Northern Sweats It Out

This blog on Monday I made the comment there was no evidence that Northern Nash 6-0 guys should have  trouble with Southern Nash 0-6. Boy was I wrong.

Northern lost two starters one sick then the other a banging head on the floor for several minutes in the first half and the Knights were out of sync and Southern Nash took advantage.

Southern led by two at the end of the first quarter, 11 at the half and 8 at the end of the third.  Northern showed their grit and comes from behind to beat Southern Nash 65-62.


The Lady Bulldogs of Nash Central went 4-1 through the first Round of conference action.  The second time around has not been good.  Rocky Mount took them down Friday at Nash Central.  Tonight at Fike the Golden Demons take down the  Bulldogs and with it claiming second place after a 62-58 victory.  Trailing by 16 at the end of the third quarter the Bulldogs fought hard but couldn't catch up.

The Lady Birds of Southern Nash hit their average when they scored 22 points.  Their Problem the Lady Knights of Northern Nash got close to ten above theirs and beat Southern Nash 39-22.  It was Northern's second conference win both against Southern who now stands at 0-7 in conference play.

Northern's boys comeback win keeps them in first and if Nash Central was to stay one game behind they needed to win at Fike.  Didn't happen as Fike beats Nash Central 67-53.  This shoves Fike 5-2 into second while Nash Central drops to third 4-3.

Last week in Rocky Mount the Gryphons edged the Hunt Warriors in a close battle.  Tonight Hunt returns the favor and scores with less than ten seconds to play to beat Rocky Mount boys 52-51.

The Lady Gryphons remained unbeaten in conference play beating Hunt at Hunt 52-29.  The Gryphons will make up the last possible missed non conference game tonight traveling to 4A South Central in Winterville.

Nash Central's Sarah Hicks won during the Big East swim meet the 50 and 100 meter freestyle and was a member of the Nash Central relay team that won the 200 medley relay.  Her three wins earned the NCHSAA girls high school performer of the week.

Southern's Kendrick Watson Wrestler Of The Year

Heavy weight wrestler Kendrick Watson of Southern Nash won the Big East heavy weight title and with it was  named the Big East Wrestler of the Year.  He joins seven other wrestlers from Nash County that won their weight divisions and will now head to the wrestling regionals February 10/11.

Nash Central had three wrestlers to take home titles as Josh Brice was a winner at 152 pounds.  Emanuel Williams won at 170 and Alex Noble was a winner at 195 pounds.

Southern Nash had a second winner as Vyshaun Richardson  was a winner at 182.

Rocky  Mount had two conference champions with Rashun Lawrence a winner at 113 and Keyonte Williams winning at 132

Northern Nash's conference champion was Dylan Joyner winning at 220.

Fike won the conference team title scoring 179.5, second goes to Southern Nash 146.5, third Nash Central 97.5.  Northern Nash and Rocky Mount tie for 4th/5th with 86 and Hunt rounds out the field with 73.

Tonight begins the Duels or the team competition in the playoffs.  Only two teams from the Big East make the team tournaments as conference champions Fike and Southern will be wrestling tonight.Wrestling is broken down into four team tournaments and conference champion Fike will wrestle in the opening round Western Harnett and their wrestling site is Orange County High who wrestles Corinth Holders.  The two winners meet so by the end of the evening only one team will advance from that pod.

Southern Nash as the number two in the Big East will be traveling to Union Pines and the Firebirds will hit the mat against Asheboro.  Host Union Pines will wrestle West Brunswick. then the two winners meet.  If Southern survives that rounds three and four are Thursday with a state team champion determined Saturday in 3A.

I wish football could take a notice of how easy playoffs can be.  Wrestling will determine a state champion in one week while it takes 5 weeks for football.  I understand football playing only one time a week but lets cut the football playoffs to four weeks.

Wednesday is national signing day for football.  Rocky Mount will have three signing Letters of Intent.  Sherrod Greene will sign with South Carolina. Artavious Richardson with North Carolina A&T and B J Sanders with Charleston Southern.  If you know of others around the Big East Twin Counties please pass it along here.