Look Back At 2014

Here is a review of what we covered  during the 2014 year.  Hard to believe that it is a new year all ready.

                                             January

Rocky Mount Little League joins the Williamsport Little League Association leaving the Tar Heel Association making way for any state champion from Rocky Mount to go to further playoffs and possible little league world series in Willamsport Pa.

Northern Nash all Everything Alexus Hill wins the WRAL Extra Effort Award.

                                             Febuary

Nash Central's Damien Silver  wins the State Indoor 55 meter hurdles.

Rocky Mount wrestling team wins the East regionals
 sending six wrestlers to the state tournament.  Rocky Mount's Wilson Smith 120 pounds and Joesph Cooper 152 won regionals titles for the Gryphons.  Southern Nash's Jordan Lacosse won the regional 125 weight title.

Due to such a bad winter the final week of the high school basketball season the NCHSAA lifted the band on playing games on Sunday in order to try to catch up with all the games missed in the 2013/2014.  
                                             March

The Lady Knights of Northern Nash make it to the basketball regional in Fayetteville  and finish the season with a 26-2 record.
                                               
March saw retired athletic trainer at Nash Central die.  Mike Caffey  was famous for giving me rides on his golf cart either going to the press box for football or baseball at Nash Central.  Nash Central surely believes in Cardio vascular health as they have the longest walk of any school in North Carolina to the press box.

Gryphon Brian Goodwin is promoted to AAA Syracuse where he will play until a sholder injury put him down in July.

                                               April

Nash Central's Ni'ya Styles, Northern's Alexus Hill and Rocky Mount's Dante Battle make the NCPreps.com all state basketball team.

Rocky Mount's Mike Gainey wins the Tobey Webb Award as the outstanding coach of high school students in NC.

                                                 May

Herb Greenberg founder of WHIG-TV dies.  I think I have done close to 500 shows either sports, Relay for Life or Nascar shows for Herb.  My fondness Memory is Herb was always a call you at the last minute kind of guy.  1999 right after WHIG got back on the air after Hurricane Floyd Herb  called me on that first Saturday night about 6pm and asked if I would come and just read all the important information like the status of drinking water.  He said most people don't have electricity and nobody will probably be watching but we can be a public service.

 We went on the air at 7pm with him on the control board and me talking and the phone never stopped ringing finally at 2am Herb says to me.  I'm tired let's go home.  That night was the first time Herb found out how important his little community TV station was to Rocky Mount.

Lander University finished 5th in the Division II World Series.  Lander had former Gryphon Thomas Berry as the DH and he lead DII in walks and third base coach Britt "baseball Johnson" another Gryphon.

Damien Silver won twice in the state track and field championships.  Winning 110 hurdles and the 300 hurdles.  That along with his indoor victory in the 55 meter hurdles gives him three state championships.  If their was such an award he would be the From the Press Box player of the year.

Rocky Mount's Jaquel Bryant won his second straight Regional high jump and failed to repeat as  the state championship finishing fourth in the state high jump.


We finish up with the review with the saddest news for me of all as Richard Murray Former Ahoskie High and Hertford County Athletic Director died of cancer.  He was the one coach and teacher in my life that I can truly say made a difference in my life.

The second half tomorrow....

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Playoff Time College And Pro

The greatest two weekends of the NFL season are the next two when they have double headers on both Saturday and Sundays.  Joining the fray this year is the semi finals of the College playoffs on New Years day.

Thursday College Semi Finals:

Florida State and Oregon play in the Rose Bowl.  FSU trying to repeat as the National Champion seems to have nothing going for them except they keep winning ugly.  Oregon has ripped through the Pac Ten and would seem to have the scoring punch to take the Noles down.  The Seminoles get the job done taking down Oregon 38-35.

Alabama and Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.  Quite frankly am surprised Alabama made it undefeated this year.  Ohio State romped in the Big Ten Title game with their third string quarter back.  Despite losing to Virginia Tech the second week of the season Ohio State is primed to knock off Bama.  The SEC Nation will be in shock Ohio State 33- Bama 24

Arizona @ Carolina:  Cardinals can't score.  Panthers have not let too many points get by them in December will be hard for the punch less Cardinals to win this one. The Panthers will get to 500 with a win.   Cam and Company 17-9

Detroit @ Dallas:  If Detroit can keep from stomping on Tony Romo they have a real shot in winning this game.  This is the best Dallas team in  four lustrums.  This game might go down to the final play and I 'll take Big D as I see too much thug toughness coming from Detroit lately which means in
tough situations they will have a penalty to lose the game.  27-23 Dallas.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh:  Get out the band-aids, arm slings and anything else needed by a medical staff.  This will be the slammer game of the weekend.  Despite tough this will be a high scoring game.  Pittsburgh will survive a vicious game 30-20.

Cincinnati @ Indianapolis:  Cincy is the Dallas Cowboys of the AFC.  Everybody expects them to do something stupid at the wrong time.  I thing they have a really good draw here as Indy has won only one game all year against a team with a winning record.  Bengals 38-Indy 34.

Hold On To Your Drawers Curious One

Give me a break please.  I'm not running a daily newspaper here but a blog  with only a few words per blog.  We have so many athletes playing so many sports that one blog can not cover all of them in one day.  My plan was to do the girls on Monday following the guys from Sunday but the Panthers winning the NFC South preempted  to today.  So here you go what our ladies from our local high schools are doing in college.

J'Kyra Brown : Rocky Mount and University  of Virginia... Sitting out after transferring from ECU.  Won best offensive player award as a freshman at ECU.

Alexus Cooper: Rocky Mount and Eastern Kentucky...Junior averaging 3.1 points per game.  Has started four of ten games.

Alexus Hill:  Northern Nash and Gardner Webb...freshman back up point guard averaging 15 minutes per game playing time and 5.8 points.

Carmen Richardson Rocky Mount and Queens College....playing 15.8 minutes and scoring 5.3 points per game.

Ni'ya  Styles: Nash Central and Mount Olive University.... Freshman started seven of ten games averaging 27.8 minutes per game and 11.7 points per game.

TyAis Cooper:  Rocky Mount and Catawba Valley Community College... Basketball On roster but has not played this year.

Camille Branch:  Northern Nash and Winston Salem State....sophomore volleyball.  Had seven kills this past fall.

Randi Price: Nash Central and Barton Tennis....was 10-6 in singles matches and between three doubles partners went 13-5 as a sophomore.

Dana Kelly: Rocky Mount and Barton tennis sophomore had 1-1 record playing in the number six position   And in doubles 3-2 when partnering with Randi Price.

Abby Glover: Northern Nash and Barton golf....  Sophomore had a scoring average of 95.25 this fall.

Lindsey Sharp: Nash Central and Barton softball.  Batted 33 times last spring for a 242 batting average.

Evie Hunter: Rocky Mount and NC Wesleyan... Sophomore volleyball had 150 points as outside hitter for the Lady battling Bishops.

Kasey Cooke :  Rocky Mount and Western Carolina....  On roster but did not play this fall.  Her freshman year 2013 played in 20 games and scored twice to be  only freshman player to score a goal.

Casey Strickland: Southern Nash and Barton Tennis.  On roster but did not play this fall.

Meredith Bissette:  Leesville Road Raleigh and University of South Florida Freshman softball player has many family members in Rocky Mount area.

We have so many athletes playing all over and in all kind of sports.  If you know of one that I have missed let me know.

Look At Those Panthers

There was a point in this NFL football season that the Carolina Panthers had a stretch where they were 1-8-1.  That part of the season made you forget that they won their first two games of the season.  The Panthers go undefeated in the month of December to finish 7-8-1 and by virtue of playing in the worst division  in football win the NFC South.

The amazing December run the Panther defense took control allowing only 40 points in December.  Two of those four games were on the road in New Orleans and Atlanta the two teams that were suppose to be the king pins of the NFC South.  Carolina beat New Orleans 41-10 and last night with win and you are in for the winner the Panthers destroy Atlanta 34-3.

Yes the NFC South is the worse division in football and the Panthers have a losing record.  In fact there are 11 teams in the AFC with at least 8-8 record and the NFC have six so the Panthers have the 18th best record in football.  Yet, they will host the Arizona Cardinals next Weekend.

The Seattle Seahawks  earn home field in the NFC while the Packers get the week off  as the second seed.  Carolina as the fourth seed will host Arizona while Dallas will host Detroit.  The AFC New England  gets home field while Denver get the week off as the two seed.  The Steelers will host Baltimore and Cincinnati will travel to Indianapolis.

The Arizona Cardinals who are down to their third quarterback has and outstanding defense but what has developed is the defense can't hold NFL  teams to no points.  The Cardinals have scored only 36 points their last six games and yet their defense has them in the playoffs.

Who can believe this the Panthers will be the favorite next week and if they lose to Zona it will be an upset.   NFL history tells us the hot team in the end will win and right now Seattle is the only other team in the NFL with four wins in a row.

Twin County's College Basketball Players

There are so many players from this area playing at some level of college basketball.  Here is the list that I have been able to find and how they are doing at their schools.

Montrezl Harrell: Louisville and North Edgecombe.  Has started every game that he has been eligible to play in.  Louisville is 11-1 losing for the first time yesterday to Kentucky.   Montrezl is averaging 16.7 points per game  and 10 rebounds for  a national power.

TaShawn Mabry:  Rocky Mount and Tarleton State:  Tarleton is 10-0 in division 2 basketball.  Mabry averaging 10.6 points per game.

Dante Battle: Rocky Mount and Wallace State Community College Hanceville Al junior college . Team is 8-7 Dante averaging 10.8points and 8.4 rebounds.

Immanuel King Rocky Mount and Wallace State Community College Hanceville Al Junior College.  Immanuel has started over half the games joining Dante in Alabama.  Averaging about 4 points per game.

