Tonight was a special night at Everett Gym. The preseason pick as the number team in the USA South Athletic Conference was in the house Averett University. So far this season the Cougars have lived up to their billing going 9-2. Not only was the top pick in the house but the team picked to finish second laid waiting in the Battling Bishops.
Emotions were high as Averett first year coach David Doino just last year had spent seven years as John Thompson's assistant as well as Cornelius Snow IV and David Gurganus former Bishop players are his assistants.
This game started with neither team getting more than a two point lead but at around the five minute mark of the half Averett made a couple of threes and got out to a nine point lead. They lead 44-37 at the half. During halftime NCW President Dr Dewey Clark presented the Rocky Mount Gryphon Football team a plaque congratulating them for winning the 3A state Championship.
Right out of the hopper to start the second half the Bishops cut the lead to one before Averett got on a run and built and 11 point lead. Right around the 14 minute mark with the Battling Bishops on the come back trail tied the score and for almost for the rest of the game neither team could get any advantage over the other.
Eleven seconds remained and the Bishops own a two point lead with one free throw left but missed and Averett quickly scored to tie the game and a last second rush to the basket left the game tied at the end of regulation 72-72.
Over time saw Averett jump out to a 76-72 lead but Bishops Brandon Brown made three straight three points and the the Bishops found themselves leading by one at 83-82 but missed a jumper and Averett got a jumper to lead by one. The Bishops responded to make it 85-84 but a layup gave Averett the lead with under ten seconds in overtime. The Bishops missed a shot and got the ball out of bounds with 1.9 seconds to go. The inbound pass went into the left corner where guard Marcus Williams let go a three pointer. It was almost blocked by a charging defender but as the score board lights went off William's three fell neatly through the net for an 88-86 over time win. The Bishops are now 8-4 and 1-0 in conference play.
Saturday at 2pm there will be a double header with the Wesleyan Ladies playing at 2pm and the men at 4pm.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
College Football The New Game
N. C. State joined Carolina getting blistered on defense giving up 51 points to a team that was bigger stronger and faster. That is a bad combination we you line up against a team that is better than you. State's last gasp was the fumbled punt by Mississippi State ruled interference on State, which was the worse call of the night. Still State could not get to their quarterback while their defense had no problem getting to ours.
This new style offense of passing to wide receivers and another receiver blocking has to be officiated better when the blocker is across the line of scrimmage before the ball it caught. Even Rocky Mount faced almost every game this style passing attack during the playoffs. When the defense does a good job it is hard to hold any play to five yards.
Clemson has eased any pain suffered by the ACC by getting the ACC their second team in three years in the National Championship game. Once Clemson clinched the ACC championship game they went on cruise control on defense but against Oklahoma they showed everyone they will be a load for Alabama
It is obvious that both State and Carolina in order to get to elite status in the ACC they have to get athletes on defense that can cover those receiver on the sideline and then run and stay with wide receivers when they run slants or deep patterns. I don't care what level it is I hate seeing a defender running about a step behind a receiver and has no idea where the ball is.
So Clemson carries the ACC banner. They represent the conference that the team I love plays in and I know for many of you your team is in the ACC. We all need to pull for Clemson because any ACC win is good for all of it's conference members.
This new style offense of passing to wide receivers and another receiver blocking has to be officiated better when the blocker is across the line of scrimmage before the ball it caught. Even Rocky Mount faced almost every game this style passing attack during the playoffs. When the defense does a good job it is hard to hold any play to five yards.
Clemson has eased any pain suffered by the ACC by getting the ACC their second team in three years in the National Championship game. Once Clemson clinched the ACC championship game they went on cruise control on defense but against Oklahoma they showed everyone they will be a load for Alabama
It is obvious that both State and Carolina in order to get to elite status in the ACC they have to get athletes on defense that can cover those receiver on the sideline and then run and stay with wide receivers when they run slants or deep patterns. I don't care what level it is I hate seeing a defender running about a step behind a receiver and has no idea where the ball is.
