Friday, January 20, 2017

Northern's The Boss

The top two boys team in the Big East squared off tonight at Northern Nash as they hosted Fike.. Both teams came in 2-0 and The Knights jumped to a 12 point first quarter lead.  Fike closed the half cutting the lead to 7 but the Knights took control in the second and leave no doubt who's the top team winning  84-65.  Northern is now 3-0 with three games in conference next week while Fike drops to 2-1.

The Lady Gryphons never gave the Lady Birds of Southern Nash a chance to breathe tonight as there was never any indication of having a chance.  Once the final horn sounded the Lady Gryphons are set for their showdown Monday with Hunt after a 54-9 victory. Rocky Mount wins their tenth game in twelve tries 3-0 in thd Big East. Southern Nash has lost 11 of 14 and 0-3 in Big East Play.

The Fike Lady Golden Demons stay in the upper  echelon of the Big East after a victory over Northern Nash 44-26.  Fike 12-4  2-1 while Northern Falls to 6-11 0-3.

There was a very important game played in Rocky Mount tonight as  the two teams that could least afford a loss squared off when the Gryphons hosted the Firebirds both 0-2 in conference in the big East.  These teams played a close one and Rocky Mount wins 63-59. Rocky Mount trailer by one entering the fourth quarter.  Joseph Blue led the Gryphons scoring 26. Rocky Mount gets one foot out of the grave going to 1-2 while Southern has to figure out where to go from here.

Nash Central paid a visit to Hunt and the Bulldogs survive a long desperate three at the buzzer to beat the Warriors 58-55.  The Bulldogs go to 2-1 in conference and win their 10th game overall while Hunt falls to 1-2 and lose their 12th overall.

The shocker of the night is the Lady Bulldogs of Nash Central go into unbeaten Hunt's house and destroy the Warriors. 61-45.

There will be a doubleheader basketball action Saturday at NC Wesleyan. Men play at 2pm Saturday and women at 4.

Post Exam

Another week gone and at this point the Big East  basketball has sat silent  as Nash County schools held exams.  Friday night the bounce of the ball returns and unless weather decides to influence us later before the end of the season everyone will get at least two conference games for the rest of the season.  Next week three making up that Tuesday game lost during the ice.

Should be a full house at Northern Nash as the Knights of Northern Nash 14-2 2-0 will host Fike 12-3 2-0 collide with first place on the line when they take to the court about 8:30 tonight.  Fike averaging 64 points a game is led in scoring by Samson Strickland 18.1 points per game. Northern winners of 4 in a row are led by Darius Spragley at 16.1.  Should be rocking in Red Oak.

Nash Central 9-4 1-1 pays a visit to Hunt 4-11 1-1.  These two are in the middle of the standings with the winner tying for second. Montre' Cash leads the conference in scoring leads the Bulldogs at 21 points per game out of 64 scored by the Bulldogs.  Hunts leader is KJ Jones coming every game at 10.5 points per contest.

Southern Nash and Rocky Mount meet at Rocky Mount at stake last place for  the loser.  The Firebirds 5-11 0-2 are led by Darius Endmonson 11.5 per game while Rocky Mount counters with J Cherry-Blue 16.1.

The girls agenda has no unbeaten against unbeaten lined up for tonight.  The prime game is Nash Central 7-6 1-1 at Hunt 14-1 2-0.  Michaela Nelms has taken over the scoring leadership for the Lady Dogs after the injury to Robbi Allen.  Hunt has 7 players averaging over 4 points per game and Tatiana Smith 10.5.

Fike 11-4 1-1 visits Northern 6-10 0-2: Northern has no double digit scorers with Markela Avent averaging 9 points per game.  The Golden Demons are led by Jada Lee at 13.7.

Southern Nash 3-10 0-2 will be in Rocky Mount facing the Gryphons 9-2 2-0.  Southern's conference losing streak go's all the way back to the end of the 2014 season.  Jessy Lucas scores 10.4 points which is right at half of the points scored by the Lady Birds.  Senior Keyanna Spivey leads the Gryphons at 21.3.  Her average is about the same as the entire Lady Bird team scores.

The upcoming 2017/2018 school year is realignment year in the North Carolina High school Athletic Association.  The last 12 years all of the Nash county schools have been in the same conference.  The first four years their conference was called the NEW because of the combination of SouthWest Edgecombe from Edgecombe County, Fike from Wilson County and the four Nash county schools.

Eight years ago Hunt joined the conference and it's name was changed to the Big East.  Four years ago SouthWest dropped to 2A but the conference kept the conference name the Big East.  Nash Central will be dropping to 2A next year and Franklinton joins and the conference will keep the name Big East.

The NCHSAA is waiting for all the conferences for next year to send in their new conference names if they are going to change.  Right now Nash Central will be joining what was called the Eastern Plains 2A.  They have yet submitted to the NCHSAA whether the conference name will change or not.  Neither has the Two Rivers with North Edgecombe and Tarboro.  I don't see where there has been any changes with the teams already in the conference and the new ones joining not to leave their conference names the same as the Big  East  has done.