Exzavier Cooper:  Rocky Mount and Harford Jr College Bel Air Md.  Harford is 5-10 in the Maryland Juco league.  The former Gryphon  is averaging 12.7 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

Tabias Hilliard:  Rocky Mount and Methodest College 2-5:  The junior is starting for his third year in Fayetteville averaging 10.3 points per game and is shooting 44% three pointers and 3.4 assist per game.

Terrill Hilliard:  Rocky Mount and Wingate College.  May remember Terrill played his senior season at RM with stress fracture of his leg.  Sat out freshman year at Wingate to heal and as a Redshirt sophomore is averaging about 20 minutes per game and scoring 5.5 per contest.

Follow up on Jalen Hendricks.  You might remember that in late October I made mention that Jalen the former Big East football player of the year from Nash Central lead D2 football in all purpose yards playing for Livingston College.  Jalen finished third in the nation averaging 210 plus yards per game.  At the time he was averaging about 209 plus yards per game but two others past him as the year went on.

While I was looking up Jalen's Stats and since this is now a pass happy world of college and pro football I checked to see where former Gryphon Terrell Hudgins Elon  stands in the NCAA record books now five years after he caught his last college pass.  Terrell stands as the all time leader in D2 pass catches 395.  All time average catches per game 8.55 in 45 college games.  All time leader in total receiving yardage 5,250.  The only stat he no longer is the leader in is average yards receiving per game.  He is now second at 116.7 per game.  The leader is 118.

No Surprise Here

The University of Georgia announced Friday that Tarboro's Todd Gurley will enter the NFL draft this coming spring.  Gurley a two time state champion at Tarboro High is projected as the second best running back in the upcoming draft despite finishing the season with a torn ACL knee injury. 

Gurley ran for over 3200 yards for Georgia and score 36 touchdowns in less than 30 games played for  the Bulldogs.  If you remember he missed several games as a sophomore when he sprained his ankle being tackled out of bounds and this year was suspended for taking 3,000 dollars for signed Georgia football gear and then the knee injury.  He should  be a first round pick if his knee responds to treatment which Georgia announced yesterday as going well.


The University of North Carolina played like a team 6-6 in their bowl game in Detroit on Friday.  Rutgers at 7-5 looked as if they wanted to be there and the North Carolina looked like they wished to be some where else.

They found themselves down 40-7 in the fourth quarter but recover two consecutive on side kicks that help make the score more respectable.  40-21.  Carolina finishes with a 6-7 record.  It was reported on ESPN that the ticket sales of 23,000 was the lowest since Detroit has hosted a bowl game since 1997.  There official attendance was 13,000 actually at the game.  I would assume the 23,000 was what the teams had to buy and didn't sell.

On the other side of the spectrum N C State was the underdog to UCF  and was glad to be in a bowl game after a 3-9 record last season.  The Pack tried a couple of trick plays during the game and played inspired when Carolina just played. 

From the second quarter on State dominated UCF until the final five minutes and the Pack wins their eight game of the season 34-27 over UCF

Jacoby Brissette was named games MVP passing for 255 yards but the Pack running game helped the Pack Pull away to a 34-13 lead in the fourth quarter.

Haven't heard the attendance figures yet for this game but there was surely more folks at this one with UCF campus only 110 miles away but still no where close to a sellout.

Duke gets into the bowl action today in the Sun Bowl in El Paso.  Game time is 2pm.

Final Regular Season Guesses

Had a decent week going 11-5 running my total for the year to 157-85-1.  Down to the hardest week of the year to pick since you don't know what team might pull a Kansas City last year and rest their starters since they are already in playoffs.  After the way the Broncos started out Monday nights game you sure could tell the game meant more to Cincinnati than it did to Denver.  So only two spots left and San Diego, Baltimore. Houston and Kansas city are after one spot in AFC.  Carolina and Atlanta play a winner take all in if you win game.  All others are just completing the season.

Browns @ Ravens:  Browns sure did mess up any playoff chances changing quarterbacks right in the middle of the scrum for the playoff spots.  Ravens need this and hope Chargers lose.   Raven 26 Browns 20

Cowboys @ Skins:  This would be perfect week to rest Both Romo  and Murray.  How in the world can Jerry Jones jump on the Romo for MVP bandwagon when DeMarco Murray is MVP of Cowboys.  I bet both play Sunday and they win.  33 -27 Boys

Colts@ Titans:  Colts can't beat anybody good but they wear out the losers.  Colts 38 Titans 26

Saints @ Bucs:  Saints defense is awful.  Buc play everybody close and every now and  then they win.  This is one of those weeks   Tampa 26 Saints 21

Eagles @ Giants:  Eagles have found other teams figure out schemes if they have time to look at film.  I think Eagles flat in this one.  Eli wins the last one 27-24

Bills @ Patroits:  If I had to choose between two teams and how they play in this last game I pick Pats to pour it on to get playoff ready.  Bills down in dumps after getting eliminated from Playoffs.  New England 26 Bills 22.

Jacksonville @ Texans:  Still alive Texans win 26-10.

Chargers @ Chiefs:  Only game in AFC that both teams still alive.  Chargers play better when desperate.  Can't get much more desperate win and in over lose and out.  Chiefs have to win and wait for the dominoes to fall their way.  Chargers win on last play 27-26.

Jets @ Dolphins:  Is this the swan song for Rex Ryan?  I bet Jets play their butts off in this one.  Jets 23 Miami 17.

Bears @ Vikings:  I like Vikes at Home 31-23

Raiders @ Broncos:  Look Denver needs this one to guarantee off week.  Raiders are no pushover now that they have a quarterback.  Mile high wins in a close game Denver 27- 21.

Cardinals @ 49's:  Might be Harbaugh's last game in Frisco before he moves across the bay.  9er's need to make up for flop in second half last week.  SF 23 Arizona 10

Lions @ Packers:   Win the division or play next week.  This might be best game of weekend.  Playing outside in the Tundra  Packers 33 Lions 24

Rams @ Seahawks:  Rams don't have a chance in this one.  Hawks   22-Rams 6

Panthers @ Falcons:   I have no idea how to pick this game.  A couple of losers playing for a chance to get smoked next week.  I have thought at times the Panthers were gelling  then they intercept a ball and run 50 yards and fumble it right back.  I like Atlanta at home.  26-23 Birds

The final game of the regular season of NFL football has Bengals@ Steelers:  I'm hoping Steelers win so San Diego can go back to Cincinnati in the first playoff game not Pittsburgh.  Pitt 38 Cincy 30

A Merry Christmas to All

The Old testament in the Bible fore tells of the coming of Jesus.  That first night of Jesus' birth we celebrated the first gift giving when the wise Men came bearing gifts.  What so many of those that believed  that Jesus was the king thought in political terms.  They thought he was going to take over the government.

So many that were able to be near Jesus during his 33 years on life saw him heal flesh, and listen to what he had to say and believe in his words  but still thought he was going to rule the world in a government sense.   Jesus does rule the world but not like those back then thought. Jesus will one day rule the world but those that either don't believe or don't care to believe will find out too late.

We live in a world of conflict.  Our government does all that it can to tell you to not say Jesus in public, pray to Jesus  or to speak of Jesus on government property yet December 25th is a National Holiday and his birth is celebrated in almost every country.

If is very simple to find the way to Jesus.  Ask him for forgiveness of your sins.  It doesn't matter how bad you sins are of the past if you truly ask him he will forgive because he knows whether it is from your heart or not.  What better present can any of us give Jesus than give your heart to him.

MERRY CHRISTMAS


TONY, PAT and MORGAN.

Christmas Report Card

We have made it to the Christmas break for high school basketball and looking on the boys side of the ledger this is about as close as all four have been in a long time.  In fact since Nash Central joined the fray more than a decade ago probably the closes they have ever been.

Rocky Mount once again has speed to burn but the first time in a decade they don't have a dominant big man in the middle.  Ball handling is best I've seen in my covering Gryphon basketball for more than ten years.  Those years has seen what is it five trips to the regionals.  Any team that relies on outside shooting will have to depend on Defense being the stopper when the outside shots don't fall.

Southern Nash is surely the best team that I have seen them have in my 13 years watching basketball in this area.  They too don't have a big man in the middle but are loaded with shooters and speed.  Last years good run at the end of the season will help this team this year just to get the feel of what it is like playing at the top of the division instead of towards the bottom.

Northern Nash is a carbon copy of both SN and RM.  Unlike Southern who put it all together towards the end last year Northern has to find that feeling of what it is like winning.  Don't care who you are if you are winning every game you hold your head up high when you walk on the court but when you were in a dry spell it's harder to hold your head high not knowing if you can win.  Tough early season schedule will pay off for Northern during conference play.

Nash Central lost twice last week during the Christmas Tournament but they too look like every one else.  Maybe what is lacking is they don't have the ball handlers like the other three county schools.  Their inside game is just as good as anybody else but will have to deal with getting inside to their strength.

There is no doubt that the beast of the Big East  is the Northern Nash girls.  They are very good almost ten players deep.  C C Harrison one of the bigs inside is out for the year with a knee injury and there is the only weakness this team has.  No back up with size for Kiana Thomas  at center.  They rely on pressure defense and there is plenty of quality handling the ball and pressure on defense.  They could go undefeated during regular season if the chips fall right.

Rocky Mount has only one place to concentrate on for the rest of this year.  Ball handling.  Have two quality  inside people but passing and dribbling skills limited by the people that need to get ball up court.  Rocky Mount can hold their own once the ball reaches three point line.  Outside shooting needs to improve to take pressure off their inside game.

Nash Central considering they lost a great scorer and ball handler last year have been better than expected in both areas of scoring and passing.  The Lady Dogs could contend for that second spot in the conference behind NN.  Conference time for all of Fike, Hunt, Rocky Mount and Nash Central is six conference games.  The winner from that group in the round robin will probably get second.

