Playoff Projections Holy Smoke

These days with computers computing team ratings and how they are expected to finish rest of the season the early returns are in and Highschoolot.com is projecting all six boys basketball teams from the Big East will make the state playoffs.  How can they even consider that and the answer has to be everyone in the league has an overall winning  record.  Right now the only team not over 500 on the year is Northern Nash and they  very well just might win the regular season title.  The projections show Hunt as the four seed, Fike 11th,Northern Nash 21st, Nash Central 24th, Southern Nash 26th and Rocky Mount 28th.  So tonight's action could shift some of those seeding around but as long as a team doesn't go rest of the season without a win everyone has a chance to make the playoffs.

The magic continues for the red hot Knights of Northern Nash.  Northern held a three point half time lead gave it away to trail 50-44 after three quarters.  Like they have done the last three weeks Northern's confidence down the stretch they think they are going to win and they have gone to Fike and scored with less than five second left to beat Fike 64-63.  Northern if they beat Rocky Mount  Friday will win the top seed in the Big East Tournament since they have beaten Hunt both times they played this season.

Hunt had their mid season discipline issues which they seemed to have clear up and tonight you could not convince Nash Central that Hunt has any issues Hunt swamps Nash Central 64-44 setting up their game Friday night with Fike that if Hunt wins they might get the top seed pending Northern Nash's outcome with Rocky Mount.

Rocky Mount still has a shot at third in the Big East standings after beating Southern Nash 78-73.  Rocky Mount needs to beat Northern and hope Hunt beats Fike and they could secure third having beaten Fike in both games during the season.  Southern loses their fourth conference game in a row and   drop down to a tie for fifth with Nash Central so they meet Friday playing for last place after each was just tied for first three games back.

Five of the six girls teams look secure.  Northern Nash is going to be either first or second along with Eastern Wayne who is also undefeated.  Hunt will be seeded 12th, Rocky Mount 20th, Nash Central 27th and Fike gets in at 31 so they are on the edge of falling out so let's see who improved their seeding and who is a bubble team now.

You had to expect to finally find somebody that was going to try to hold the ball on Northern Nash.  The have beaten everyone in conference by an average of 23 points so tonight Fike takes their time when attacking on offense and at the end of the first quarter Northern only led 5-2.  It was 12-6 at the half  and by games end Fike has been as close as anybody but still no cigar as Northern Nash wins number 20 without a defeat as they  beat Fike at Fike 35-27.  It is the lowest scoring output of the season for Northern but it's a win. 

Hunt if they can keep winning are looking  at a home game in the first round and they get'er done beating Nash Central  49-35.  Both Fike and Nash Central even though the computers are showing them in right now they need a win Friday or a win next week in the conference tournament.

Rocky Mount girls clinched third beating Southern Nash 64-47.  Rocky Mount best Fike in both matches this year so if they both finish 5-5 Rocky Mount get the third seed.