So Clemson carries the ACC banner. They represent the conference that the team I love plays in and I know for many of you your team is in the ACC. We all need to pull for Clemson because any ACC win is good for all of it's conference members.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Girls A Different Story
The boys only have two teams that have winning records but on the girls side only two have losing records. The four winning teams are very good and the two with losing records are very bad. Like the boys Big East basketball starts Friday.
Northern Nash 10-2 at Hunt 1-9This is the kind of game you not exactly sure if Hunt record at 1-9 is as bad as their record. The Lady Knights cannot afford any kind of let down and need to win the games that they should win because there will be three others causing each other plenty of problems as the year goes by.
The Lady Knights are struggling on offense scoring 47.6 and are led by Kayla Tucker leading the scorers at 11.7. Hunt scores at only 41.7 and you know Grover Battle will bring defense to Wilson. The Warriors are led by Kayla Tucker at 11.7 points while Hunt relies on Kayla Kent at 12.4
Fike girls are 8-2 and they travel to Southern Nash 0-10. Fike cannot afford a slip up in this one. They have to take control from the outset and start conference play 1-0. Fike scores at a 60 point pace while a Southern scores only 18 per contest. Fike needs to have this game won by halftime. Fike is led by Dajah Horne who scores 14.9 and if she get her average and SoutheMrn gets their this will be no contest. Jessy Lucas leads the Lady Birds scoring 4.8.
The game of the night in girls basketball will be at Nash Central where Rocky Mount 7-2 visits the the Lady Bulldogs 9-2. These two squared off in the Nash County Christmas tournament with the Gryphons winning three weeks ago but this is at The Dog Pound.
The Lady Gryphons play defense first and are at 47 points per game. The Lady Dogs put up 52 a game but this is the game that one of the top four teams will have to lose and probably be one game behind the other top three after the first game. Keyanna Spivey scores at a pace of 17.3 while The Lady Dogs led by Robbi Allen chipping in 16.1.
Somebody right now with the four best records will slip to fourth and their non conference record will keep them close to a 500 record for the season. The team that finishes fourth will have a road trip in the first round of the playoffs and what started out as a great start to a season will hit the road in the first round and send them to somebody that is really good. Who will it be? The answer is six weeks away.
Northern Nash 10-2 at Hunt 1-9This is the kind of game you not exactly sure if Hunt record at 1-9 is as bad as their record. The Lady Knights cannot afford any kind of let down and need to win the games that they should win because there will be three others causing each other plenty of problems as the year goes by.
The Lady Knights are struggling on offense scoring 47.6 and are led by Kayla Tucker leading the scorers at 11.7. Hunt scores at only 41.7 and you know Grover Battle will bring defense to Wilson. The Warriors are led by Kayla Tucker at 11.7 points while Hunt relies on Kayla Kent at 12.4
Fike girls are 8-2 and they travel to Southern Nash 0-10. Fike cannot afford a slip up in this one. They have to take control from the outset and start conference play 1-0. Fike scores at a 60 point pace while a Southern scores only 18 per contest. Fike needs to have this game won by halftime. Fike is led by Dajah Horne who scores 14.9 and if she get her average and SoutheMrn gets their this will be no contest. Jessy Lucas leads the Lady Birds scoring 4.8.
The game of the night in girls basketball will be at Nash Central where Rocky Mount 7-2 visits the the Lady Bulldogs 9-2. These two squared off in the Nash County Christmas tournament with the Gryphons winning three weeks ago but this is at The Dog Pound.
The Lady Gryphons play defense first and are at 47 points per game. The Lady Dogs put up 52 a game but this is the game that one of the top four teams will have to lose and probably be one game behind the other top three after the first game. Keyanna Spivey scores at a pace of 17.3 while The Lady Dogs led by Robbi Allen chipping in 16.1.
Somebody right now with the four best records will slip to fourth and their non conference record will keep them close to a 500 record for the season. The team that finishes fourth will have a road trip in the first round of the playoffs and what started out as a great start to a season will hit the road in the first round and send them to somebody that is really good. Who will it be? The answer is six weeks away.
Monday, January 4, 2016
High School Basketball Kicks Back In This Week
The Big East race cranks up on Friday night and up until now it doesn't look like the top to bottom of the league is very good. Northern Nash seems to be the cream of the crop and Southern Nash are the only two teams teams with winning records.
