From the Press Box

A Few Thoughts About That

2012-02-19T06:45:00.003-05:00

I bet I have been asked ten thousand times since the rumors in November about the football job at Rocky Mount. Now that there is an opening everyone wants to know who is it going to be and when. I have no idea. I will not ask the powers to be about any personnel matter. My thought is that is none of my business and the only personnel matter I need to worry about is my own on my job. I do believe that it will be a while before you hear anything because the only opening at Rocky Mount is the football coach not a teacher position.

It will be hard to hire anyone without being able to find out what they are going to teach and coach. Yes I am sure they are receiving applications but how can they hire anyone without having a full time job for someone. They only solution there is that an existing teacher leave mid semester and create an opening. Bottom line is I doubt you will hear anything for a while maybe until the end of the school year. I know everyone wants a coach now but I doubt it is happening soon.

Tyler Joyner has waited two years since he pitched one inning for the Pirates of ECU but Joyner the former Northern Nash grad made good use of his first appearance of the Pirates in 2012. Joyner came in the game as a reliever in the fourth inning and went 4.2 innings gave up one hit an no runs and picked up his first win in D1 college baseball.

Gryphon Benton Moss was not as fortunate in his first start for The Tar Heels. Moss failed to get out of the second inning giving up four earned runs on three hits. His good news was that he did not suffer the loss as the Tar Heels won 16-10 to get him off the hook.

Two Gryphon Wrestlers are Regional Champs J K Williamson and Alex Knight both won their weight classes and are heading to the State as regional Champions. Several more area players qualified for the state and I am sure Sunday's Telegram can give you those names.

I saw some old habits pop up in the Big East Tournament for the Gryphon boys. They lacked intensity that they have displayed over the last month. When that happens they have turnovers and they want to try to make the ESPN high lights which most of the time fails to work. Sophomore Donte Battle is now a defensive force in the middle and that gives the Gryphons a stopper if you should survive getting past the guards.

Amani Kipp and Kelsey Daniels the Lady Gryphon two biggest players have improved as this season has gone forward. If the Lady Gryphons are to make it to the Regional the Lady Gryphons will have to dominate the paint.

Northern Nash girls will need to hit outside shots to progress forward to return to the Regional. In all three losses to Rocky Mount it was their inability to hit outside shots that lead to defeat. Friday they hit a couple of 3's early but once the Gryphon started playing zone they didn't make any then. It would really be something if Northern and Rocky Mount see each other for a 5th time.

All of this discussion about Peyton Manning and his salary due March 8th here's what I think is going to happen. The Colts are going to waive him and then restructure his contract and Manning stays a Colt.

Gryphon Doubleheader Monday Sectional Basketball

2012-02-18T18:02:00.001-05:00

The NCHSAA has released the brackets for the upcoming high school basketball playoffs and both Rocky Mount teams are seeded #2 when the playoff begin Monday night. High School football coaches voted after two years to stop the POD system in playoffs and I hope after this year basketball throws it away too.

Rocky Mount (21-3)boys as the #2 seed will get the home court throughout the Sectional as long as they win. Up first Eastern Wayne. Eastern Wayne is the #15 seed and will bring to Rocky Mount a 8-12 record. Tap time Monday night will be ten minutes after the girls.

Should Rocky Mount win their second game could be against Nash Central (14-6)the #7 seed. As a 7 seed Nash Central is home Monday hosting Havelock(12-8). The Nash Central football team was dealt the same circumstance in football and had to play Big East #1 Hunt in Round two.

Southern Nash is an 11 seed and will be on the road at Southern Wayne. That game winner could be in line to meet Rocky Mount in Round three. Hunt the 4th member of the Big East a 12 seed heads to Winterville and gets South Central in the opening round.

Should the brackets hold true and #1West Craven 23-1 wins the upper bracket they would meet Rocky Mount in the Regional but there is a week of basketball between now and then.

