Mullins Named NCHSAA Performer Of The Week

Josh Mullins who poured in 39 points in Nash Central's conference victory last week has been named the Male NCHSAA Performer of the week.  The weekly award is presented by Time Warner Cable.  So far this season Mullins is averaging 23.5 points per game and at this point in the season is in line to be named the player of the year.

The Northern Nash at Rocky Mount Tuesday night action has been moved to Wednesday starting at 6pm for the girls game. The JV games will be played in the Auxiliary gym so the girls varsity game will start at 6pm.

The Nash Central at Southern Nash Games scheduled for tonight has been moved to February 3rd.

The only Big East action played  was in Wilson County as bitter rivals Hunt and Fike took to the floor and heading into tonight Hunt boys were 2-1 while Fike was 1-2.  Fike edges Hunt 54-49.  Sitting idle tonight Nash Central  3-0 only has only one team Southern Nash 3-1  with one loss  Fike 2-2, Hunt 2-2 Northern Nash 1-3 and Rocky Mount 0-3  are all at least two losses behind or more.

Fike girls moved to 3-1 in conference playing beating their top rival Hunt. 55-37.  The Lady Demons are now 15-3 on the season.  Hunt falls to 1-3 and overall 3-13.

This Saturday I will be heading back to my old stomping grounds and in this Case Chowan University where Saturday Afternoon the floor of the Jesse Helms Center will be named for legendary coach Bob Burke.  Bob called me before Christmas to invite me to the Saturday naming.

Burke came to Chowan in the summer of 1980.  At that time I was a salesman working at the radio station in Ahoskie and one morning I was in Murfreesboro making sales calls when I entered the Hardee's and as I stood at the counter placing an order I heard my name called from someone seated.

I had never met Bob Burke at this time but as I turned I recognized him from his picture being in the paper.  He told me to come sit with him as we had something to talk about.  That day Burke told me he wanted Chowan basketball on the radio and what had to happen for it to happen.

Basketball season was all ready on going so I devised a plan  to carry five away games that first season.  I traveled to each with the team  on the van and we went to Randolph Macon, ECU, Louisburg, Lenoir CC and Craven CC.  By year two we made five road games each season but added all the home games.

During the 1981-1993 seasons  I was privileged to be part of Chowan making three trips to the Juco final 16.  I broadcast 169 victories and only 23 losses.  I interviewed on the radio Roy Williams who was the Carolina JV coach then,  Bobby Cremmins of Georgia Tech and  Carl Tacy of Wake Forest and so many more.  They all came calling on the likes of Nate McMillan and so many more that came through Chowan during the Burke era.

I have been very lucky in my life to have been able to follow teams that always seemed to be very good when I'm calling their games.  While talking on the phone with Bob in December and he was naming the people who would be there he said this. " You were there from the beginning and it was your words spreading the word about Chowan basketball.  You were there during the Juco days and I want you there with me."  How could I refuse.

The Halfway Point

Tuesday night marks the halfway point at least on the calendar of the Big East basketball.  The boys find Nash Central in the lead at 3-0,Southern Nash has three also but have a loss hung on them that the Bulldogs don't have.  Hunt has won twice with one loss.  Fike with a single win have collected two losses.  Two teams have three losses Northern Nash and Rocky Mount.  The Knights have the only single win among them.

Come Wednesday morning the win total will double to two between them as Northern visits Rocky Mount.  What does a rivalry really mean?  It doesn't always happen when both teams are winning.  Tonight the loser is in last place.  Can a game be any more important tonight than tonight.  Northern Nash 1-3 11-5 @ Rocky Mount 0-3 0-13.  Overall this record favors a Northern win but this is at Rocky Mount.

Southern Nash 3-1 10-5 @ Nash Central 3-0 9-7.  The battle for the halfway point lead.  The Bulldogs over all record is deceiving.  Their unbeaten conference record is not.  I think by years end these two will sit a top the standings.  In which order is the question.

Fike 1-2 6-11 @ Hunt 2-1 7-9.  The Wilson County version of NN/RM.

Girls Action:

The domination of 33 straight wins is over.  Many times when a long streaks ends teams lose twice before they recover.  Northern Nash 3-1 13-3 visits Rocky Mount 2-1 9-4.  They have already met once in the Christmas tournament with RM winning.  Four teams are at least 2-1 in conference play so a win could bounce you upwards and a loss tumble you down

Southern Nash 0-4 0-14 visits Nash Central 2-1 13-3.  Should be no problem for Nash Central.

Fike 2-1 14-3 visits Hunt 1-2 3-12.  Like the guys four teams are 2-1 and needing victory to stay near the top.

Last night NC Wesleyan took a double dip win over William Peace.  The girls won at home 65-55 over former Northern Nash Knight Susannah Sykes who scored 7 points.  Kenyatta Harris led the way scoring 22 for the Battling Bishops.  Up in Raleigh the men were at William Peace and hit triple digits winning 100-90.  DJ  Weaver lead the Battling Bishops with 23.