Let's Be Truthful

The NCHSAA basketball playoffs begin Monday and every team that takes part as of right this minute are dreaming of turning their seasons around and make magic happen.  Let's take of look at each in our area and see what are their chances.  Match ups  each and every game are very important and this review is not about who you will play but what each has to do or not do to advance.

We will start with the best chance to make it to the Regional the Lady Knights of Northern Nash.   They by far are the most complete team in the area.  They have an over all leader in Alexus Hill who does not have to score to be the leader.  She is how ever a great scorer when needed.  They are tall but any one taller in the playoffs they are athletic enough to  to neutralize the other teams size.

 They have a player would could make the all mud team in Susie Sykes.  She is the dive on the floor player who does what has to be done to win.  Most importantly they have an emerging point guard in Alexia Hines. She seems taller than she is  and plays excellent defense.  Quick on defense and on offense.  The team that beats them will have to out play them.

The Lady Gryphons are truly a team that has gotten every ounce from every player this year.  I said right here on this blog in early December they would be lucky to win eight games.  They have and MVP candidate in Carmen Richardson but after that where are the points coming from.  It has come this year from a group that was totally committed to playing the Pam Gainey defense. Nothing makes a team look any better that putting the ball in the hole and their defense makes plays.  The team that beats them will not let their defense bother them and will have too much offense for them to stop?

Nash Central has Mi'Ya  styles and there. is their weakness.  They have not developed any other offensive threats to threaten another teams defense.  I heard a coach from the bench last week say"stop Mi'Ya and you stop Nash Central.

How in the world did Fike  get in the playoffs over Southern Nash?  Better overall record.  The top three seeds were guaranteed spots and after that best overall record. Fike was 9-15 while Southern 8-15.  They have one player E J Proctor stop her and you stop Fike.

Hunt boys have an inside player in Josh Willingham at 6'6" is a quick player and he is the only player in the Big East that can match Rocky Mounts front line.  They have guards that if they switch jerseys you would never know it.  They are quick good defenders and all of them can shoot.  Have a great chance to make it to the a Regional and if they lose any where along the way it wil be a big team that can match their guards.

If there is one team hurt more by this weird schedule that two weeks of exams and two weeks of weather dealt this winter it was the Rocky Mpunt boys.  They have been in search for a point guard all season and practice is where you find players who step forward.  They begin the playoffs with the best front court in the east in Dante Battle and Emmanual King. They even have tall back up in Jaquell Bryant who while he is in the game make them tougher to score on inside.  Isaiah Alston and Brod Caudle are excellent outside shooters.  The team that beat RM will neutralize the front court and win the guard play.

That is what has happened in every Gryphon loss.  If Rocky Mount finds magic they can be a hard out for any one.  If they don't get great guard play this week the season will end without a fifth straight trip to the regional.


Southern Nash has their best all round team since I have been in this area.  They are a team of excellent shooters but no size at all.   Fike is as talented of a team in Big East as there is.  Seems they don't have the discipline down the stretch which points to guard play.  If they would catch fire they could go along way.  If not home early.