Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Who Else Did You Expect

Tonight the top two teams in the Big East top ranked Northern Nash made hay in knocking off the fourth place team Nash Central 64-30 while in the night cap Rocky Mount the second seed edged Hunt the third ranked team 52-49.

The Lady Gryphons and Lady Warriors went tooth and nail through the first half. They were tied at 14 after the first quarter. hunt biggest lead of the night was 20-16 but by the end of the half the Lady Gryphons had tied it at 28. The first six minutes of the third remained nip and tuck but Gryphon pressure push a 34 all tie to 40-34 at the end of three.

Nursing a six point point lead with just over four minutes to the Gryphons tried holding on to the ball against the taller Warriors but poor passing and the Warriors defense created a 44-44 tie and the next two minutes plus the Gryphons went back to attacking the basket and  Carmen Richardson scored
The last eight points for the Gryphons.

Rocky Mount kept Hunt in the game making only 10 of 24  free throws but Richardson made four of five the last few minutes.  Their reward is a championship game meeting with Northern who has already beat them by double digits three times this year.

Richardson scored 27 on the night and the Gryphon shooting guard added 10 rebounds.  Keyanna Spivey delivered down low against the taller trees of Hunt scoring 13 point and pulling down 8 rebounds.

Alexus Williams lead Hunt with 15 points and 11 rebounds.  Brianna Pate scored 11 as the only other double digit scorer.  Hunt at 14-9 now waits for the NCHCAA playoff seeding which I doubt they will get a home game in the playoffs next week.

There was some comments made the last time Nash Central played Northern by coach Terry Cash that the MVP of the Big East was her guard Ni'Ya Styles.   If I had a vote I would vote for Alexus Hill of Northern.  Tonight Hill put an exclamation point in front of Terry Cash as to why she should be the MVP.  Hill scored  23 points, 10 rebounds, had six assists could of had three more but two shots were missed by team mates  while another was fouled while shooting.  To add more to her MVP resume' she had three steals and two blocked shots.

Kiana Thomas delivered 20 points and 9 rebounds.  C C Harrison plucked down 15 rebounds as Northern Nash delivers a knock out blow to Nash Central 64-30.  Central made it a game through the first half as the score was just 31-21.  When you only score 9 points in the second you get a blow out.

Ni'ya Styles lead Nash Centralwith 12.  Krystal Atkinson pull down 7 rebounds for Central but no other Lady Bulldog had more than 5.  Northern at 22-1 will now play Rocky Mount  for the Big East tournament title Friday night at 6pm.  Both Rocky Mount and Northern for Rocky Mount at least one home game while Northern should get three home games in the sectional if they keep winning.