Northern Nash 10-2 travels to Hunt 4-6. Hunt has a game Tuesday at Kinston before their Friday night game with the Knights. Hunt scores 49.7 points per game while Northern Nash strikes at 68.6. That is a big difference in Hunts ability to score compared to Northern. The key in this game will be can Hunt slow down the Northern offense? The Knights are led by Darius Spradley who scores just under 18 at 17.9.
Fike 5-8 at Southern Nash 7-4: interesting that Fike averages 53 per game while Southern 50. The answer is of course that the Firebirds play better defense. If you recall last season the Firebirds beat Fike in an upset opening night and the question is will the roles reverse this year. Marquise Wright leads the Firebird attack at 19.3
Bunn host Nash Central tonight and Rocky Mount Host Rose on Thursday before they open the conference season on Friday. The Gryphons have the football players turned basketball players ready for both games this week.
Rocky Mount 0-9 at Nash Central 4-7. Despite their record Nash Central is the second leading scoring team in the league 63.4 which lends to they aren't good on defense. Up until this point Rocky Mount has struggled to score 45.7. Josh Mullins leads the Bulldogs at 23.7 while Rocky Mount does not have a double digit scorer. Kyle Barnhill scores at 8.8 points.
The only way to tell about the quality of a teams opponents is to watch what those teams do when they begin their conference schedule. We hope that the losing records of the four will show they have played a tough schedule. Should it prove out that Northern Nash and Southern Nash has really played an outstanding schedule then they should prove to be the cream of the crop.
Northern Nash 10-2 travels to Hunt 4-6. Hunt has a game Tuesday at Kinston before their Friday night game with the Knights. Hunt scores 49.7 points per game while Northern Nash strikes at 68.6. That is a big difference in Hunts ability to score compared to Northern. The key in this game will be can Hunt slow down the Northern offense? The Knights are led by Darius Spradley who scores just under 18 at 17.9.
Fike 5-8 at Southern Nash 7-4: interesting that Fike averages 53 per game while Southern 50. The answer is of course that the Firebirds play better defense. If you recall last season the Firebirds beat Fike in an upset opening night and the question is will the roles reverse this year. Marquise Wright leads the Firebird attack at 19.3
Bunn host Nash Central tonight and Rocky Mount Host Rose on Thursday before they open the conference season on Friday. The Gryphons have the football players turned basketball players ready for both games this week.
Rocky Mount 0-9 at Nash Central 4-7. Despite their record Nash Central is the second leading scoring team in the league 63.4 which lends to they aren't good on defense. Up until this point Rocky Mount has struggled to score 45.7. Josh Mullins leads the Bulldogs at 23.7 while Rocky Mount does not have a double digit scorer. Kyle Barnhill scores at 8.8 points.
The only way to tell about the quality of a teams opponents is to watch what those teams do when they begin their conference schedule. We hope that the losing records of the four will show they have played a tough schedule. Should it prove out that Northern Nash and Southern Nash has really played an outstanding schedule then they should prove to be the cream of the crop.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Local Athletes In College Basketball
We have at least 17 local athletes playing college basketball on some level. Let's see how they are doing.
Donte Samuels: Rocky Mount Prep and Coker College Jr. Playing 28 minutes per game and averaging 18.7 points.
Carmen Richardson : Rocky Mount and Queens College. Averaging 32.9 minutes per game and is scoring 14.7 points per contest.
Deshawn Freeman Rocky Mount Prep and Rutgers University. Has played in 7 of 14 games averaging 28.9 minutes 5.3 rebounds and has tossed in 13.1 points per game.
Tobias Hillard Rocky Mount and Methodest senior. 11.5 points per game and 3.5 assists per contest. Will play at NC Wesleyan in February.
Immanuel King Rocky Mount and Wallace State AL Soph. 23 minutes per game and 11.3 points
Alexus Hill Northern Nash and Gardner Webb Soph. Played in all 13 games getting 30 minutes playing time per game and scoring at an 11.1 clip. She will play as close to Rocky Mount as they will play all year Monday night at Campbell.
Ni'ya Styles. Nash Central and Mt Olive University Soph. Started 9 of 11 games getting 26 minutes of playing time and scoring 10.8 points.
