-1 against the other foes.
San Francisco split with Seattle winning 19-17 and losing in the Great Northwest 29-3. Lost at home to Carolina 9-10. Lost to The Saints 23-20 . 1-3
If you use the crystal ball of stats to make predictions look for the Super Bowl to have two NC State quarterbacks facing off against each other. Peyton got his work cut out to throw TD's against the Chargers.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Typical NFL Playoff Weekend
Two games end on the last play of the game with field goals. Three visiting teams win and oh yeah one was down by 28 with 26 minutes to play and won. The weather was not quite as bad as thought in Cincinnati until the home team got behind.
Andrew Luck's name will now join the ever lasting list of comebacks as Luck and the Colts managed to get enough Chiefs players out of the game to make you think KC had their second team in at the end like last week. Indy now gets prime time Saturday night against New England at 8:00 pm.
New Orleans won their first road playoff game ever on a last play field goal against Philly. There has to be no more agony for any team knowing that there is nothing you can do but hope for a miss on the winning field goal. The Saints play at Seattle 4:30 Saturday.
The sunshine boys the San Diego Chargers got a break again Sunday as the weather was not as bad as expected but when it did start pouring rain they took over the game in the second half. A healthy defense made life miserable for Andy Dalton. Chargers return to Denver Sunday night at 4:30pm
Yes is was four degrees and the 7th coldest game in history but weather really didn't play a part as San Fran kicks a field goal on the last play and the Packers had to endure not being able to stop the 9er's down the stretch and by not doing so had to know with two minutes to go they were beat. San Francisco comes to Charlotte at 1pm Sunday. I missed the New Orleans game to go 3-1.
Most of my radio/tv life I have covered one team but over the last seven years or so as I have been game of the week type games. One game this season as I flashed my media pass to work the game
the ticket taker said to me. This must be a big game if Tony Doughtie is in the house. That being
said Tom Suiter was in Nash County last week. You know what that means when Tom comes to town it is for the WRAL TV's "Extra Effort Award". Can't say who it is but you can find out Tuesday night during the 6:20 sports.
Andrew Luck's name will now join the ever lasting list of comebacks as Luck and the Colts managed to get enough Chiefs players out of the game to make you think KC had their second team in at the end like last week. Indy now gets prime time Saturday night against New England at 8:00 pm.
New Orleans won their first road playoff game ever on a last play field goal against Philly. There has to be no more agony for any team knowing that there is nothing you can do but hope for a miss on the winning field goal. The Saints play at Seattle 4:30 Saturday.
The sunshine boys the San Diego Chargers got a break again Sunday as the weather was not as bad as expected but when it did start pouring rain they took over the game in the second half. A healthy defense made life miserable for Andy Dalton. Chargers return to Denver Sunday night at 4:30pm
Yes is was four degrees and the 7th coldest game in history but weather really didn't play a part as San Fran kicks a field goal on the last play and the Packers had to endure not being able to stop the 9er's down the stretch and by not doing so had to know with two minutes to go they were beat. San Francisco comes to Charlotte at 1pm Sunday. I missed the New Orleans game to go 3-1.
Most of my radio/tv life I have covered one team but over the last seven years or so as I have been game of the week type games. One game this season as I flashed my media pass to work the game
the ticket taker said to me. This must be a big game if Tony Doughtie is in the house. That being
said Tom Suiter was in Nash County last week. You know what that means when Tom comes to town it is for the WRAL TV's "Extra Effort Award". Can't say who it is but you can find out Tuesday night during the 6:20 sports.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Real Basketball Starts Friday
Big East conference basketball starts Friday and to this point half of the boys teams have lost more than they have won. Southern Nash who at 4-9 will host the only undefeated team in the Big East Fike who stands 12-0 but 11 of those wins have been to 1-A and 2-A schools. They did beat Hunt in a Holiday Tournament last week by two so to this point Fike remains untested. They sure are putting up numbers in Wilson with the football team going 10-1 in the regular season and now 12-0 in basketball.
Northern Nash 6-7 travels to Hunt 6-3. Northern May have lost Paul Cherry with a knee injury last week and the Knights are holding their breath waiting on the results of an upcoming MRI. Hunt's three losses have come to some good teams.
Rocky Mount 6-4 travels to Nash Central 4-8 Friday. These two have already played each other in the Nash County Chrismas Tournament with the Gryphons winning by 12.