Southern Nash is by far and away the cellar dweller in the Big East.  One quality player.  This team has had a hard time scoring which does not lead to winning many games.

Once conference cranks up the boys should be a wide open affair in the Big East while in the Girls is there anybody ready to take on Northern.

Next Week's Bowl Blitz

There are now so many Bowl games that we are going to pretend that if you play in one before Christmas we are going to act like you don't exist.  It is easy   to feel that way when all the teams we care about play after the 25th.  So let's see if we can make it through the hundred that are left to pick.

Zaxby's Heart Of Dallas Bowl:  Thanks for telling me where this one is played cause I wouldn't know otherwise. Illinois  is a 17 point favorite over  Ship Holtz's team Louisiana Tech.  If that is so I'll take Illinois.  That would be major upset if Techsters win .  Ill 38 Tech 24

Quick Land Bowl:  Feel like I'm getting oil change.  North Carolina and Rutgers in Detroit.  Feel like Carolina may Kick up their Heels in this one but it will be close.  Carolina 26 Rutgers 24

Bitcoin St Petersburg Bowl  Tough draw for Pack playing team that beat ECU in Greenville. Sometimes you have to pick with your heart when your mind says different.  Almost a home game for USF.  Pack 31 UCF 28

Military Bowl:  Cincinnati and Virginia Tech.  Most unreliable team in college football Virginia Tech playing in Annapolis.  Can't trust Hokies  Cincinnati 24 Tech 20

Hyundai Sun Bowl:  Duke and Arizona State.  I think the Blue Devils are  over matched in this one.  ASU38 Duke 28

Duck Commander Independence Bowl:  I see every body that attends this game will have long unshaven beards.  This is really good matchup of team that didn't come close to expectations  Miami in squeaker over Steve Spurrier and South Carolina. 30-28

New Era Pinstripe Bowl:  BC and Penn State.  Yankee Stadium is half way for both schools and B C ground game wins it.  28 24

Russell Athletic Bowl:  Oklahoma and Clemson.  I think qb for Clemson is healthy and when he played Clemson was top ten team.  Clemson 38 Oklahoma 31

Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl:  Notre Dame and LSU.  LSU all the way in this one.    LSU 27- ND 10

Belk Bowl:  Georgia and Louisville.  If Todd Gurley had of been healthy might have wanted to see this one but he's not  so I'm staying home.  Georgia wins 41-35

Capital One Bowl:  Mississippi State and Georgia Tech.  Another good game I like Tech with the wishbone.   23-16

Lockheed Martin  Armed Forces Bowl;  Not related to Military Bowl.  Houston and Pittsburgh.  Panthers will sneak this one out.    Pitt 27- Houston 25

Birmingham Bowl:  ECU and Florida. Don't know if new Florida coach will be on the sidelines or not but if you play for  Florida and are not graduating then you are applying  for a place to play next year.  Florida 44 ECU 34.

Do the Big Ones next week.

There Is Good News At Carolina

The University of North Carolina has had what you might say is a very trying three years or more from all the allegations involving students and athletes going or not going to a bogus class and getting credit for never attending.

I hope you have heard about this because there is always the other side of the story.  All we have heard lately is where players were going to sue Carolina because they didn't give the  proper training to go to the outside world.  We all know that in every case it is what you put in it that makes the end result.  Here is one circumstance that every one who is Carolina proud can be proud.

Marvin Williams a McDonald's All American right out of high school chose  Carolina over many other major schools when he left his home state of Washington.  His freshman year  for the Tar Heels he was the sixth man and scored at an 11.5 clip for the Heels on their way to the National Championship.  The Tar Heels beat Illinois 75-70.  Marvin became one of the many players that have now become known as the one and done players.  Play college until you reach the NBA age limit and head to the pot of goal at the end of the NBA draft.

Williams was selected 2nd  by the Atlanta Hawks.  Keeping a promise to his parents and to Carolina coach Roy Williams that he would get his college degree Marvin has enrolled in every summer school session possible for the last ten years since his departure to the NBA.  Most years when his teams didn't make long runs in the playoffs he has gone to both sessions but the years when he played into June he was only able to make one session.

Between all the basketball and all the money made Marvin Williams who now plays for the Charlotte Hornets in the first year of a two year seven million dollars a year contract  walked the isle at Carolina during the recent winter graduation ceremony.  He becomes the first ever so called one and done player to stick with it and receive his college degree.

Six feet nine inches tall and a boatload of money there is really no reason that Williams needs his Carolina degree.  What good is any college degree for any person who goes to college.  The first thing it shows you endured.  Any person who can graduate in four or five years with their degree shows the world that they persevered.  Can you imagine what sticking with it for ten years shows about Marvin Williams.  When other players are broke and have no idea what they are going to do long after the bright lights have faded Marvin Williams will take his education and be a bright light in his community long after basketball is a memory.

Every phase of the world there are those looking for a free ride and if you give me a grade in a class that I don't have to do anything I'll take it.  What keeps America great is there are still people in this world that don't want a free ride.  Marvin Williams has earned every thing he wanted from Carolina .  He got  a chance to play basketball at Carolina and a college degree.  Everyone I don't care what school you pull for should stand up and cheer for Marvin.

It Is Amazing Watching Players Grow

I know every coach in the world is rated by how many championships they win but I do not know one coach that doesn't enjoy watching players who come to them still in diapers and by the time they leave school have matured into young men or women ready to go out in the world.  If he can add to that joy is watching them become basketball players.

The last two years following the 2012 Rocky Mount 3-A State Championship Rocky Mount had the talent to possibly make long runs and maybe just return for a 3rd possible title under the rein of Mike Gainey.  The Gryphons had the size coming back but needed somebody to handle the ball.  Be the director of the choir.  Three then sophomores were given the shot to lead the orchestra.  What Mike Gainey saw was turnover after turnover and late in games the ball could not find it's way inside to where the Gryphons were dominant.

Thomas Cooper, Kenaz Cooper and Jaequez Jones all got their shots at being the Gryphon general.  There were games in which it looked like one  finally  had hit the cross roads  and was going to win the job.  Then the very next game their ball handling looked like eighth graders.

It is not easy being the floor general for a team that wants to run a 100 miles and hour.  Junior years saw improvement but still nobody stepped up and said follow me.  It is now their senior years  and all three have said follow me.  Regardless of who is on the floor for the Gryphons their lead bouncer of the ball has been sharp handling the round ball. 

Kenaz Cooper who just won the MVP of the Nash County Tournament  has been the most consistent scorer but this year his want to shoot when the game is on the line or drive to the basket and give it to somebody else has helped paved the way for the shorter then normal Gryphons to start out 7-2.  Now it is insert name here Jaequez Jones his want to take the big time shot or drive to the basket or insert name here Thomas Cooper has the want to take the shot of the game or drive to the basket to dish to another scorer.

The Gryphons have been a pleasant surprise to all.  The rapid pace that Mike Gainey desires can be  horrible for a meek not quite sure point guard.  Today the Gryphons back court trio just might be leading the Gryphons to their best ever year handling the ball.  It is common for the Gryphons of the past to post 25-30 turnovers per night.  So far this season in the games I've watched they have not had a 20 Turnover  night and like the championship game the turnover have been ten or less five in the championship game.

Oh how a coach could only wish.  The past two seasons if the Gryphons had gotten the point guard skills they are receiving this year there just might have been a three time defending state champion.  Now the shoe is on the other foot.  Those tall Gryphons are gone.  This team reminds me of the Hickory team who the Gryphons played for the title in 2012.  Their big men were six three /six four but couldn't hang with the taller Gryphons.  This Gryphon bunch looks like that.   Matchups  are everything.  Whenever the Gryphons meet in the future tall teams they had better have point guards to be able to get the ball inside.  The Gryphons have a trio of veteran guards who will hawk you to death and then run right by you when they have the ball.

So far the only team to blemish the Gryphon record was South Central who had a 6'9" center and two forwards over 6'6".  They also had passers good enough to contend  with the feisty Gryphon guards to get the ball inside.  We have all seen all the Nash County schools and none have a giant in the middle.  Fike is off to an 8-1 start and probably is the favorite for the top spot in the Big East.  The Gryphons have three back court ball handlers and ball hawkers that are going to keep the Gryphons in every game despite the size of the other side.

Pick'em Time Again

You are going to have to trust me on this one.  All the goings on this week  in the Holiday basketball tournament I forgot to do  my  guess on the best Thursday game this year Tennessee at Jacksonville.  It is the worse record of the two combined teams of all time since the inception of Thursday night football.  In fact there was a year on Monday Night when a 1-14 team played a 2-13 which is the worse ever in 2003 but the teams were so bad I can't remember who they were.  Last week went 10-6 to run my record to 139-80 for the year.

You don't have to believe this but I actually am going with my picks Thursday afternoon but will not publish this until Saturday morning.  Tennessee at Jacksonville.  Every time I pick Tennessee one way or the other I lose.  I like Jacksonville at home 23-17

Philadelphia at Washington.  Philly needs this for the playoffs.  The Redskins need to get the season over.  It will be close because it is in Washington but I take the Eagles  31-23

San Diego at San Francisco.  Been burned the last two weeks by Chargers but I think there is too much going on in San Fran now that they are knocked out.  It is a must game for any hope for SD.  seems they play better when desperate over in the drivers seat.  Philip Rivers has had sore ribs for six weeks now missed practice this week with a bad back.  I'll pick the desperate or the discussed  San Diego 23 San Fran 20

Cleveland at Carolina.  I think Cleveland pulled the plug on the season when they brought in Johnny football.  I think they have found out they wasted their money.  Carolina 31 Cleve 13.