Tykeyra Thomas Rocky Mount and Catawba Community College. 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. Played in four of seven games.
Jake Barrett Rocky Mount Prep and Coker College Soph. Floor time is 22 minutes per contest and 8.3 points.
Alexus Cooper Rocky Mount and Eastern Kentucky Jr. Has started six of twelve games playing 22 minutes and scoring 6.5 points per game.
Kelsey Daniels Rocky Mount and Newport News Apprentice. Has played in five of seven games scoring 6.8 points.
Isaiah Alston Rocky Mount and NC Wesleyan College. Played in all 12 Battling Bishops game with 12 minutes floor time per game and scoring 6.5 points.
Quenesha Lynch Northern Nash and Johnson C Smith jr. Started five of eleven games scoring at 5.7 points.
Alexia Hines Northern Nash and Methodest Fr. Started two of eight games and popping 5.6 points.
J'Kyra Brown Rocky Mount and UVA Soph. playing time is 14.7 minutes and averaging 5.5 points.
Kiana Thomas Northern Nash and Howard University fr. Playing time is 32 minutes an outing. Scoring 4.7 and 4.8 rebounds.
Mike Gainey Newport News Apprentice Soph. Played in two games averaging 11 minutes and 4.5 points. Still recovering from 2nd knee surgery.
At this point this is all the local players that I know about. If you know of any that I need to add please comment and I will add to list.
One other piece of business John Thompson head basketball coach at NC Wesleyan won his 300th game while being the coach at NCW. The Battling Bishops beat Guilford just before Christmas for the 300th.
Donte Samuels: Rocky Mount Prep and Coker College Jr. Playing 28 minutes per game and averaging 18.7 points.
Carmen Richardson : Rocky Mount and Queens College. Averaging 32.9 minutes per game and is scoring 14.7 points per contest.
Deshawn Freeman Rocky Mount Prep and Rutgers University. Has played in 7 of 14 games averaging 28.9 minutes 5.3 rebounds and has tossed in 13.1 points per game.
Tobias Hillard Rocky Mount and Methodest senior. 11.5 points per game and 3.5 assists per contest. Will play at NC Wesleyan in February.
Immanuel King Rocky Mount and Wallace State AL Soph. 23 minutes per game and 11.3 points
Alexus Hill Northern Nash and Gardner Webb Soph. Played in all 13 games getting 30 minutes playing time per game and scoring at an 11.1 clip. She will play as close to Rocky Mount as they will play all year Monday night at Campbell.
Ni'ya Styles. Nash Central and Mt Olive University Soph. Started 9 of 11 games getting 26 minutes of playing time and scoring 10.8 points.
Tykeyra Thomas Rocky Mount and Catawba Community College. 10.4 points and 4.8 rebounds. Played in four of seven games.
Jake Barrett Rocky Mount Prep and Coker College Soph. Floor time is 22 minutes per contest and 8.3 points.
Alexus Cooper Rocky Mount and Eastern Kentucky Jr. Has started six of twelve games playing 22 minutes and scoring 6.5 points per game.
Kelsey Daniels Rocky Mount and Newport News Apprentice. Has played in five of seven games scoring 6.8 points.
Isaiah Alston Rocky Mount and NC Wesleyan College. Played in all 12 Battling Bishops game with 12 minutes floor time per game and scoring 6.5 points.
Quenesha Lynch Northern Nash and Johnson C Smith jr. Started five of eleven games scoring at 5.7 points.
Alexia Hines Northern Nash and Methodest Fr. Started two of eight games and popping 5.6 points.
J'Kyra Brown Rocky Mount and UVA Soph. playing time is 14.7 minutes and averaging 5.5 points.
Kiana Thomas Northern Nash and Howard University fr. Playing time is 32 minutes an outing. Scoring 4.7 and 4.8 rebounds.
Mike Gainey Newport News Apprentice Soph. Played in two games averaging 11 minutes and 4.5 points. Still recovering from 2nd knee surgery.
At this point this is all the local players that I know about. If you know of any that I need to add please comment and I will add to list.