How wonderful the POD is. Rocky Mount girls as the #2 (22-2) seed will meet Hunt the #15 seed. The Lady Gryphons will have home court throughout the sectional or as long as they play. Looming in round two is South Central a team the Lady Gryphons beat in December but knocked Rocky Mount out in the Sectional finals last year as part of the three losses South Central put on Rocky Mount. If the Lady Gryphons win the first two rounds looming in the Sectional finals is Northern Nash.

Northern (18-2) is seeded as a #6 and have a home game Tuesday against Havelock (15-7). Looming in Round two is C B Aycock(14-8) or D H Conley (13-9. That game could be on the road. Should Northern survive the first two rounds round five of Rocky Mount /Northern Nash game of the week is possible but like the boys there is a lot of basketball between now and then.

Nash Central girls(12-8) the #13 seed are on the road and that just might be Monday as they travel to Hertford County(14-7) and the #4 seed. Hertford County boys have a home game and they just might play a doubleheader just like Rocky Mount.

Dotted through out the brackets are several teams having to play other conference foes in the opening round. It is not like and one league got the shaft but there has to be a better way than this.

TOO Much J Brown

2012-02-17T22:49:00.001-05:00

It might have been billed as the game of the century but they have now play four times in 60 days so it might better be the game of the week as Northern Nash and Rocky Mount renewed their weekly tug of war called Big East girls basketball.

Northern shot out at the beginning of the game as if they were the New York Giant defense and mid court was a first down and they didn't plan on Rocky Mount getting many first downs tonight. The Lady Gryphons found themselves down by double digits before they got a first down or as it seemed crossed mid court. Rocky Mount was piling up fouls and turnovers so fast that Jimmy Johns missed a delivery.

Sometimes luck falls your way even when you don't ask for it. Pam Gainey about out of player in the second quarter and down by 14 went to a zone defense first of all to protect the important players but to help stabilize a very rather flustered Gryphon team. It worked not only helped the Gryphons get both feet planted on the floor but it took all of Northern's MO away.

Because of foul trouble the Gryphons found Kelsy Daniels and she played the game of her life helping keep the Gryphons a float until J took over. Daniels scored seven points had several blocks and another four rebounds but all the while Northern had built a 14 point lead.

It seemed as if the Gryphon comeback was one point at the time at they made 28 out of 34 free throws lead by J'Kyra Brown who was doubled teamed all over the floor and found the only way to score was drive to the hole and go the the free line where she dumped 17 out of 18. She managed 30 on the night and over time was all J.

Northern had their chance to salt the game away but only made 13 of their 23 free shots. Rocky Mount survived the last 25 seconds as Northern held the ball to win but failed to make a good attempt. The Gryphons outscored Northern 7-3 in overtime.

Northern can't fault Jasmine Griffin as she collect 14 points on the inside and Alexus Hill had 15 in and outside. Northern has lost six games in the last two seasons and five have come at the hands of the Gryphons.

Final Rocky Mount 59 Northern Nash 55

The Rocky Mount boys took on Southern Nash in the night cap and Rocky Mount ran into a gritty determined Firebird team that gave it their best shot but in the end the 21-3 Gryphons were too much for the Firebirds to handle and the Gryphons both boys and girls take the regular season and Tournament titles for the second straight season.

Terrill Hilliard was named MVP for the boys and I guess you figured J'Kyra Brown was MVP for the girls. Hilliard scored 19 after having 17 Wednesday. Rocky Mount beat Southern 76-61. Everyone is in a waiting game now until 6pm Saturday night when this new Pod system brackets in basketball hits the internet.

Lady Bulldogs/Golden Demons Play Their Hearts Out

2012-02-16T22:27:00.001-05:00

You could not ask for any better effort from the #3 and 6 seed in the semi finals tonight at Northern Nash. The problem for them they played two power house teams and both win by double digits.

Northern Nash playing at home could not hit the broad side of the barn with the door open but one thing they can do is play defense and the D caused 28 Fike turnovers and 28 is just way too many even when a team has a lid on the basket. Northern Nash advances to the finals of the Big East Girls Tournament with a 48-35 win. Northern trailed most of the game until late in the third quarter when the defensive pressure finally wilted the 6th seed Golden Demons.