There is only one girls team with a losing record Southern Nash 5-6 as they will host Fike 7-5 on Friday. Northern Nash 9-1 will open at Hunt 5-3. This week senior Alexus Hill went over 1000 points for the Lady Knights and she received a plaque honoring her before their game Friday against
Southern Vance. Rocky Mount 6-4 travels to Nash Central 8-3. One of those losses on the Bulldogs occurred in the Christmas Tournament but this one is on the Bulldogs home floor.
This Saturday Northern Nash will be hosting a baseball clinic that starts at 9:30 and will go until 3:30. The cost is $40 which includes lunch. There will be 12 instructors and the guest speaker will be Jerry Sands a Smithfield Selma High school graduate who last year played AAA baseball in Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirate Organization. Just the day before Christmas he was picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Sands 26 years old is a 276 hitter career hitter in the minors and has played all three outfield positions plus first base. Sands played his college base at Catawba College and was drafted by the LA Dodgers and has played in the Red Sox,Pirates and now Tampa. Should be a fun day.
Northern Nash 6-7 travels to Hunt 6-3. Northern May have lost Paul Cherry with a knee injury last week and the Knights are holding their breath waiting on the results of an upcoming MRI. Hunt's three losses have come to some good teams.
Rocky Mount 6-4 travels to Nash Central 4-8 Friday. These two have already played each other in the Nash County Chrismas Tournament with the Gryphons winning by 12.
There is only one girls team with a losing record Southern Nash 5-6 as they will host Fike 7-5 on Friday. Northern Nash 9-1 will open at Hunt 5-3. This week senior Alexus Hill went over 1000 points for the Lady Knights and she received a plaque honoring her before their game Friday against
Southern Vance. Rocky Mount 6-4 travels to Nash Central 8-3. One of those losses on the Bulldogs occurred in the Christmas Tournament but this one is on the Bulldogs home floor.
This Saturday Northern Nash will be hosting a baseball clinic that starts at 9:30 and will go until 3:30. The cost is $40 which includes lunch. There will be 12 instructors and the guest speaker will be Jerry Sands a Smithfield Selma High school graduate who last year played AAA baseball in Indianapolis in the Pittsburgh Pirate Organization. Just the day before Christmas he was picked up by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Sands 26 years old is a 276 hitter career hitter in the minors and has played all three outfield positions plus first base. Sands played his college base at Catawba College and was drafted by the LA Dodgers and has played in the Red Sox,Pirates and now Tampa. Should be a fun day.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
NFL Takes Center Stage
The next two weekends the NFL will have double headers both Saturday and Sunday. Every game will have national coverage and you can expect frozen Tundra in some areas. Who's going to win let's take a look at what could happen.
Kansas City at Indianapolis: There was a point in the season that KC's defense was by far the best in the NFL but injuries started to mount and all five losses have happen since the injury bug. They played just two weeks ago in KC and it was all Colts. I am still not sold on Indy but I do think they win this one. Colts 23 Chiefs 17.
San Diego at Cincinnati: If you didn't catch the hint from yesterday I think the winner of this game makes it to the Super Bowl. They played five weeks ago in SD and the Chargers have three turnovers inside the Bengals 30 yard line and Cincy won 17-10. No telling what kind of weather there might be. Yes I'm picking SD, the Chargers defense has has all 11 starters the last four weeks and they were all wins. Philip Rivers is 8-2 all time with the temp under 40 degrees. And one of those losses was in New England when he played with no knee ligaments. Should Cincy win I still think the winner of this game plays in a Super Bowl. Chargers 26 Bengals 21.
New Orleans at Philadelphia: This New Orleans team has not been very good on the road. Here again no telling what kind of weather they will face. Remember New Orleans plays inside and I quite frankly am disappointed with the way NO finished the season. I would not be shocked if Philly makes it to the Super Bowl. Eagles 27 Saints 17.
San Francisco at the Frozen Tundra: Will not have to worry about field being frozen before game starts as Green Bay learned from the 1967 heating of the field with tarp on. I just don't think Green Bay's defense is healthy enough but I don't see the 9ers offense is one that scares me to death. This may be the lowest scoring game of weekend. San Fran 20 Packers 17 .
