Two years ago while Rocky Mount was making their run for their second State Championship in three years the point guard on the team was Tabias Hilliard. If you needed a basket Tabias was probably the last option on the floor to shoot the ball when we really needed a big basket.
His specialty was defense and handing off assists to his brother Terrill and his other teammates taking the Gryphons all the way to a state title. There are times when players get offered scholarships
solely because he was part of a great team and yes Methodist University came calling and Tabias became a Monarch.
I knew Tabias was a solid player for the Gryphons but who in their right mind would ever think that our Tabias would be the starting point guard for Methodist in his very first game as a freshman. He had a solid freshman year and his freshman year turned into a sophomore season and what do we have on our hands now? Only an assist dishing scoring machine.
Methodist season ended last weekend and Tabias Hilliard was named third team USA South all conference team. Hilliard averaged 12.6 points per game and he hit 20 in a game four times on the season and three of his last five games.
He dished out 3.8 assist a game lead the team from the outside in shooting per cent age hitting .485. He lead the team in free throw shooting hitting .784 of his free tosses. He also lead the team in steals getting 35 on the season.
Yes his parents can be proud of his athletic skills but conference USA South has put Tabias even on a higher plateau. He was named to the Conference USA South All Sportsmanship team. Conference USA South has a code on conduct in which they honor their best.
What are the requirements to make the All Sportsmanship team? You cheer loudly and proudly for your team, respect your opponent, no use of profanity, vulgarity, racist, or sexist comments. That's not all of the code of Sportsmanship but you get the picture.
All of us as we go forward in life there is a trail we leave and it always leads back to home. What did your parents teach you, what did Rocky Mount High do to your life to help you be the person you are. It is obvious that Tabias Hilliard has had a path to lead him to do the right things. There is an old saying that "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink."
As the Gryphon point guard that gave the ball to his teammates and came up with big steals you could see that Tabias was a team player. Now at the next level of basketball Tabias has made
everyone proud because he continues to live the way he was taught at home. We can all say "I know Tabias Hilliard he's from my Town Rocky Mount." Tabias has been a good will ambassador for the City of Rocky Mount.
Rocky Mount needs more Tabias Hilliards in this world!!!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Eastern Regional Match Up
The Lady Knights of Northern Nash 26-1 will play West Craven 26-1 at 7pm Tuesday night in the first of the two semi final games in the girls 3-A Regional. The winner of this game will meet the winner of the second game of the night when Union Pines 24-4 takes on unbeaten Chapel High 29-0.Between these four teams they head to the regional with and over all record of 105-6.
Chapel Hill's last regular season lost was at Northern Nash during the 2012-13 season. Chapel Hill met West Craven during the High school OT Christmas Tournament this year with Chapel Hill winning 76-52. The only game Tuesday that matters right now is the West Craven Eagles and let go one on one in the stats.
WC averages 67.1 points per game while Northern is set at 57.3. WC gives up 36.7 points per game while the Knights average 37.7 per outing. The Eagles are lead by all State player Jamie Cherry who is headed to Chapel Hill to play for Carolina who scores at a 33.6 points per game. The Lady Knights are spearheaded by Alexus Hill at 18 points per game and is headed to Gardner Webb to extend her basket ball career.
The leading rebounder for West Craven is Kaykee Koerperich who grabs 8.1 while Northern's leading bounded is Kiana Thomas who grabs 11.3 every game. Team wise WC gets 34.6 boards a game while Northern 36.3.
WC dishes out 9.1 assist per contest while Northern gets 11.2. The leading assist maker for the Eagles is Jasmine Raynor passing to team mates who score 3.4 times per game while Alexia Hines dishes out a a rate of 4.2 per game.
West Craven steals the ball 12.2 times per game while the Knights 10 times per contest. The leading thrives on each team are Jamie Cherry at 4.3 while Alexus Hill gets hers hands on 2.7 per game.
If you have a player that scores half your points then the Lady Knights goal has to be slow down Jamie Cherry. The Lady Gryphons did that in the Regional in 2012 but could not do it last year in the sectional final. My guess is Alexia Hines will get the assignment to Guard Cherry. This will be a factor in winning and losing in controlling Cherry.