Northern did not have one player in double figures but had eight players that scored at least 3 points. Alexus Hill had 9. Jessica Lyons pulled down 7 rebounds to lead the Lady Knights.

The opening game of the night Rocky Mount lead about the entire first half by 5-7 points but two Nash Central players played as well as they can play and kept the Lady Bulldogs in it until the 4th quarter. Timyra Staton score 16 points and snatched 11 rebounds. Marquesha Washington grab 13 rebounds. Those two got 24 of Nash Central 36 boards for the night.

Rocky Mount force the Bulldogs into 12 turnovers the first 10 minutes of the game but Staton running a foward/point helped cut the turnovers down and Nash Central finished with only 21 for the game. Rocky Mount was lead by J'Kyra Brown who scored 21 and Alexus Cooper chipped in 10. Rocky Mount had upped the lead to 52-34 when the starters came out of the game and Nash Central made their only two field goals of the 4th quarter the last minute of play. Rocky Mount 52- Nash Central 41

Rocky Mount will try to win a double Tournament championship for the second year in a row as the girls meet Northern on Northern's home floor for the second time in a week. Rocky Mount boys will take on the #3 seed Southern Nash for the boys crown.

Firebirds Knock Off Bulldogs Again

2012-02-15T22:13:00.001-05:00

Southern Nash opened the semi finals of the Big East basketball Tournament feeling sorry for themselves losing one of their star players Monday night in Marcus Hicks to a knee injury. The Firebirds floundered during the first half and scored but 12 points. Nash Central to me seemed sluggish even when building a 27-12 halftime lead. It could have been 40-12.

Southern came out of the locker room and instantly cut into the Bulldog lead which they reduced to even Steven when Jalen Hendricks hit a questionable three pointer to end the third to give the Bulldogs a 39-36 lead. I am sure Robbie Kennedy and Firebird fans would liked to have seen the replay because it did look as if Hendricks was still on the way up when the horn sounded.

The final stanza went back and forth and by the 32 minute mark the game was tied at 52 and the game went into overtime. Southern held the Bulldogs to one field goal in overtime and come away with their second victory of Nash Central in five days 60-55.

Josh Sessoms lead the Firebirds with 13, Jonte Hunter11 and Brandon Stafford 10 to lead the #3 seed Firebirds. Jalen Hendricks topped the Bulldogs with 14 followed by Daniel Pittman with 11 and Phillip Jones with 10.

The opening game of the night the top seed Rocky Mount blistered Hunt for the first 12 minutes of the game and after that put the cruise control on and coasted to a 77-69 win over Hunt. The Gryphons lead 38-20 at the half . Hunt out rebounded RM 32-22 but the real difference in the game Hunt had 31 turnovers 21 in the first half .

Levon Brutus had 20, Terrill Hilliard 17, Tevin Taylor 13 and Donte Battle 10. Hunt was lead by Justin Jefferson with 17 Parker Lamn 17 and Daniel Westbrook 11. This was the 20th win of the season for the Gryphons who now meet Southern Nash in the Tournament final Friday night at 7.30.

Thursday is girls Semi night as Rocky Mount takes on Nash Central and Northern Nash in the night cap plays the #6 seed Fike. The two winners meet Friday night at 6.00pm. I was rather disappointed in the crowd. I figured by the end of the Hunt-Rocky Mount game as the Central/Southern crowd was just showing up the gym would be close to full never happened. Southern had the most vocal fans all night and just maybe the biggest showing from anyone's fans.

Intensity Building

2012-02-14T18:38:00.001-05:00

The whole idea about finishing first in any league is first of all you don't have to play in the conference tournament until at least Wednesday for the Boys and Thursday for the girls. This time of year rest will be few and far between from here until the end of the season whenever that is.

