Gryphon Run Continues

The unlikely run of a team that has almost twice the losses than wins on the season the Rocky Mount Gryphons continued tonight in Wilson in the semi finals of the Big East tournament when they met their arch rival Northern Nash.

Northern rejuvenated after breaking their eight game conference losing streak Tuesday night in the opening round of the Big East tournament knocking off Nash Central one of the three teams tied for first.  It is just as possible for the team that finished last in the league to run the table in the Big East Tournament as the team with all the losses.

So two teams with so much to gain played the first game of the night and Rocky Mount had a steady lead throughout the first three quarters leading most of the time around eight points.  Northern made a last stand push down the stretch cutting the lead to one under a minute to go.  The Gryphons made enough free throws to hold off Northern 55-53.

Northern now waits to see where they will be seeded but more than likely they will open the playoffs next week at a conference champion.  Rocky Mount winning only their 7th game all year can still win the Big East number one spot Friday night. They already know by winning tonight they can be seeded as at least the number two from Big East which should provide a home game next week.

Three teams tied for first and Southern Nash won the draw to be seeded in the one  spot for the tournament.  In order to get the conference top seed in next week's state tournament Southern sat out until the second game tonight and they face the host team Fike.

The game went much the way the first  game of the night did as The Firebirds started slow but during the second and third quarters had a comfortable cushion.  The Golden Demons did not go quietly into the night and Made a run in the fourth.  Much like the first game Southern Nash survives and will pay for title 51-46.

Rocky Mount lost twice to Southern Nash by 16 during the Christmas Tournament and lost by 16 in the first cycle visit to Southern.  Just 10 days again Rocky Mount won by 8 at Gryphonland.  What's on the Line Friday night the top seed in next week's. state tournament.

The girls game starts at 6pm when Northern Nash and Rocky Mount play for the title. It doesn't
 Happen often but four teams from Nash County will travel to Wilson County  to decide Big East tournament titles.


Last night's victory by NC Wesleyan over Averett gave the Battling Bishops the regular season title and the number one seed in the USA South tournament next week.  Whether it's the girls or boys the regular season champs host the Tournament. Starting next Thursday the top eight teams will report to Rocky Mount where starting at 1pm Thursday afternoon the 3/6 seed teams will clash.  The 3 PM game will feature the 2-7 teams.  The five o'Clock game will be the 4/5 teams.

The host Battling Bishops will play the number eight seed in the nightcap at seven PM.  Every team in the league has one game left this Saturday and the only team that know whether they are as far as seeding is the top team North Carolina Wesleyan.  Two through eight will not be known until the end of play Saturday.