Detroit at Chicago.  New quarterback same result for the Bears.  Detroit playing for home field.  Lions 35 Bears 20

Baltimore at Houston.  This might be the hardest game to pick this week.  Houston hanging in the playoff picture by a finger nail.  If the ravens win out they are in.  If they don't who knows where the acorns fall.   I like Houston totally being home for this one.  Houston 26 Ravens 24

Minnesota at Miami.   Hot weather game with a inside cold weather team being one of the teams.  Miami  30 Vikes 24

Atlanta at New Orleans.  There is hope for Carolina if Saints lose another home game.  Do we really want a team with a losing record in playoffs?  Atlanta is still in it and have a offense  to give Saints trouble.  Hope saints finish 8-8, don't want a loser in playoffs  Saints 38 Hawks 35

New England at Jets.  Division wrapped up this is a good chance for a Jets victory.  NO way Pats 41 Jets 13.

Kansas City at Pittsburgh:  KC is not out yet.  Too many teams in AFC North still with a chance to win division and wild card for the Steelers to lose.  This should be a good game but men of steel win.  24- 21.

Green Bay at Tampa Bay.  Packers proved they are human last week.  The Bucs are just good enough to lose each week.  Packers not yet in playoffs need this one.   36-21.

The New York Giants at St Louis.  Rams are right good on defense.  Giants not all that good against good defenses.   Rams 23 G-Men 16.

Indianapolis at Dallas.  Wouldn't it be just like Dallas to lose everything they won last week by losing to Colts in Dallas.  Why in world is there any consideration of Demarco Murray playing in this one.  I like Colts in high scoring game especially if Murray sits which the Boys should hold him out because even though Dallas is not shew in for the playoffs. What good is a playoff game without  Murray if he fumbles away this game and get hurt worse for the playoffs?  I think this tells you all about the Cowboys and why they are an average organization.  Sit him this week and worry about next week then.  Kind of sounds like the Redskins who kept their star player in a playoff game too long and look at what they have been since.  Colts 38- Dallas 28

Buffalo at Oakland.  Big win by Bills last week.  I bet they give it back in Oakland.  Raiders  26 Buffalo 16.

Seattle at Arizona.  Seattle average on the road.  Despite not having a quarterback  Zona still plays defense.  I don't know whether either teams scores TD but if one does it will be Russell.  13-6 Seahawks.

Denver at Cincinnati.  Another good-en,  I think there is some wrong with peyton that nobody is telling.  What has happened they have become better team even though the scores are closer that Peyton throwing seven touchdowns a game.  Denver 27- Bengals 20.

One last thing, did you see where the 16-11 Jets over the Titans was the first time ever that a game had finished with that score.  You know there are some scores you would think will never happen like 4-3.

Favorites Win Titles

I had voiced concern on this blog last week concerning moving the boys varsity consolation game to the auxiliary gym and playing the JV championship game on the main floor.  I surely was wrong in thinking the small seating Auxiliary gym would be over flowing while the main gym would almost be empty.  I didn't know of course that Northern and Rocky Mount would be in the JV championship game but the move proved a smart one.

Yes, neither Nash Central or Southern Nash enjoyed the indignity of playing down the hall but those in nearly full main gym saw Rocky Mount and Northern play for a championship and when that happens Nash County comes calling.  Probably didn't hurt that both varsity teams were waiting to do battle in the second and third games.  What the boys JV  championship game turned into was a thriller as Rocky Mount wins in overtime  68-60.

I don't know if there were many in attendance that thought the Rocky Mount girls could hang with the unbeaten Lady Knights but they did for a half.  Northern found themselves down in the  first quarter and never saw the lead until Keyonte Cherry hit a three at the first quarter buzzer to give Northern a 13-12 lead.  Both teams played even in the second but the story of this game was the physical play.   There were 39 fouls called in the game and a total of 51 turnovers by both teams.  The turnovers were 17-13 Rocky Mount at the half and it was 24-23 Northern at the half.

Where the game got away from Rocky Mount is both Kiana Thomas Tournament MVP and all Tournament Suzie Sykes neither had scored at the half and between them they had one rebound.  The third quarter would turn the tide as Thomas and Sykes score 19 second half points and Rocky Mount turned it over to the Northern press 14 times in the second half to only seven for Northern.  The third quarter dominance  by the Lady Knights put this one away leading 45-29 after three.

The fourth was keep up the pressure and take home the crown.  Northern tops Rocky Mount 56-38.  Kiana Thomas lead Northern with ten while Sykes contributed 9, Alexia Hines 9, Amanda Richardson 7, Jahlia Williams 7 and Keyonte Cherry all had 7.

Keyanna Spivey held her on against Northern scoring 22.  The only other player  with more than two points was Tamar Harper who joined Spivey on the all tournament team with 10 points  Kiana Thomas who had 20 points and 12 rebounds on Tuesday wins the MVP of the tournament. Northern takes home their 4th straight Christmas tournament title and  three of the four have been over Rocky Mount.

Wrapping up the Rocky Mount Northern triple header the  2-6 Knights of Northern Nash and 6-2 Rocky Mount went up and down the court in the first quarter.  Adam Renner score eight of the Knights 16 first quarter points to lead at the end of one quarter 16-13.

Rocky Mount had five double digits scorers on the night as they took a slim 31-30 lead into the locker Room.  Kenaz Cooper Tournament MVP shared scoring honors with Isaiah Alston with 15.  Broderick Caudle and Amir Pittman shared 14 a piece and Jaequez Jones popped for 13. 

Rocky Mount squeezed a 51-47 third quarter lead as Demonte Johnson 15 points and Adam Renner 15 both all tournament kept Northern close.  Renner was a monster on the boards all night hauling  down a game high 11.  Renner's effort gave Northern a 29-28 rebound edge on the game.  The difference tonight Rocky Mount forces Northern to give up the ball on turnovers 19 times while Rocky Mount protected the ball like it was a million dollars having only five all night.  Rocky Mount helped keep Northern in the game making only 18-37 free shots at the charity line.  Northern wasn't much better 10-20. 

Rocky Mount takes home the Nash County Christmas tournament 78-69 but at one point in the fourth quarter it was 63-62 Rocky Mount.  Turnovers gave the Gryphons the edge and they finally made a few free throws down the stretch.

The boys consolation game went to Southern Nash 65-51 over Nash Central.  The Northern girls JV's won the girls addition of the tournament last night and between games the Dudley Whitley award was presented to Southern Nash basketball coach and athletic director Robbie Kennedy recognizing the outstanding coach in Nash County for his contributions to all phases of life as a coach in Nash county.

When all is said and done Rocky Mount boys win the JV and Varsity titles while the Northern Nash girls win both girls titles.

Finals Are All Set

Wednesday night's final game of the night of the Nash County Christmas Tournament  pitted two arch rivals so far this season both have gone in opposite directions.  Nash Central has started this young season 5-1 while Northern Nash has won only once in seven tries.  Would sound like not much of a game right?

Well it wasn't, Northern forged out to a 30-20 lead at the half and for Nash Central fans hoping for a comeback it just never happened as Northern Nash doubles their win total on the season with a resounding 66-47 victory over Nash Central.  This sets up a double header of Northern Nash/ Rocky Mount basketball right after the championship game in the JV tournament Thursday night.

The main gym at Rocky Mount will have a triple header finals as the JV boys championship game will occur starting at 5pm then the girls championship game will kick into action around 6:30.  Unbeaten Northern Nash 8-0 will play on the home court of Rocky Mount 5-3. 

Northern will throw at Rocky Mount a full court press most of the time and ball handling has been suspect for the Lady Gryphons and this will be a monumental task.  Many times in the past few years this is the first meeting of maybe at least four meetings and yes there has been one year recently when they met five times in a season.  Once in Christmas tournament twice during the regular season and in the finals of the conference and sectional finals.

 Time flies  when you are having fun but remember three  years ago they met three straight Friday nights.  The last Friday during conference play.  The next Friday in the Tournament Championship and the following Friday in the sectional Finals.  To say the least Pam Gainey and Grover Battle should know a little something about the way each other teaches basketball.

Rocky Mount boys have dominated Northern in recent years but Henry Drake will get his first taste of doing battle against two time state champion basketball coach Mike Gainey in the night cap around 8pm.

Thrown in obscurity is the boys consolation game which will be played in the Auxiliary Gym down the hall from the main gym  Southern Nash the seven point loser to the home team Rocky Mount on Tuesday will take on Nash Central.  Those wishing to sit in a seat in that game will need to be there early as there are not all that many seats in the AUX gym.

The girls varsity consolation game was won by Nash Central as they rolled Southern Nash 66-27.  The two losses in the tournament the Southern girls scored but 39 points while giving up 124.  The Nash county Christmas Tournament concludes Thursday at Rocky Mount High school.

Rocky Mount Wins Twice Northern Once

The first night of the varsity action in Nash County Basketball Tournament finished with a terrific game to make up for the first two.  Rocky Mount girls won the opener over Southern Nash 58-12 while the middle game Northern Nash girls remained unbeaten taking out Nash Central 71-44.  The night cap the final score of 76-69 Rocky Mount over Southern Nash is not any indication how close the game really was.

The Gryphon boys trailed 18-17 after the first quarter of topsy turvy run up and down the court  between two teams almost identical in size.  Marquise Wright provided the Firebird spark scoring ten first quarter points.  Thomas Cooper was the igniter for Rocky Mount in the second quarter scoring 13 for the half but two back to back threes sent Rocky Mount to the  Locker room ahead. 41-30.

Emmanuel Merriweather lit up the third quarter with four threes but Southern could only cut into the Rocky Mount lead on a three by Merriweather at the buzzer to get the score down to 62-53.  Southern chiseled away at the Rocky Mount lead  an at 70-68 had a shot to take the lead but Rocky Mount held off the Firebirds down the stretch to win by seven.