The Lady Knights need to play a complete team game as Cherry can shoot the three or drive to the basket. Slow her down and the Knights play Saturday. GO LADY KNIGHTS
Chapel Hill's last regular season lost was at Northern Nash during the 2012-13 season. Chapel Hill met West Craven during the High school OT Christmas Tournament this year with Chapel Hill winning 76-52. The only game Tuesday that matters right now is the West Craven Eagles and let go one on one in the stats.
WC averages 67.1 points per game while Northern is set at 57.3. WC gives up 36.7 points per game while the Knights average 37.7 per outing. The Eagles are lead by all State player Jamie Cherry who is headed to Chapel Hill to play for Carolina who scores at a 33.6 points per game. The Lady Knights are spearheaded by Alexus Hill at 18 points per game and is headed to Gardner Webb to extend her basket ball career.
The leading rebounder for West Craven is Kaykee Koerperich who grabs 8.1 while Northern's leading bounded is Kiana Thomas who grabs 11.3 every game. Team wise WC gets 34.6 boards a game while Northern 36.3.
WC dishes out 9.1 assist per contest while Northern gets 11.2. The leading assist maker for the Eagles is Jasmine Raynor passing to team mates who score 3.4 times per game while Alexia Hines dishes out a a rate of 4.2 per game.
West Craven steals the ball 12.2 times per game while the Knights 10 times per contest. The leading thrives on each team are Jamie Cherry at 4.3 while Alexus Hill gets hers hands on 2.7 per game.
If you have a player that scores half your points then the Lady Knights goal has to be slow down Jamie Cherry. The Lady Gryphons did that in the Regional in 2012 but could not do it last year in the sectional final. My guess is Alexia Hines will get the assignment to Guard Cherry. This will be a factor in winning and losing in controlling Cherry.
The Lady Knights need to play a complete team game as Cherry can shoot the three or drive to the basket. Slow her down and the Knights play Saturday. GO LADY KNIGHTS
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Moaning and Groaning
There is no doubt that refereeing sports is harder today than ever before. Basketball was invented to be a shooting game not a game of see who is stronger and can push the best. It is a game made for beauty not brawn. Football when I was growing up the defense couldn't touch a receiver at any time he crossed the line until after the pass got to him. How can any ref make a call when the defender and receiver wrestle the entire way down the field or in basketball all the pushing that goes on the whole game. Basketball is refereed better by the players on the play ground than in gyms and courts around the world.
In a world where there is no way to enforce the rules the teams that always seemed to get hosed are the want-a-bees. The team that is middle of the pack. Last week during the Big East tournament and sitting on press row right by the score keeper you can hear all the moaning and groaning that goes on.
Southern Nash and Fike fans lead the way with only seeing fouls when their team has the ball and never when their team is on defense. In this area NC State falls in that middle section of always seeming to get the bad calls.
We all know that every play could go either way the way games are officiated theses days but good teams can over come a call when it goes against them where those middle of the road teams have a harder time surviving without falling behind.
All four games this year against Rocky Mount Southern just couldn't get a rebound over the taller Gryphons. Many times Southern had rebound position but the taller team went straight up over the smaller Firebirds and either got a rebound or put the ball in the basket. Of course the Firebird nation exploded that it had to be over the back and every now and then there was a foul but most of the time
no call from the ref crew.
Down at the other end the taller team shoots and a foul is called when the shorter team tries to block the shot of players four to six inches taller. Out rage from the fans that they call it one way at one end and not the same way at the other. You know you hear all kinds of comments as people yell at the refs. Everyone on press row got a chuckle when one amazed fan yelled "come on ref we were not tall enough to foul them". That in a nut shell tells you why teams don't get calls. They simply weren't good enough.
N C State fans they will tell you they got hosed against Carolina again Wednesday night and they probably did, but look every team has to overcome calls and when you lead by six in overtime and lose you simply were not good enough.