If this comes to past that will send San Diego to Denver and Colts to the Pats next weekend. Philly will come to Carolina Andy SF would go to the rainy Northwest to Seattle.
Kansas City at Indianapolis: There was a point in the season that KC's defense was by far the best in the NFL but injuries started to mount and all five losses have happen since the injury bug. They played just two weeks ago in KC and it was all Colts. I am still not sold on Indy but I do think they win this one. Colts 23 Chiefs 17.
San Diego at Cincinnati: If you didn't catch the hint from yesterday I think the winner of this game makes it to the Super Bowl. They played five weeks ago in SD and the Chargers have three turnovers inside the Bengals 30 yard line and Cincy won 17-10. No telling what kind of weather there might be. Yes I'm picking SD, the Chargers defense has has all 11 starters the last four weeks and they were all wins. Philip Rivers is 8-2 all time with the temp under 40 degrees. And one of those losses was in New England when he played with no knee ligaments. Should Cincy win I still think the winner of this game plays in a Super Bowl. Chargers 26 Bengals 21.
New Orleans at Philadelphia: This New Orleans team has not been very good on the road. Here again no telling what kind of weather they will face. Remember New Orleans plays inside and I quite frankly am disappointed with the way NO finished the season. I would not be shocked if Philly makes it to the Super Bowl. Eagles 27 Saints 17.
San Francisco at the Frozen Tundra: Will not have to worry about field being frozen before game starts as Green Bay learned from the 1967 heating of the field with tarp on. I just don't think Green Bay's defense is healthy enough but I don't see the 9ers offense is one that scares me to death. This may be the lowest scoring game of weekend. San Fran 20 Packers 17 .
If this comes to past that will send San Diego to Denver and Colts to the Pats next weekend. Philly will come to Carolina Andy SF would go to the rainy Northwest to Seattle.
Friday, January 3, 2014
Just Who Is NFL Super Bowl Favorite
The NFL has this quirky schedule deal where all of last years division winners play each other the next year. Last place teams play last place teams and when it is all over the top six from the NFC and AFC start the run for the Super Bowl. Just how did this years playoff teams do only against the other playoff teams. The results are going to surprise you.
San Diego was 5-2 against the other 11 playoff teams. Seems they played to the level of their competition but have wins over Denver, KC twice,Indy, Philly.
Cincinnati only played four games against playoff teams but they won all four beating San Diego, Indy, New England and Green Bay.
Denver was 4-3 beating San Diego, KC twice and the Eagles.
Seattle goes 3-2 beating Carolina and San Fran the first two weeks then took down New Orleans
Carolina is 3-2 against the other play off teams beating New Orleans, New England and San Fran.
Indianapolis took down Denver, KC and San Fran while losing twice going 2-2.
Even New England played only four playoff teams and they were only 2-2.
Looking at the other end Green Bay is glad to have Aaron Rogers back but during the season only played three other play off teams and lost all three.
Kansas City started out winning their first nine games and by the years end lost five of six played against other playoff teams.
Philadelphia the team with the offense of the NFL future was only 1-3 against the NFL's best.
San Francisco was just 1-4 while New Orleans was 2-3.
What does all this mean? What it tells us is Peyton Manning's career year with all those touchdowns didn't happen against the other playoff teams. Tom Brady is only average against other teams still playing. There has been a trend lately in the NFL playoffs that the teams with a bye wind up winning the Super Bowl. If that trend continues everyone may need to pay attention to the winner of the San Diego at Cincinnati game because they are the best among the twelve left against each other.
San Diego was 5-2 against the other 11 playoff teams. Seems they played to the level of their competition but have wins over Denver, KC twice,Indy, Philly.
Cincinnati only played four games against playoff teams but they won all four beating San Diego, Indy, New England and Green Bay.
Denver was 4-3 beating San Diego, KC twice and the Eagles.
Seattle goes 3-2 beating Carolina and San Fran the first two weeks then took down New Orleans
Carolina is 3-2 against the other play off teams beating New Orleans, New England and San Fran.
Indianapolis took down Denver, KC and San Fran while losing twice going 2-2.
Even New England played only four playoff teams and they were only 2-2.
Looking at the other end Green Bay is glad to have Aaron Rogers back but during the season only played three other play off teams and lost all three.
Kansas City started out winning their first nine games and by the years end lost five of six played against other playoff teams.