The Gryphons got a supreme effort from Kenaz Cooper in not only scoring 21 but with help in the ball handling.  Isaiah Alston contributed15 while Thomas Cooper finished with 13.  The Gryphons had seven players in all to score at least five on the night.

Marquise Wright was strong all night for the Firebirds scoring 23 and pulling down  13 rebounds.  Brian Vines 14 and Meriweather with 13 provided the firepower for the Firebirds.   This was a run and gun game all night and both teams handle the ball rather well considering the pace as Southern turned it over 16 times to the Gryphons 12.  The Gryphons won the rebounding war 33-28.

Other than the fact neither team is very tall both  showed they will be players in the Big East.  Final  RM 76-69

The undefeated Lady Knights of Northern Nash threw at Nash  Central their full arsenal and for a while the Lady Dogs hung tough but Northern just plain has too many good players and the longer the game went Northern got stronger and Central just couldn't hang.

Northern caused 29 Nash Central Turnovers while committing 21 themselves.  The Lady Knight out rebounded The Bulldogs 38-24 and when you win the stats it's hard to lose.  Kiana Thomas controlled the inside with 20 points and 12 rebounds.  Suzie Sykes added 19 and Kayla Tucker 15.

Nash Central had three players hit Double figures being lead by Michaela Helms 14, Myia Spivey 12 and Kathryn Wilkins 10.

The first game of the night saw the Home team Rocky Mount jump to a 10-0 first quarter lead and that was close to being enough to win.  The Gryphons lead 33-6 at the half and shutout Southern in the fourth quarter.  The last 7:22 of the game with a forty point lead the clock ran continiously with the Gryphons winning 58-12

Tarmara Harper lead the Gryphons with 15.  Destiny Burgess scored 9 of the Lady Firebirds 12 points.   Southern plays Nash Central girls  in the consolation game Wednesday as part of another triple header while the girls JV championship game will be sandwiched in front of the Northern Nash -Nash Central  boys game will will start around Eight pm.

Nash County Tournament A Toss up For The Boys

If you look at all four rosters of the high school teams taking part in this weeks basketball tournament at Rocky Mount High School one thing you will find is no team is going to be taller than any other.  In fact no team has a player taller than six four.

Southern Nash comes into the tournament with the best over all record at 6-1.  Those that paid attention to the Firebirds last year know that by the end of the season nobody wanted to play the Birds.  They were quick, good on defense and could shoot light outs from the outside which was needed since against the taller Gryphons, Golden Demons and Warriors was a must.

Point guard Marquise Wright is the biggest load carrier so far this season for the Firebirds scoring at a 16.4 rate.  His able assistant is Emmanuel Merriweather comes in producing 12.3.  Coach Robbie Kennedy's squad is averaging 56 per game while allowing 45.  Since the inception of the Tournament this is one of the few times that you can say that the Firebirds have a real shot at winning the thing.

Mike Gainey has always been a run and gun man but this more than most without a big front line his squad has to be an all out get in your chest defensive team  to off set the lack of height.  All five of their wins their defense has paved the way while the two losses to South Central who has a legit D1 big man and plenty of support their height played a big part in the losses.

Isaiah Alston is the fastest gunslinger scoring at 17 per ball game but  the Gryphons are loaded with guards that either  can press you or shoot over you with Broderick Caudle scoring at 10.6 and Kenaz Cooper chipping in almost ten at 9.6.  Southern Nash and Rocky Mount boys hit the court as the third game Tonight in what might be the best boys game of the week.


Nash Central heads across town owning a 4-1 record like everyone else Rennie Taylor is wishing for a Big Man for Christmas.    The Bulldogs are close to matching their entire win total of last year before they reach the new year which is a very goods sign for them .  The Bulldogs look for seniors Aaron Spivey, Wayne Sanders and Alex Corbin to lead the team.

First year coach Henry Drake finds himself with a team with nine seniors and none of them have experience winning basketball during their high school careers.  Northern has found winning  to be  a hard thing to find so far this year.  No better place to be however is against your top rivals when every team is about the same size. 

Darius Spradley leads the Knights producing 16.5 point per game.  The second best scorer is Marcellus Majors popping at 12.3 per clip.  Northern Nash and Nash Central are the third game on the docket Wednesday night  when they collide at about 8pm.

Lady Knights The Team To Beat

This week the Nash County Basketball Tournament will be played at Rocky Mount High School.  Girls varsity swings into action Tuesday night.  Northern Nash despite having lost Big East Player of the Year Alexus Hill to Gardner Webb heads into the tournament as the only unbeaten team.  The Lady Knights are 7-0 and Grover Battle has not been shy as to who he has played already taking down 4-A schools South Central, D H Conley and East Wake,

It doesn't matter this time of year what your record is as long as you are making progress.  Any time any team and we can say Tarboro does this in football takes on the very best they can when they  find a team that wants to play them and then you beat them you know that your team has potential into March games barring injuries.

Northern is led this year by six foot three power forward/center Kiana Thomas.  Thomas leads the Northern attack scoring at a 18.3 points per clip but her biggest asset in her is her play on defense around the basket.  She has hauled in an average of ten rebounds per game which has her getting a double-double every night out.

The lead scoring helper is Suzie Sykes who scores at a rate of 9.5 points per game.  Not only will the Lady Knights press all over the floor but when the ball goes up towards the basket they have a total of six players averaging at least four rebounds per game.  The Lady Knights are the Nash County Tournament favorites but are expected to repeat as Big East Champs.

When Northern takes the floor at 6:30 on Tuesday they will be meeting Nash Central who will arrive with a 4-1 record.  Terry Cash's club has a three headed monster and if there is an up and coming team it is the Lady Bulldogs as their top three scores are all under classman.  

They are lead by Myia Spivey the five nine sophomore who produces 12.5 points per game.  She is joined by Michaela Helms another sophomore who also gets a half point shy of 13.  The third head to this triple scoring attack is Kathryn Wilkins who also scores in double figures with 11.3.  So of the first night of girls varsity games the game of the night will be the second game as we see Nash Central  the up and comer take on the old established team in Northern Nash.  Tip time should be around 6:30 Tuesday.

Rocky Mount's up and down season can be contributed to ball handling, passing and free throws.  One good thing about November and December basketball is nothing you do can keep you out of the playoffs.  It is those game when conference time starts that matters.

Rocky Mount is lead by five nine sophomore Keyanna Spivey who is scoring a 17.9 points per game.  There is no other Gryphon any where close to double figure scoring and somebody has to fill those shoes because there will be plenty of games that Spivey will be double teamed knowing there is no other person to take up the slack.

Lining up against Rocky Mount will be Southern Nash who so far this year has not found the win column.  One reason why is as a team they are only averaging 24 points per game while giving up a whopping 55.  Senior Destiny Burgess leads the Lady Birds but the Lady Birds are going to find a win this week Burgess needs help.  The Rocky Mount-Southern Nash game kicks off the Tuesday action at Rocky Mount High starting at 5:00pm.

New Format For Nash County Tournament

It will take seven Philadelphia lawyers to figure the new schedule for the Nash County basketball Tournament.  Past years the tournament was a two day affair which put everyone who was the host teams into exhaustion by the end of two days and eight games.

Recent years the tournament went to a three day affair playing two games one night and three in the others.  Now  the JV squads have been thrown into the fray.  If the tournament is to get done in four days  then the Rocky Mount auxiliary gym will now come into play and there will be two games going on at one time some days.  Here is the Nash County basketball tournament starting on Monday.

Monday is all JV's all the time as you will find the hallway busy with anyone interested in watching what is happening in both places. The 5:30 games on Monday will pit in the auxiliary Nash Central girls being the visiting team playing Northern Nash.  The main gym will be Southern Nash as visitors playing Rocky Mount and this is a boys game.

The second JV game in the(Aux) gym will  be Southern Nash as the visitors meeting the Rocky Mount JV girls.  Up the hall the JV boys from Nash Central will serve as the visitors will take on Northern Nash in the main gym.  Both of those games should get underway about 12 minutes after the completion of the first game sometime near 7:00pm.  If you have never been in the auxiliary gym at Rocky Mount once you come through the security and head toward the main gym the AUX gym is down the hall which is to the right before you enter the main gym.

Tuesday is varsity time as the 5pm game in the main gym will feature girls from Southern Nash as visitors and Rocky Mount.  That will be followed at 6:30 by the girls game of Northern Nash as visitors and Nash Central.  The final game Tuesday night will be a boys varsity game featuring Southern Nash as visitors and Rocky Mount.  This game just might feature the best two teams in Nash County going head to head in the semi finals so I suspect might be the biggest crowd of the week.

Here is where things get Hairy.  The opening game on Wednesday night will be the consolation game of the boy JV's in the main gym.  That will be followed by the girl JV championship game.  The third and final game on Wednesday night will be the varsity boy's game as Northern Nash will be the visitor and will play Nash Central.

Are you with me so far?  The final night of the tournament will have the championship game of the boys JV in the main gym while at 500pm in the Aux gym will be the consolation game of the varsity boys.  We know one of those teams will be the loser of Nash Central/Northern Nash game.  what happens if the other loser is Rocky Mount and we get a NC/RM Match up or NN/RM matchup.  There will not be enough seats in the Auxiliary gym for this one while the main gym will have the JV championship game in a 3/4 empty main gym.

It doesn't matter how bad any of these teams are and anytime anybody is matched up against Rocky Mount the crowds will pour in to see Rocky Mount lose if you are pulling for Nash Central or Northern and the Rocky Mount folks will show up to see them beat any of their rivals.  The rivalry deal is not quite as intense if Southern is in the consolation game but I doubt the Aux gym will hold that crowd either.

Back over in the main gym the varsity girls championship game will start at the completion of the JV championship game and all the awards will be handed out at the end of the game.  The night cap will be the boys championship and awards ceremony will follow the game.