Whether it is a umpire or referee they are in a better position to make the call because they are down there in the action while we only sit in a chair at home or in the stands and moan and groan. Back in the day when I use to coach little league a parent was upset with me because I took his son out of a game as we were walking to the concession stand and I preceded to hand him the equipment and told him to coach his son the way he wanted. Then wait for all the parents moan and groan when their sons were not getting the attention they needed. I told him I am the one sweating pitching batting practice with everyone's son now you do it. I have to look out for all of them not just one. He quickly apologized and told me he was being selfish.
The ref has to worry about everything going on, on that floor. If you think you can do better then get down there where they are. Then we will see if the game is the same than what you saw as a fan wanting your team to win. Refs don't have a team they are pulling for and that gives them a different perspective than a fan only pulling for his team.
In a world where there is no way to enforce the rules the teams that always seemed to get hosed are the want-a-bees. The team that is middle of the pack. Last week during the Big East tournament and sitting on press row right by the score keeper you can hear all the moaning and groaning that goes on.
Southern Nash and Fike fans lead the way with only seeing fouls when their team has the ball and never when their team is on defense. In this area NC State falls in that middle section of always seeming to get the bad calls.
We all know that every play could go either way the way games are officiated theses days but good teams can over come a call when it goes against them where those middle of the road teams have a harder time surviving without falling behind.
All four games this year against Rocky Mount Southern just couldn't get a rebound over the taller Gryphons. Many times Southern had rebound position but the taller team went straight up over the smaller Firebirds and either got a rebound or put the ball in the basket. Of course the Firebird nation exploded that it had to be over the back and every now and then there was a foul but most of the time
no call from the ref crew.
Down at the other end the taller team shoots and a foul is called when the shorter team tries to block the shot of players four to six inches taller. Out rage from the fans that they call it one way at one end and not the same way at the other. You know you hear all kinds of comments as people yell at the refs. Everyone on press row got a chuckle when one amazed fan yelled "come on ref we were not tall enough to foul them". That in a nut shell tells you why teams don't get calls. They simply weren't good enough.
N C State fans they will tell you they got hosed against Carolina again Wednesday night and they probably did, but look every team has to overcome calls and when you lead by six in overtime and lose you simply were not good enough.
Whether it is a umpire or referee they are in a better position to make the call because they are down there in the action while we only sit in a chair at home or in the stands and moan and groan. Back in the day when I use to coach little league a parent was upset with me because I took his son out of a game as we were walking to the concession stand and I preceded to hand him the equipment and told him to coach his son the way he wanted. Then wait for all the parents moan and groan when their sons were not getting the attention they needed. I told him I am the one sweating pitching batting practice with everyone's son now you do it. I have to look out for all of them not just one. He quickly apologized and told me he was being selfish.
The ref has to worry about everything going on, on that floor. If you think you can do better then get down there where they are. Then we will see if the game is the same than what you saw as a fan wanting your team to win. Refs don't have a team they are pulling for and that gives them a different perspective than a fan only pulling for his team.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Basketball Ending Baseball's Cranking Up
The Lady Knights of Northern Nash are heading to Fayetteville now in the fourth year of the best string of years in history. The Lady Knights are 87-12 during this run. I think if you read this blog often or have ever listened to me on radio or tv the regional in basketball is equivalent to playing the Friday after Thanksgiving in football. Regardless of the outcome from here on out they have had a great season and only great teams are left.
The Lady Gryphons lost four times to the Lady Knights during the season and now that the season is over from where we all thought they were in the beginning of the season to where they finished this season was a most successful one.
If you go on line to the Washington National's website there is a story on Brian Goodwin. The National top prospect is expected to start out in AA but hope to move him to AAA by Midseason. Looking at the Milwaukee Brewers website after the season Hobbs Johnson had I am surprised That he is not listed as one of their top 20 prospects. According to Xavier Macklin's Twitter he may be trying to continue his baseball career over seas this summer.
I haven't spoken about Cousin Lauren Doughtie in a while as she continues her pro golf career. She has a limited playing status on the LPGA tour this year so for most of the year she will be back on the Futures Tour. Last week in the first event of the season she finished 14th shooting 3 under par for the weekend. This weekend she is sitting in a hotel in LA waiting to play in this weekends event in California. They are going through heavy rains in that area and the forecast they may not play at all.