Philadelphia the team with the offense of the NFL future was only 1-3 against the NFL's best.
San Francisco was just 1-4 while New Orleans was 2-3.
What does all this mean? What it tells us is Peyton Manning's career year with all those touchdowns didn't happen against the other playoff teams. Tom Brady is only average against other teams still playing. There has been a trend lately in the NFL playoffs that the teams with a bye wind up winning the Super Bowl. If that trend continues everyone may need to pay attention to the winner of the San Diego at Cincinnati game because they are the best among the twelve left against each other.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
I Was Pulling Hard
I don't know which team you pull for but I find it hard to believe unless you were a Texas A&M fan that you weren't pulling for Duke Tuesday night in Atlanta. An underdog from the odds maker in Vegas right on down to the one sided coverage on ESPN. Did anyone besides me notice that leading out of every timeout ESPN showed a picture of Johnny Manziel. I got to the point I thought he was the only player on the field for A&M.
Having seen Duke football way back during the days of the lonesome end right through the dry spell of the past 40 years David Cutcliffe has transformed a program at Duke that all Blue Devil fans can be proud. Even as good as this year has been they still are not yet ready for the prime time. You could see speed is lacking on both sides of the ball.
What you get from the Devils is all out give me everything you got on this play mentality. They tried every trick in the book and in the first half every trick worked. Just think in the second half all the third down plays they made. What they didn't have was enough speed on defense to stay with A&M.
I think Manziel is a very exciting player and for college and he had better come back to college next year. If he turns pro he will be a flash in the pan. He will have his moments and everyone will rave at how good he is and then spend time on the injured list. To me he is a Tebo or Vince Young.
You know the pick six that won the game for A&M had nothing to do with Manziel. Then there were two missed interference calls that helped lead to the second pick. Duke needed that touchdown just before the half instead of the field goal on the last play. Despite defeat Duke put on a show with the effort they gave because I thought they would lose by 30. It was a heck of a game.
This was a dream season for the Devils but you know they didn't play any great team during the season. They beat Virginia Tech but as the rest of the year unfolded Tech was awful on offense. They didn't play FSU during regular season and missed out playing Clemson. Everything this year fell the Devils way. There is no doubt it was fun watching them play but next year no longer will everyone they play think in the summer Duke will be a win. They will now get respect from others when their schedule has Duke this week. They have never had that before in this generation and Duke will have to adjust that they no longer will be looked at as an underdog.
Having seen Duke football way back during the days of the lonesome end right through the dry spell of the past 40 years David Cutcliffe has transformed a program at Duke that all Blue Devil fans can be proud. Even as good as this year has been they still are not yet ready for the prime time. You could see speed is lacking on both sides of the ball.
What you get from the Devils is all out give me everything you got on this play mentality. They tried every trick in the book and in the first half every trick worked. Just think in the second half all the third down plays they made. What they didn't have was enough speed on defense to stay with A&M.
I think Manziel is a very exciting player and for college and he had better come back to college next year. If he turns pro he will be a flash in the pan. He will have his moments and everyone will rave at how good he is and then spend time on the injured list. To me he is a Tebo or Vince Young.
You know the pick six that won the game for A&M had nothing to do with Manziel. Then there were two missed interference calls that helped lead to the second pick. Duke needed that touchdown just before the half instead of the field goal on the last play. Despite defeat Duke put on a show with the effort they gave because I thought they would lose by 30. It was a heck of a game.
This was a dream season for the Devils but you know they didn't play any great team during the season. They beat Virginia Tech but as the rest of the year unfolded Tech was awful on offense. They didn't play FSU during regular season and missed out playing Clemson. Everything this year fell the Devils way. There is no doubt it was fun watching them play but next year no longer will everyone they play think in the summer Duke will be a win. They will now get respect from others when their schedule has Duke this week. They have never had that before in this generation and Duke will have to adjust that they no longer will be looked at as an underdog.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
2013 Year In Review
2013 started off when word was received that Tarboro's Kelvin Bryant has been elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. The late 1970's Bryant lead the Vikings on the football field. The early 80's he gave many Tar Heel fans pleasure in Kenan and his greatest pro days were with the Redskins in Washington. Still today an avid Viking supporter.
Late January brought news that Chuck Hinton the former major leaguer died. His playing days best were also in Washington for the Senators.