Ticket price for all games Monday through Wednesday is $ 6 per night and the Championship night is $8.

Eastern Football Takes Two Titles

New Bern has won their second State 4A title in three years beating Charlotte Catholic 23-15. The only other championship game played on Friday night was the 1AA championship won by Wallace Rose Hill 34-21  over Starmount.  Six other state championships will be determined on Saturday.

NC State returned to the old house called Reynolds And took on Charleston Southern and this one was never in doubt as the Pack goes to 8-1 on the season with 86-50  victory.  State has to be the surprise team of The ACC early season.   They have a combo of outside shooters and defensive inside play which I think surprise most Pack fans.

Rocky Mount broke open a nip and tuck game in the fourth quarter tonight as the Gryphons up their record to 5-2 with a 73-65 victory over Rose in Greenville.  Rose lead by one at the end of the first quarter expanded it to two at the half 38-36.  Rocky outscored the Rampants by four in the third to lead by two at the end of the third.  The Gryphons win the fourth by six to win on the road by eight.

This guard dominated team gets 17 points from Isaiah Alston and Broderick Caudle.  Kenaz Cooper added 16 and two other Gryphons had nine points in Jaequez Jones and Amir Pittman.  Next action for the Gryphons is Tuesday in the Nash County Basketball a Tournament.

The Lady Gryphons got their record over 500 as they beat Rose 47-42.  The Lady Gryphons could muster only 15 points in the first half but found themselves leading 15-14.  The second half both teams had a better offensive flow but the Lady Gryphons  outscored the Rampants 32-26.

Keyanna Spivey lead the Gryphons getting 20 points  but if they are to make a run in the Big East she has to have help and tonight Michelle Gainey scored 8 as the second scorer in the game.  The Lady Gryphons now 4-3 open the varsity action in the Nash Co. Basketball Tournament when they play Southern Nash at 5 pm Tuesday at Rocky Mount High School.

Southern Nash boys rebounded from their first lost of the season earlier beating Bunn. 60-38.  Southern and Rocky Mount square off against each other Tuesday night at 8pm in the final game of three.

Just Three Weeks To Go

The Patroits, Broncos, Seahawks and Green Bay and maybe Arizona are all the leaders in the race for the Super Bowl.  If you look at the past ten Super Bowls those teams just like the five above don't win the Super Bowl but the team that gets hot at the right time.  So we still have seven teams trying to get in the playoffs to be that team that gets hot at the right time.  I wonder who it will be.

Pittsburgh @ Atlanta:  Steelers are great one week pitiful the next.  Just which one shows  in Atlanta is the big question. Atlanta plays in the NFC South so that means below average. Steelers 30 Falcons 27.

Jacksonville @ Baltimore:  Most NFL games are won by the team that needs it the most.  Ravens  are still not out of winning Division but can't chance not at least being a wild card.  Ravens 35 Jags 13

Green Bay @ Buffalo:  This is not Lambeau but Buffalo can be colder.  Bills still not out of playoff hopes but Packers still win.  GB 31 Buff 20

Tampa Bay @ Carolina:  No Cam- No Problem cause using the who needs it more theory the Panthers can still be division champs.  Carolina 27- Tampa 24

Cincinnati @ Cleveland:  This is a different Browns over past years.  Don't care who quarterbacks the Browns they beat the Bengals.  23-21 Buster Browns.

Houston @ Indianpolis:  This is a question whether Houston can out score Indy.  I think the answer is no.  Indy 38 Houston 28

Oakland @ Kansas City:  I think Oakland is not as bad as their record and this is one of those games KC needs.  Should be close but the Chiefs win 23-16.

Miami @ New England:  This might be a good'en but Pats hard to beat in New England.  Pats 31 Fins 21

Washington @ N Y Giants:  This game always has national interest but this year I don't think they care much in New York or Washington so why should anybody else.  G-men 33 Skins 28

Denver @ San Diego:  Chargers are holding on to the last playoff spot in AFC.  Peyton's offense has been struggling last few weeks.  Charger defense played great despite losing field position after losing punter to injury.  New punter this week and I think Chargers need this more than Denver. 31-24 Super Chargers

Jets @ Tennessee: Another New York team that nobody cares the outcome.  Titans edge Jersey Jets 17-16.

Minnesota @ Detroit:  Lions could be one of the teams if they get hot for the playoffs  could be a thorn in some bodies side.  Lions 26 Vikings 21.

San Francisco @ Seattle:  Seems like 9ers falling apart.  Seem like Hawks defense beginning to look like last year's playoff team.  Seems like a rout  but  look out Seattle 27 SF 21

Dallas @ Philadelphia: Should be best game of weekend.  High scoring affair.  Winner should make playoffs where loser has work to do.  Philly 38 Dallas 36

New Orleans @ Chicago:  If the Panthers can slaughter the Saints in the Big Easy why can't Chicago win in the cold weather?  Da Bares 31 Saints 17

Bombs Away

The Rocky Mount Gryphons used seven three pointers in the first half to surge to a 37-22 first half lead and they made it hold up in front of the home folks as Rocky Mount wins their fourth game in six tries beating the Warriors of East Wake 75-64.

The Gryphons had one of the best ball handling games of the season committing only ten turnovers on the night while forcing the Warriors into 23 and 14 of those happened and the Gryphons would pop a three in the first half.

The Gryphons produced four double figure scorers with Broderick Caudle leading the way with 16.  Isaiah Alston scored 15 followed by Kenaz Cooper 13 and Dominic Harrison 10 including a bring the house down dunk.  East Wake was lead by Quincy Jackson  23 points and 14 rebounds.  Josh Siler chipped in 20.

The Gryphons lead shranked to seven at 40-33 but never got closer as most of the second half the lead stayed in double figures. The Gryphons travel to Rose Friday before they host the Nash County Tournament which starts Monday with JV games and the varsity games start Tuesday.

The Lady Gryphons faced a taller, quicker and better skilled team and when you add of of those factors up you are in for a drubbing and that was exactly what happened as the Lady Warriors blitzed the Lady Gryphons 60-27.

Rocky Mount scored in double digits in only one quarter and that was the fourth quarter and then only ten points.  EW scored at least 13 in every quarter. Ball handling again is a culprit as the Lady Gryphons gave the ball away 30 times while EW had 19.  EW out rebounded the Lady Gryphons 30-19.

Tiana Williams lead EW with 22 points  and she pulled down 12 rebounds.  Keyanna Spivey scored most of the Gryphon points getting 14. Natalia Carrie scooped the most rebounds for the Lady Gryphons  getting 7.

The Lady Gryphons dropped to 3-3 on the season and searching for ball handlers and passers.

There is an NFL game on the docket Thursday night as Arizona travels to St Louis.  The Rams are up and coming and can win this game. Arizona's defense will keep this a low scoring game.  23-17 Zona. Started last week 121-66 and had a poor 8-8 week to run the record to 129-74

The Man On The End Of The Bench

Every team has a bunch.  The player who walked into the coaches office and ask to be on the team knowing well that he would never get on the field or court but just wanted to be near the game is enough.  ECU had such a player in Justin Hardy who walked in to Ruffin McNeils office and said I want to be on the ECU football team.

Every team needs players that during practice they run the next week's teams plays they are called the scout team.  Those that were good players in high school that are not quite ready to say bye to their game.  Such a player was Justin Hardy nobody wanted a high school quarterback from West Craven but now at ECU he still wanted to play. Didn't take long before Hardy started for the Pirates.

He is a lot like people who win the lottery.  He is an inspiration to all of us that yes there is a chance that I might win or in the case of a walk on football player who might be a super star.  Justin Hardy has caught more passes than any other player who plays D 1 football.  In his 48 career games for the Pirates he has never caught less than two passes in any of his game.

He is the hope for every player who just doesn't want to give up football.  This week Hardy won the ultimate of all walk on awards.the Burlesworth Trophy  which is given to the best college player who started out as a walk on.  The player no school thought was good enough to offer a scholarship.

Tuesday night the Rocky Mount Gryphons traveled to the northeast to play Hertford County.  The Lady Gryphons  recovered from their collapse against South Central beating HC 62-48.  The Ladies had a consistent offense all four quarters as 14 point was the least they scored in any quarter.  Shelby Meeks lead the scoring attack with 17. Three others players hit double figures as Keyanna Spivey scored 14 followed by Tarmara Harper 12 and Michelle Gainey 10.  Lady Gryphons are now 3-2 on the season.

The boys out scored the HC Bears by 10 in the third quarter to open up a double digit lead and that lead to a 78-62 victory over HC.  Isaiah Alston lead we way with 19 followed by Broderick Caudle 11 and Jaequez Jones 10 points.  The boys improve their record to 3-2.  The Gryphons are home Wednesday night as they host East Wake starting at 6pm.

No Small Task

Every one in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham and Greenville are all giddy because they are all going bowling  and we are not talking about trying to make strikes and knock all the pens down.  All four schools have plans that if you buy tickets through their athletic clubs you can get tickets that sits you with everyone else pulling for your favorite team.

That means you will probably sit in one of the worse seats in the football stadium  because all the good seats are held by the sponsor and most of  the time they reward top notch employees or high paying customers who buys product produced by the bowl sponsor.  I am sure if you call the stadium or buy on line somewhere you can get a better seat.  When you do that your school doesn't get credit for selling their allotment  even though you will be there pulling for them.  Let's take a look to see the matchups.

NC State versus University of Central Florida:  Pack gets shot to play the team just last week ECU wrapped up a Christmas present for in Greenville.  UCF is 9-3 and only travel from Orlando to St Pete so there should be a mostly Knights crowd. UCF only has one bad lost on their schedule losing to Connecticut.