The Lady Cougars of SouthWest Edgecombe ended their season by not making the playoffs. Coach Sandra Langley finished the season with 698 career wins. Last Saturday we went to Campbell as both the boys and girls basketball teams had senior day. We were sitting with the Hill family Quinton and Nicki Hill and their daughter Alexus of Northern Nash fame.
Alexus has signed with Gardner Webb and they were the team Campbell was playing. After the game when all the GW players and coaches come over to meet and greet their new signee one of the assistant coaches for GW is Monique Hudson. For those who have forgotten Monique and twin sister Domique were on the SouthWest. Girls state championship team in 2005. SWE girls have never come close to the years they had with the Hudson twins.
I don't know how many of you watched the Campbell-High Point basketball game that was on ESPNU last night but under one of the baskets for High Point in their student section was Jeremy Johnson a freshman pitcher on the baseball team who played for the Gryphons last season. During one of the TV timeouts the camera zoomed in on Jeremy and Jeremy did as typical students do when
the. Camera is on them. Daughter Morgan has posted Jeremy's 15 seconds of fame on her FaceBook.
The Lady Gryphons lost four times to the Lady Knights during the season and now that the season is over from where we all thought they were in the beginning of the season to where they finished this season was a most successful one.
If you go on line to the Washington National's website there is a story on Brian Goodwin. The National top prospect is expected to start out in AA but hope to move him to AAA by Midseason. Looking at the Milwaukee Brewers website after the season Hobbs Johnson had I am surprised That he is not listed as one of their top 20 prospects. According to Xavier Macklin's Twitter he may be trying to continue his baseball career over seas this summer.
I haven't spoken about Cousin Lauren Doughtie in a while as she continues her pro golf career. She has a limited playing status on the LPGA tour this year so for most of the year she will be back on the Futures Tour. Last week in the first event of the season she finished 14th shooting 3 under par for the weekend. This weekend she is sitting in a hotel in LA waiting to play in this weekends event in California. They are going through heavy rains in that area and the forecast they may not play at all.
The Lady Cougars of SouthWest Edgecombe ended their season by not making the playoffs. Coach Sandra Langley finished the season with 698 career wins. Last Saturday we went to Campbell as both the boys and girls basketball teams had senior day. We were sitting with the Hill family Quinton and Nicki Hill and their daughter Alexus of Northern Nash fame.
Alexus has signed with Gardner Webb and they were the team Campbell was playing. After the game when all the GW players and coaches come over to meet and greet their new signee one of the assistant coaches for GW is Monique Hudson. For those who have forgotten Monique and twin sister Domique were on the SouthWest. Girls state championship team in 2005. SWE girls have never come close to the years they had with the Hudson twins.
I don't know how many of you watched the Campbell-High Point basketball game that was on ESPNU last night but under one of the baskets for High Point in their student section was Jeremy Johnson a freshman pitcher on the baseball team who played for the Gryphons last season. During one of the TV timeouts the camera zoomed in on Jeremy and Jeremy did as typical students do when
the. Camera is on them. Daughter Morgan has posted Jeremy's 15 seconds of fame on her FaceBook.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Look Out Fayetteviile
For the ninth time in the last five years a School representing Rocky Mount will be headed to Fayetteville to play in the eastern basketball regional. The Rocky Mount boys have been four times, the Rocky Mount Prep boys have been twice. The Rocky Mount girls went once and now the Lady Knight will be making their second appearance in the last four after they completely dominated the Big Eight Number two team Cardinal Gibbons 59-41.
The Lady Knights wasted little time jumping on Gibbons leading 17-4 after one and by 16 at the half. Gibbons cut the lead to nine early in the fourth quarter but the Lady Knights had one more fast gear to get to and pull away down the stretch.
They will play Tuesday time yet undetermined in the Crown Coliseum which is the big barn of the two arenas in the parking lot. They will play a team that always seems to meet the Big East team some where in the playoffs West Craven who was a 59-50 winner tonight.
Back toward the middle of the state Rocky Mount girls for the second time this week they fell behind and once again they make a big comeback. Wednesday they trailed by nine at the half and tonight by 11 but unlike Wednesday their come back comes up short as the Lady Gryphons lose for the second year in a grow in a sectional final 62-56 to Union Pines.