February saw the Northern Nash girls win 21 straight games to start the season and lost for the first time the last game of the regular season to Rocky Mount. By the end of the playoffs Northern would meet twice more with Rocky Mount the last being in the sectional semi finals.
March brought Rocky Mount boys to the eastern finals in basketball where they had been three of last four years, lost to Webb 68-64.
Rocky Mount Prep having their greatest year ever made it to the state finals in 1A in Historic Reynolds Coliseum where they will finish second losing 52-41.
J'Kyra Brown Rocky Mount's senior was named the North Carolina High School 3-A basketball player of the year.
Louisville won the NCAA National Championship in college basketball and one of their top reserves was Montrezl Harrell from North Edgecombe.
May saw Rocky Mount junior Jaquell Bryant become state champion in track and Field as he won the state high jump championship.
Rocky Mount Academy made it all the way to the state 2-A Independant baseball finals losing 2 games to none.
June saw North Carolina and NC State make it to the College World Series with two Rocky Mount Gryphons players playing giant roles in getting North Carolina there Benton Moss and Hobbs Johnson. NC State is coached by former Northern Nash player Elliot Avent and Carolina lead by Mike Fox who coached many years by NC Wesleyan.
Mid week of the college World Series saw Hobbs Johnson pitch the game of his life going eight and one third innings of shutout ball to knock out NC State from the World Series. Within two weeks signs a pro contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The city of Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation won another Tar Heel Little League baseball state title when the National league 11/12 year olds won the title in Williamston.
The Nash County Babe Ruth 13U team won the Eastern State title and lost only one game the entire playoff run which was a semi final lost in the Southeastern Regional.
Rocky Mount and Benvenue Country Club hosted the most important golf tournament since the ACC championship use to be played in Rocky Mount when they hosted sectional qualifying tournament for the U S Amateur Championship in late July.
They missed out in baseball but Rocky Mount Academy won the state title in eight man football in November. The first state title for RMA in any sport.
Rocky Mount High's Michael Gainey won the NCAE male coach of the year.
What a year was 2013. Can't wait to see what happens this year.
Late January brought news that Chuck Hinton the former major leaguer died. His playing days best were also in Washington for the Senators.
February saw the Northern Nash girls win 21 straight games to start the season and lost for the first time the last game of the regular season to Rocky Mount. By the end of the playoffs Northern would meet twice more with Rocky Mount the last being in the sectional semi finals.
March brought Rocky Mount boys to the eastern finals in basketball where they had been three of last four years, lost to Webb 68-64.
Rocky Mount Prep having their greatest year ever made it to the state finals in 1A in Historic Reynolds Coliseum where they will finish second losing 52-41.
J'Kyra Brown Rocky Mount's senior was named the North Carolina High School 3-A basketball player of the year.
Louisville won the NCAA National Championship in college basketball and one of their top reserves was Montrezl Harrell from North Edgecombe.
May saw Rocky Mount junior Jaquell Bryant become state champion in track and Field as he won the state high jump championship.
Rocky Mount Academy made it all the way to the state 2-A Independant baseball finals losing 2 games to none.
June saw North Carolina and NC State make it to the College World Series with two Rocky Mount Gryphons players playing giant roles in getting North Carolina there Benton Moss and Hobbs Johnson. NC State is coached by former Northern Nash player Elliot Avent and Carolina lead by Mike Fox who coached many years by NC Wesleyan.
Mid week of the college World Series saw Hobbs Johnson pitch the game of his life going eight and one third innings of shutout ball to knock out NC State from the World Series. Within two weeks signs a pro contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The city of Rocky Mount Parks and Recreation won another Tar Heel Little League baseball state title when the National league 11/12 year olds won the title in Williamston.
The Nash County Babe Ruth 13U team won the Eastern State title and lost only one game the entire playoff run which was a semi final lost in the Southeastern Regional.
Rocky Mount and Benvenue Country Club hosted the most important golf tournament since the ACC championship use to be played in Rocky Mount when they hosted sectional qualifying tournament for the U S Amateur Championship in late July.
They missed out in baseball but Rocky Mount Academy won the state title in eight man football in November. The first state title for RMA in any sport.
Rocky Mount High's Michael Gainey won the NCAE male coach of the year.
What a year was 2013. Can't wait to see what happens this year.
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