The Pack finished the season on a upswing finishing up 7-5.  Losses to Florida St., Clemson, Louisville, Boston College and Georgia Tech.  Four of those losses were to four teams in top 21 in the RPI and the loss to BC they are 47th.  UCF will be about a 6.5 point favorite.

Carolina 6-6 takes on Rutgers 7-5 in Detroit in the Fast Lane a Bowl.  Carolina gave up points in buckets while Rutgers lost big to every good team in Big Ten while they won big against the bad teams.  Sounds like these two are a prefect fit for each other.  Should be high scoring and suspect this game will go point or point in a half either way to toss up.

Duke 9-3 - Arizona State 9-3:  Sun Devils  18th in RPI while Duke is 30th ASU strength of schedule is 43 while Duke is 243.  Duke surely avoided the heavy weights in ACC this year.  Even though both have equal records ASU will be about eight point favorite in this game.  Duke's advantage coach Cut has almost three weeks to get his troops ready.

ECU 8-4 - Florida 6-5.:  Here is Pirates chance against a named football program which the Pirates thrive.  I am sure Pirate Nation will flock to Birmingham where they will be meeting  a program who may not have a head coach by then.  Despite the better record the named program will be favored by Vegas.  Look for the Gators to be eight point favorites.  All the chaos in Gainesville the Pirates have a shot at upset even though records this would not really be upset. They are playing the Big Bad SEC which would be another notch on ECU's gun belt if they knock over a big name.

That's All We Need

Oh boy, four more bowls games than what we had last year.  Now 78 teams from D1 football  will go someplace to play an extra football game this year called something.  There are only 128 teams in D1 so we are getting ever so close to sending a team with a losing record to a bowl game.  I think we have reached the point where we need to let the selection committee should value of the worse four teams and lets have a four team playoff to determine who is the worse team.  Wouldn't that be more exciting that finding out who is the best?

Sounds a lot like high school playoffs when teams with 3 wins or less get in.  There is a good chance that the team winning the NFC South in the NFL  just might not win half their games either.  What we will do to make more money?

So we now have the four  that can still win the so called national championship.  The first semi final will be  Alabama and Ohio State and the other Oregon and Florida State with the two winners meeting  in the jumbo winner take all game.  All other games are now just the . com bowl games to give 74 other teams something to do over the holidays.  Included in those 74 other teams are four from right here in our back yard.

Carolina will be heading to Ford Field in Detroit for their Bowl Game now called the Fast Lane Bowl.   Game time  will be at 4:30  on Friday after Christmas and they will be playing Rutgers.

Duke is heading for a bowl game for the third year in a row which has never been done by Duke Football before.  They will meet 15th rank Arizona  St. in the Sun Bowl.  Game time is December the 27th at 2pm.

If you are a Big Four fan there will be a double header on the 26th.  N C State is heading South to play UCF  in the St Petersburg Bowl or the bitcoin.com Bowl.  That game is scheduled for 8pm

ECU gets up for teams that are from named programs or other in state school.  They will get a shot at the Southeastern  Conference when they meet Florida in the Birmingham Bowl.  That game is on January 3rd at noon.

It is really nice to say you have gone to a Bowl game but Carolina and State are playing the day after Christmas.  These two games are not top tier games and can either school sell their quota on top of Christmas.  Duke's game at least is on the weekend  but can Duke sell that many tickets  for El Paso.  ECU game is on New Years weekend and I think they will sell out their allotment.

Rumors have been  flying for more than a year now and it is finally it has come to past as Kevin Crudup has resigned as the football coach at Nash Central.  He leaves Nash Central having lost the last 24 games he coached which is the third longest active streak in North Carolina High school football.  Now those rumors about who wants the job are on fire  even more. 

The big question is always when a coach leaves or gets canned  is there anyone on staff qualified to take over the program?  You know the perception ever since Nash Central was opened that Nash Central had and has  good athletes and would be a good program to coach.  The perception to the outside world now is that the administration  at Nash Central views sports as a necessary evil and to find a coach that wants to coach at a school under those circumstances will be hard to find a quality coach from the outside world.

Strength Of Schedule

We now know the results from the Saturday football conference championship games  and Alabama, Oregon , Florida State, TCU, Ohio State  and Baylor won their games Saturday.  Four of them will play in the playoffs that will be announced on ESPN today at 12:30.  Please note that the timing in not in conflict of any NFL game.  I hope you are aware of this but the playoff selection committee will also be deciding on where Carolina, Duke, State and ECU play in a bowl game.

Every week now for the last five or six weeks this committee has given us their rankings and from one week to the next it seems they have altered the top four just to see the reaction the fans would get to where ever their team was placed.  It seems to me that one of the five criteria that the committee looks at is conference champion.  So these past weeks they have played with 48 cards instead of 52 because until last night nobody knew who the aces were in the deck.  So all this speculations has been fun but you know like I know this has all been for TV ratings for ESPN.  There is no reason they couldn't lock up the committee this weekend in a hotel like college basketball and spit out the teams in.  Isn't life more fun with Bracketology in basketball over these ranking without knowing conference champions.

One of the five points of value to the committee is Strength of Schedule.  As of Thursday  before any game was played this weekend  the top team in Strength of Schedule was Auburn.  They are 21st in the voting so where does strength of schedule fit in.  Second is Mississippi who is 8th in the playoff voting. 

I know there has been plenty of conversation this year about the poor non conference schedule that N C State played  but they played the 20th toughest schedule in the country.  Alabama was first in the playoff voting but SOS was 34.  FSU 75, Oregon, 73, TCU 70, Ohio St 69 and Baylor was 148.  It is obvious to me that SOS only matters if you win.

I don't like this confusing method of every team on your schedule floats every week based on each team on your schedule and what they did.  The only time where a team is ranked is the week you played them.   I sure would love for the Wolfpack to have played Clemson towards the end of the year instead of the middle because Clemson wasn't nearly as good late in the season as they were when they hosted the Pack early in conference play.

 There is talk this morning that Oklahoma losing yesterday to Oklahoma State is bad for TCU and Baylor but both also played Okla St. Why should any game effect you if you were not involved in the game?  Here are my four  Alabama 1, Oregon 2, Florida State 3 and Ohio St  4.  To make this a national championship playoff that need a team from the north or Midwest.

Just for the matter of knowing Carolina is 57th in SOS, Duke 205 and ECU 201.  RPI voting is  State 43rd, Carolina 57th, Duke 28th and ECU 59th.  If you look at those numbers it all adds up to a popularity contest.  The committee can say they are going by five basic rules but in the end they will vote for who makes for the best TV ratings and we will all watch.  Unlike basketball where the underdog is exciting the first weekend  there will be no underdog announced today.

We live in a modern world right?  There are many things that are politically correct.  I can guarantee you one thing about this power five conference deal in college football.  The good ole boys still run college football  but there is one new member to the club ESPN.

Taste Of Old Bad Medicine

Tonight the Rocky Mount Gryphons got a taste of the tall tree medicine that for the past several years they prescribed for their opponents but Doctor South Central gave to the Gryphons.  South Central starting  Six nine D1 prospect center who is only a sophomore and several other trees taller than the Gryphons dominated the second half and laid the wood to the Gryphons 65-49.  I know in the last 13 years of covering Rocky Mount they have been handle worse than this but I can't recall it right now.

Josh Carlton the big youngster scored 19 and grabbed  11boards.  He had plenty of help from Brian Brightwell 15 points and 10 boards. The Falcons out rebounded the Gryphons 41-27.  The Gryphons using speed on defense in the first half to be only down 26-24 at the half.

The Gryphons needed outside shooting to hang in this one and there was none to be had as it took to 1:10 to play in the game for the first and only Gryphon  Isaiah Alston to hit double digits with 11.  Kenaz Cooper scored nine on the night and lead the Gryphons in rebounding with six coming mostly on long rebounds from his point guard position.

The run and gun Gryphons committed only 12 turnovers while forcing South Central into 14.  This one was never in doubt in the fourth quarter as South Central wins by 16.  The next action for Rocky Mount is Tuesday in Ahoskie against Hertford County and the next home game is Wednesday against East Wake.

The Lady Gryphons pitched a shutout in the second quarter  leading the Lady Falcons 28-5 at the half.  The entire second half was all what can we do next to lose this game as South Central out scored the Lady Gryphons 40 to 14 to pull off a miracle comeback but they got plenty of help from Rocky Mount.

The Lady Gryphons had 20 turnovers in the second half and 32 for the game but the killer of this game was on the night Rocky Mount was 10-25 at the freethrow line including 0-4 the last 50 seconds.  Michelle Gainey was 7/10 at the line leaving all her teammates to be 3 of 15. If there is one stat that truly mystifies you in this one is Rocky Mount was dominant on the boards 37-20.  The entire second half the Gryphons struggled with ball handling and passing as once again  Keyanna Spivey dominated inside scoring 12 points in the first half but only four in the second half in rebound put backs.

Lady Gryphons truly have to improve ball handling and passing as they drop to 2-2 on the season.  The boys are also 2-2 and it is plain and simple they played about as well as they could
Being dominated on the boards the way it played out.  Against teams their own size they are going to be good but surely against in big team in order to compete they need to get taller which I think we all know is what they have done to everybody else for years.

Early Season Basketball Trends

Just a little more than a week into the high school basketball seasons for the four high schools in Nash County trends are developing into what we might see as this season unfolds.  Northern Nash girls who are the preseason  favorites in the Big East with about the whole team returning except the Big East Player of the year Alexus Hill is off to an undefeated  start so far including a couple of wins over 4-A schools.   The other end of the spectrum the Northern boys had yet to win .

Southern Nash boys who were small but athletic last year are off to a good start as they have yet to lose but the competition so far has not been to the Northern Nash level. In reverse from Northern the Southern  girls have yet to win.

The fall did not treat Nash Central very well in any sport but so far both the boys and girls have yet to  lose in this first week of play in basketball.