This is the fifth year of the Big East as a 3-A conference and all five years the Big East will have a boys team in the Regional Hunt tonight had no problem with Westover winning 59-43. They will play Wednesday night in Fayetteville.
Tonight in High School base base Bunn beat Rocky Mount 8-6 while Northern Nash beat Roanoke Rapids 11-4.
The Lady Knights wasted little time jumping on Gibbons leading 17-4 after one and by 16 at the half. Gibbons cut the lead to nine early in the fourth quarter but the Lady Knights had one more fast gear to get to and pull away down the stretch.
They will play Tuesday time yet undetermined in the Crown Coliseum which is the big barn of the two arenas in the parking lot. They will play a team that always seems to meet the Big East team some where in the playoffs West Craven who was a 59-50 winner tonight.
Back toward the middle of the state Rocky Mount girls for the second time this week they fell behind and once again they make a big comeback. Wednesday they trailed by nine at the half and tonight by 11 but unlike Wednesday their come back comes up short as the Lady Gryphons lose for the second year in a grow in a sectional final 62-56 to Union Pines.
This is the fifth year of the Big East as a 3-A conference and all five years the Big East will have a boys team in the Regional Hunt tonight had no problem with Westover winning 59-43. They will play Wednesday night in Fayetteville.
Tonight in High School base base Bunn beat Rocky Mount 8-6 while Northern Nash beat Roanoke Rapids 11-4.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Big East Women Proving To Be Power House
The only way to judge how good a conference is, is to watch their progress of it's team during the playoffs. The Big East right off the bat loses two teams after they are matched up in the opening round against the top two team. Hunt as the number three team fell on the road in a rather close game. The top team Northern Nash has played as a top team with two comfortable wins. As the number two seed Rocky Mount had a home game Monday and they were suppose to win but Wednesday the Lady Gryphons took a step beyond their seeding. The Big East girls are 4-1 against all other through two rounds.
The Lady Knights take on Cardinal Gibbons Friday night in Red Oak and the Lady Knights should be favored. I think you will find CG will be rather tall but maybe not athletic. They are members of the Big Eight conference. NN will have home court. Now home court doesn't mean a thing unless there is a full house acting crazy.
CG is in the same conference as Chapel Hill who like Northern is a number one seed in their bracket. they played Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill swamped them twice and in the conference tournament won by more than ten. I think the Lady Knights win by more than ten. There is good news is when your three top players sit the pine in foul trouble and you still win by double digits you have a solid bench.
Rocky Mount heads to Union Pines which is located in Cameron and if you are asking the question where is Union Pines it is located in Cameron near Pinehurst. Union Pines is a member of the Cape Fear 3-A. The first game of the season they played Cardinal Gibbons and Gibbons won by double digits.
There is no doubt in my mind that this Lady Gryphon team has superseded all expectations. With only Carmen Richardson returning who scored any where near double digits. She has played at an MVP level. The play of the inside freshman and sophomores has given this team play that nobody expected. T T Thomas is a ball hawk and defense has been this teams strength. Don't be shocked if the Lady Gryphons take this game right to the wire.
I would suspect that Mike Gainey will be in deep depression for several days after the way the Boy Gryphons lost to Havelock. Record wise this season is a disappointment but if you look at the whole season they didn't lose to anybody all season that wasn't really good.
Gryphon baseball starts today and the home season starts tomorrow at 4pm. Northern started their season yesterday and loss to Bunn 1-0. I think Northern has the best pitching staff in the league but in order to win they have got to score 3 or 4.
The Lady Knights take on Cardinal Gibbons Friday night in Red Oak and the Lady Knights should be favored. I think you will find CG will be rather tall but maybe not athletic. They are members of the Big Eight conference. NN will have home court. Now home court doesn't mean a thing unless there is a full house acting crazy.
CG is in the same conference as Chapel Hill who like Northern is a number one seed in their bracket. they played Chapel Hill and Chapel Hill swamped them twice and in the conference tournament won by more than ten. I think the Lady Knights win by more than ten. There is good news is when your three top players sit the pine in foul trouble and you still win by double digits you have a solid bench.