Rocky Mount boys hit the hardwood at Northern Nash Wednesday night at 6pm against Hunt who was a 55-42 winner over Fike Monday night. Hunt has earned at least the #4 seed and should they win the tournament could jump to #2 still in next weeks Sectional. Fike Mondays loser has to settle for fifth and there is no guarantee they will play next week.

Every conference is guaranteed one half of their league members plus one. Since the Big East has six teams three are in plus one more. Hunt got that one more spot Monday should they lose Wednesday to Rocky Mount. Throughout the East there are a couple of slots to fill to make 16 team brackets so the #5 seeds are looked at and the best of the rest get invited to the Sectional. Fike now 5-16 will probably not be a best of the rest.

Wednesday's lineup at Northern will be a good one with Rocky Mount and Hunt and Nash Central and Southern Nash. Southern has some questions from injuries Monday night as to how strong they will be the entire game. So it is Rocky Mount #1 seed against Hunt #4 seed and Nash Central #2 against Southern #3. Winners meet Friday night at 7.30pm at Northern Nash for the Conference Tournament title.

Friday is Regional Wrestling at Rocky Mount High School. This is the individual events not team so every Big East Wrestler that qualify for the playoffs will be wrestling starting Friday and if you win you keep going. It starts at 4.00pm Friday and then all day Saturday until all weight classes are finished and Regional champs declared. If I am not mistaken wrestlers can qualify for the state meet by finishing 4th or better in the regional. That still might mean they have to win four matches without losing in their weight class.

This week is try outs for all springs sports. Next Monday is the first official day of any sport to start spring practice. You will start to see spring scrimmages next week . Baseball opens with Rose on the 28th. That's two weeks from today.

Season Best Forgotten

2012-02-13T20:35:00.001-05:00

If Rick Ruffin could go back in time and change the events of life I think he would start around August 1st 2011. Expecting the best returning player in the Big East back for his Junior year he found out that he had transferred to RM Prep. His second best player and his best outside shooter had decided life after high school was going to include a tennis racket not a basketball. His top two players gone Ruffin began the 2011-2012 school year perflexed at how to grow some tall basketball players by November. None were forth coming.

Using a five guard lineup at times Northern Nash has just completed a basketball season they had rather forget as the Knights of Northern Nash the host of the 2012 Big East Tournament has lost their 15th straight game and 20th on the season as Southern Nash ends the Northern anguish this season 70-48 in the opening round of the Big East Tournament. Southern plays Nash Central at 7.30 Wednesday night.

I would think that the least crowd of the week at the Big East Tournament will be Tuesday as the girls quarterfinals take off. The battle of Wilson County will send Hunt against Fike and Nash Central will play Southern Nash in the other game. Wednesday the upper echelon of the Big East joins the fun for the boys semi final.

Is there a new pro baseball prospect with Nash County connections? Sunday Alex Pearce pitch six innings of two hit ball as UNC Pembroke won their eighth game in a row and for Alex he has now pitched 12 inning this winter and is 2-0 as a pitcher for the Braves. He has now given up three earned runs in his 12 innings and that is an era of 2.25 Way to go Alex!

Speaking of college baseball D1 baseball teams will open their baseball seasons this weekend. Have you seen the State Farm Insurance ad with Aaron Rogers. The agent in the ad asking Aaron about his policies is Mike Sollie who is a former N C State baseball player and if you ever listen to 99.9 The Fan you have heard him many times advertising his agency in Raleigh. He got the gig with Rogers because he's one of the top selling State Farm agents in America.

I wished the sports news media could have gotten what they wanted Sunday. Tiger Woods fell by the way side as Phil Michelson charged from six shots back to win going away. All afternoon ESPN on their sport scroll of scores they were giving a play by play of Woods score. I thought CBS's coverage was about what you would expect as any Network carrying golf wants Tiger to make a charge to boost ratings. Tiger has seen his best days with the putter and he will win more tournaments but they will be few and far between. Michelson it was his 40th PGA title which makes him ninth of all time. If he had of come ten years before Tiger he would probably be held in high esteem as Arnold Palmer status but his career is in the shadow of Tiger who has the Jack Nicklaus status.