Monday, October 27, 2014

Tragedy Strikes The Gryphon Nation

Monday was the first day for winter sports practice for all schools throughout North Carolina.  It was an extremely hard day for everyone at RMHS as they learned the news that Tiara Hinton had died in a Sunday car wreck.  Tiara wore #31 on the basketball team also a volleyball player and member of the track team an as a senior had already taken her senior graduation pictures.

Life is full of death in our life times and it seems the younger they are the harder it is to accept.  Those of us that watch our young people perform in sports find it harder than those in the class room because we don't get to watch them perform in the classroom like we do in sports.  Those injured will not only have to heal their physical pain but will have to heal the emotional pain that comes from death from someone you knew and loved.  Everyone that knew Tiara and those of us who only saw her play pray for healing for everyone involved with her life.  Her family and friends and classmates once they get over the shock will need healing time to go forth in life with out Tiara.

Monday in Fayetteville Terry Sanford high beat the Rocky Mount girls tennis team 6-0 to end the Lady Gryphons tennis season at 18-2. 

There is a four way tie for first in Big East football between Fike, Hunt,Southern Nash and Rocky Mount.  Northern is just a step back and both of their upcoming games are against teams ahead of them. Northern is right square in the middle of the hunt for the top seed in the conference.   Nash Central has been eliminated as far as finishing first but until they incur one more loss are still right in the middle  of the playoff hunt.  They still could be 2-3 and that hasn't eliminated them as of yet because every team in front of them only has two wins or less.

Fike still has Northern Nash and Hunt on their schedule.  Neither of those two games are gimme's. Hunt still has Nash Central and Fike.  They should win the NC game and a toss up with Fike.  Southern still has Rocky Mount and Nash Central.  More than likely a toss up with RM and a win against NC.  Rocky Mount still has Southern and Northern so nothing is guaranteed in either.  Northern still has Fike and Rocky Mount both tough games but look if they win both where they will be.

This is of course not unusual for the Big East.  The only thing hurt by the Big East is seedings and having to travel during the playoffs.  If one team had an outstanding record they would possible be the best team in the East.  Much like the Southeastern Conference in college football trying to get a team in the top four to make the college football playoff.  They keep beating up each other when in most years they are the best in college football, the Big East keeps sending somebody to the Eastern Finals every year regardless of how many road games they play to get to the fourth round. 

The state soccer playoffs begin Wednesday and four teams from the Big East are in the Big Show.
Hunt seeded 5th and 17-3 host Northern Vance 9-9 and seeded 12th.  Fike 11th seed and 16-4 host Rockingham Co 9-7 seeded 22nd.  Northern Nash is on the road 11-8 seeded 19th travels to 14th seed Cleveland 9-10.  Rocky Mount 10-11 seeded 27th heads toward Chapel Hill 6th seed 17-4.

Rocky Mount Academy 9-0 starts after their second straight State title Friday when they will host Lawrence Academy 2-7 a team they beat earlier in the year 64-8.  Only the top eight teams made the playoffs so RMA is  the top seed Lawrence is seeded 8th.  Arendell Parrott 8-1 seeded second takes on Cary Christian 7th seed and 3-6.  Southampton 7-2 third seed meets 6th seeded Hobgood Acadmey 4-5.  The final game Friday has St David's 6-3 4th seed hosting 5th seed Halifax Academy 5-4.

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