Rocky Mount heads to Union Pines which is located in Cameron and if you are asking the question where is Union Pines it is located in Cameron near Pinehurst. Union Pines is a member of the Cape Fear 3-A. The first game of the season they played Cardinal Gibbons and Gibbons won by double digits.
There is no doubt in my mind that this Lady Gryphon team has superseded all expectations. With only Carmen Richardson returning who scored any where near double digits. She has played at an MVP level. The play of the inside freshman and sophomores has given this team play that nobody expected. T T Thomas is a ball hawk and defense has been this teams strength. Don't be shocked if the Lady Gryphons take this game right to the wire.
I would suspect that Mike Gainey will be in deep depression for several days after the way the Boy Gryphons lost to Havelock. Record wise this season is a disappointment but if you look at the whole season they didn't lose to anybody all season that wasn't really good.
Gryphon baseball starts today and the home season starts tomorrow at 4pm. Northern started their season yesterday and loss to Bunn 1-0. I think Northern has the best pitching staff in the league but in order to win they have got to score 3 or 4.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Too Much Going On In Too Many Places
The fourth Wednesday night of every month I am on a team at church that cooks and I am the dishwasher. The Gryphon boys are too far to go, the Gryphons girls in are too far in the opposite
Direction so I'll be through with the dishes in time to get over to Northern to watch the Lady Knights play. Late this afternoon heard that the Northern game had been pushed up to six pm to give East Alamance time to get home earlier for school tomorrow so I can't even get over there.
Tonight Northern Nash Lady Knights playing a second round sectional game against East Alamance spurted out to a 13-2 lead after the first quarter and if they could of made free throws might have won with ease but East Alamance would not go away but Northern advances with a 50-40 win and advance to the sectional final Friday night at Northern. Alexus Hill lead Northern with 22 despite being in foul trouble from the very first play of the game. Northern will host Cardinal Gibbons. 50-49 winners tonight. Gibbons will head to Northern sporting a 24-6 record
The upset of the girls tournament tonight happened in Burlington as the Lady Gryphons win at Burlington Williams 45-40. Williams had lost only 2 games all year. Rocky Mount will now travel to Union Pines Friday in their third straight sectional final. union Pines is 24-4 on the year.
Havelock 80 Rocky Mount 79. I have heard the Gryphons were leading 79-77 and Havelock made a mid court shot at the buzzer.This will end a streak of four straight years that the Gryphons have made the Regional. During this streak Rocky Mount has two State titles, four sectional wins and an overall playoff record the last five years of 20-3.
The Big East boys top seed Hunt has advanced beating Northeast Guilford 72-51. They have made their sectional Final at Hunt Friday night.
Direction so I'll be through with the dishes in time to get over to Northern to watch the Lady Knights play. Late this afternoon heard that the Northern game had been pushed up to six pm to give East Alamance time to get home earlier for school tomorrow so I can't even get over there.
Tonight Northern Nash Lady Knights playing a second round sectional game against East Alamance spurted out to a 13-2 lead after the first quarter and if they could of made free throws might have won with ease but East Alamance would not go away but Northern advances with a 50-40 win and advance to the sectional final Friday night at Northern. Alexus Hill lead Northern with 22 despite being in foul trouble from the very first play of the game. Northern will host Cardinal Gibbons. 50-49 winners tonight. Gibbons will head to Northern sporting a 24-6 record
The upset of the girls tournament tonight happened in Burlington as the Lady Gryphons win at Burlington Williams 45-40. Williams had lost only 2 games all year. Rocky Mount will now travel to Union Pines Friday in their third straight sectional final. union Pines is 24-4 on the year.
Havelock 80 Rocky Mount 79. I have heard the Gryphons were leading 79-77 and Havelock made a mid court shot at the buzzer.This will end a streak of four straight years that the Gryphons have made the Regional. During this streak Rocky Mount has two State titles, four sectional wins and an overall playoff record the last five years of 20-3.
The Big East boys top seed Hunt has advanced beating Northeast Guilford 72-51. They have made their sectional Final at Hunt Friday night.
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