Both of the Rocky Mount teams are 2-1 and I think most would tell you that the boys are very competitive with the 4-A schools played so far and the girls considering that this has been a very tough emotional month are pleased to be 2-1.

I don't know now  that all of our schools in the area are through with football whether you noticed the Eastern Wayne-Southern Guilford score last Saturday or not.  The game was postponed because of wets grounds on Friday but they sure played a hum  dinger on Saturday.  Eastern Wayne beat Southern the team that knocked Rocky Mount out 56-55 in over time.  EW plays Havelock in the Eastern Final tonight.

A little follow up on the Dudley High forfeit of their final game for using JV players which kept them out of the state playoffs. Investigations of all Guilford  County High schools results in finding out other schools were doing the same thing as Dudley  and some schools had to forfeits some games. Dudley was found to have used JV players in every game and had to forfeit the entire season.

Just a couple of weeks ago Cardinal Gibbons who I know was feeling pressure for their domination of 3-A  state championships ask for and have been granted permission to join the 4-A with the Durham and Chapel Hill schools next season.  This is of course  not the normal course of action taken because we are in mid cycle of the four year realignment that takes place. 

Not only was Gibbons under fire but the NCHSAA was taking plenty of heat for letting Cardinal Gibbons remain in the public school playoffs and winning 90% of all of the 3-A playoffs.  This move avoids and action by the members of the NCHSAA to vote Gibbons out at least until they start winning 90% of all 4-A playoffs and then if that does ever happen be when Cardinal Gibbons might get voted out.

 I think we all hope this levels the playing field but what happens if Gibbons has  three thousand  students in the future and they win everything in the 4-A playoffs.  Least you will not have to hear me holler about how unfair it is Cardinal Gibbons is winning all the 3-A titles with student from all over the Triangle.  I'll let the Wake, Durham and Orange County teams worry about that now.

Only Picks Left To Do

Ok the high school and college picks are over and the only games left for this year are pro games.  Last week went 11-5  and there were some super match ups and once again this week seems as if every team is still alive for the playoffs.  I now stand at 121-66.

Dallas at Chicago:  What a match up to start the week off.  Both have been great and then both have had moments of who are these guys?  Cutler and Romo probably the two most abused quarterback in the NFL by the media.  Da Bears in a close one 26-24

Steelers at Cincinnati:  Isn't this the same m o as the Dallas/Chicago game? I want to take Cincy but I don't know.  Bengals 23-17

Indy at Cleveland:  Hoyers in for Cleveland but Indy can score too many for the Browns.  31-23 Colts.

Tampa at Detroit:  Seems Tampa plays everyone close and always lose, they will again.  31-20 Lions roar.

Houston at Jacksonville:  If I had a vote J J Watt would be NFL MVP.  He leads Houston to a win in Jacksonville.

Baltimore at Miami:  Here is one of those games. Both teams need this one.  Probably be hot and the fins wins 33-27

Jets at Vikings:  I think Jets have quit so Vikings win.  23-13.

Carolina at New Orleans:  After this one Panthers officially out of the playoffs.  Bree's beats Cam 35-21

Giants at Tennessee:  I think both coaches in New York get canned.  Titans 31 Eli  23.

St Louis at Washington:  This will be high scoring.  St Louis is team to look out for next year 38-35 Rams.

KC at Arizona:  KC is on verge of being out of playoffs while the Cardinals are on the verge of losing the division lead in NFC west.  Zona wins 23-20

Buffalo at Denver;  Bills are improved but they just can't score enough to win this game. 38-23 mile high.

San Fran at Oakland:  It is time to earn number one draft pick that means Oakland loses. 9'ers 31- 13

Seattle at Philadelphia:  This will be the game to tell you whether Seattle has a shot at going back to Super Bowl.  Philly 36-30

New England at San Diego:  This is the game we will know about how good the Chargers are.  This is a shoot out. Super Chargers 38 Patroits 33.

Green Bay at Atlanta:   Falcons have a shot still in NFC South.  They have a shot of getting blown out in this one but it will be a game for a while 41-30.

Home Opener Two Gryphon Wins

The Gryphon boys basketball took to the home court and for the first time in several years the Gryphons were not the tallest team on the court.  Hertford  County who has a history of athletic players were matched up well in tonight's match up.  What the Gryphon fans saw was a pesky defense that gave HC all they could handle.

Both teams pull down 35 rebounds but the difference was HC had 28 turnovers while the Gryphons limited their miscues to 15 and it lead to a 64-45 Gryphon Victory.  The tallest Gryphons on the roster stand at six three but it was the shorter guys outside who lead the way scoring in seniors Isaiah Alston  21 and Broderick Caudle 13.  Off the bench Arttavious  Richardson pulled down 9 rebounds while Alston grab 5.  Deshon Smithwas the only Bear to reach ten points.

All four of the public high schools in Nash County will be very similar in size which make for some very interesting basketball during the up coming Nash County tournament in two weeks.  Everyone's
Tallest players are around six three.

The Lady Gryphons roster does not show a senior on it but two returning inside playersKeyanna Spivey  and Tarmara Harper both know how to seal off defenders and were wide open most of the game underneath the basket.  The problem is the passers on the outside had a hard time getting to ball to both inside players.

Spivey lead the Lady Gryphons scoring 24 but there no telling how many she could have had.  Harper scored only six but she hauled down 15 rebounds while Spivey completed a double double with 10 boards.  The Gryphons out rebounded the Lady Bears 50-24 despite both teams being about the same size.  Both teams had trouble handling the ball as the Gryphons gave it to the Bears 26 times while the Bears were gracious 24 times.  Final Lady Gryphons 42-32 over the Bears.

Both Gryphon teams go to 2-1 and will host South Central Friday night in the Gryphon Gym.

The only other local score I have is Southern Nash boys beat Bunn 47-44.

Cofield Makes Third Team ALL ACC

Takoby Cofield the 310 pound offense tackle from Duke  the Redshirt senior from Tarboro is a third team all ACC selections.  If the ACC was a eight team conference from the past Cofield just might be first team but now that the ACC goes from Miami to Chicago and Boston third team is not bad.

That just might tell a little about why Tarboro won three straight titles when the have the likes of an all Conference college lineman in Cofield and an All American back in Todd Gurley playing for them.  Might also tell you a little bit about why the last two years they have not advance past the third round and the type players it takes to win state titles.

Went 2-0 in high school picks last week correctly picking both SouthWest and Tarboro to be bounced from the playoffs.  My high school finishing record for the year was 85-23.

Also the regular season is over in college for our local teams and my pick record in college games was 92-33.  I will pick every bowl game once they are announced next Sunday.  Heavy rumors abound that State and ECU may be matchup in the bowl game in Annapolis Maryland  what ever it is called.  If that happens then the winning team could truly say they are the state champions in North Carolina college football.

You know the ACC formed in 1953 when the ACC members said the old Southern conference was too big when they had 23 teams.  Well we are almost back some 60 years later to the conference being too big.  Wouldn't it be something if one day the pendulum swung back the other way and all the North Carolina D1 schools would form a conference, North Carolina, State, Duke, ECU, Wake, App St, W Carolina, Elon and Charlotte.  The way the TV money is driving sports these days Campbell, High Point , UNC W and anyone with a football program can get into the big money by being D1.

Tonight high school basket ball takes charge in the area as Rocky Mount host Hertford County.  All three other public high schools are on the road.  Northern at Southern Wayne, Nash Central at SouthWest Edgecombe and Southern Nash at Bunn.

Tonight Louisville will represent the ACC in the ACC Big East challenge for the first time.  Louisville is lead by Montrelz Harrell from Tarboro who if I was voting would vote him player of the year in the ACC at this point. Harrell is averaging almost 18 per game and almost nine rebounds per game.  Game time is 9:30 on one of the ESPN channels.

Endless Diaster In Chapel Hill

I have held off taking about this but how much more bad publicity can the University of North Carolina have?  Winning back the victory bell over Duke last week the traditional  painting of the victory bell which was now going to be light blue there was the spattering  blue paint on the Duke track which if anyone has ever spray painted knows it doesn't all the time hit it's intended target.  I think everyone from both programs just has to live with that aspect of the traditional painting when ever it occurs on the losers home field.

What is not acceptable is the spray painting of the locker room or any place else that is not part of the painting of the bell.  UNC has said they will pay all cost in what ever has to be done to get Duke's buildings back into their proper condition.  I ask why does the University have to pay it?  Let the vandals pay it and kick them off the team.

This is a case of vandalism and any person involved should be arrested.  UNC sports has come to the point that in order to win they must  provide fake classes for students.  Now they must pay whenever vandals break the law.  I do have to ask this, where were the coaches when all this painting of the locker room was going on?  If we must provide fake classes because they can't cut it in the classroom and now we must pay back their unlawful activity when  they are representing THE University of North Carolina how did any of theses people ever get to UNC?  What jail was all this football recruiting going on in.

It surely seems to me that the athletic program is totally out of control.  I just don't see how students in a locker room after a game were allowed to run wild.  There had to be no supervision or the coaching staff  agreed for them to do it.   Here is the saddest part of all.  Have you heard of any player involved in this suspended even  in the  game with State.  Suspension is too easy kick them out of school.  Any Carolina booster who allows his contributions to the football team or university to pay for this is as guilty of any person who vandalized.  It is time for all people who love Carolina to step forward and say enough is  enough.  It is time for those that love Carolina to take it back from the glory seekers.  Make Carolina an academic Insitution once again instead of the laughing stock of the NCAA.  Let me show you how they are laughing.

Now that State dominated Carolina on Saturday winning 35-7  social media has many digs at the Tar Heels.  Here is the best I have seen..  Carolina coaches asked their players to bring their A game Saturday  in the game against the WolfPack.  The players thought that meant no class on Saturday and didn't show up.