One other piece of business John Thompson head basketball coach at NC Wesleyan won his 300th game while being the coach at NCW. The Battling Bishops beat Guilford just before Christmas for the 300th.
Friday, January 1, 2016
ACC Basketball Starts in Earnest Today
If their has been a surprise team so far this basketball season it is the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest. So far this season they are 9-3 and one of those losses was Xavier who right now in the college basketball RPI is the number one team.
Today they play their first conference game at Louisville who has started the season 11-2 and in the RPI is rated 30th. The Deacs are 53rd. You can see this game on ESPNU at 8pm
North Carolina started out rated preseason number won and thus far stand at 12-2. They have loss twice and they can lay claim that injuries lead to both losses. Carolina is 10th in RPI and already stand 1-0 in the ACC and today they play Georgia Tech 10-3 and 68th in the RPI and the game is in Chapel Hill. This is the second straight home game for the Tar Heels they need to start 2-0.
North Carolina State is off to a 10-3 record and in the college RPI stand at 94th. Even though they have won ten times they. have been most unimpressive in their wins. They travel to Virginia Tech who stand at 8-5 and their RPI is up to 165.
Duke gets the long trip of the day traveling to Boston College who is just 7-6 on the team. Their RPI is over 200 at 211. The Devils have produced a 11-2 record and they have a RPI of 18.
Carolina seems to have everything that it will take to win the national championship. There is one person they cannot afford to lose and that would be Marcus Paige. Grayson Allen is second in the ACC in scoring and much of Duke's hopes ride with him. Duke has already much of the season only used a seven man rotation and any hopes they have they can't lose anybody to injury any more and need Jefferson back.
State has the leading scorer in the league in Cat Barber and when he is not in the game State doesn't have anyone to take his place. They were picked eighth in pre season and unless they start playing defense I see no NCAA for them this year. Wake Forest has four players averaging in double digit and Devin Thomas is averaging a double double getting 16 points and 10 plus rebounds per game.
So today begins two months of hopes and dreams that the ACC can win another national championship. It would really be good if a team from North Carolina could bring home another title.
Today they play their first conference game at Louisville who has started the season 11-2 and in the RPI is rated 30th. The Deacs are 53rd. You can see this game on ESPNU at 8pm
North Carolina started out rated preseason number won and thus far stand at 12-2. They have loss twice and they can lay claim that injuries lead to both losses. Carolina is 10th in RPI and already stand 1-0 in the ACC and today they play Georgia Tech 10-3 and 68th in the RPI and the game is in Chapel Hill. This is the second straight home game for the Tar Heels they need to start 2-0.
North Carolina State is off to a 10-3 record and in the college RPI stand at 94th. Even though they have won ten times they. have been most unimpressive in their wins. They travel to Virginia Tech who stand at 8-5 and their RPI is up to 165.
Duke gets the long trip of the day traveling to Boston College who is just 7-6 on the team. Their RPI is over 200 at 211. The Devils have produced a 11-2 record and they have a RPI of 18.
Carolina seems to have everything that it will take to win the national championship. There is one person they cannot afford to lose and that would be Marcus Paige. Grayson Allen is second in the ACC in scoring and much of Duke's hopes ride with him. Duke has already much of the season only used a seven man rotation and any hopes they have they can't lose anybody to injury any more and need Jefferson back.
State has the leading scorer in the league in Cat Barber and when he is not in the game State doesn't have anyone to take his place. They were picked eighth in pre season and unless they start playing defense I see no NCAA for them this year. Wake Forest has four players averaging in double digit and Devin Thomas is averaging a double double getting 16 points and 10 plus rebounds per game.
So today begins two months of hopes and dreams that the ACC can win another national championship. It would really be good if a team from North Carolina could bring home another title.
Last Half Of 2015
July:
Southern Nash football player Aramahs Martin plays in the East/West high school all star football game in Greensboro.
Leonard Allen resigns as baseball coach at Northern Nash to head to Riverside in Williamston
Kent Cox resigned at Rocky Mount baseball to head to be Chris Lee's assistant in football at Nash Central. Pat Smith returns to coach Rocky Mount baseball.
Holly Fryar dies. The former Gryphon soccer goalie five year battle with cancer ends. Her legacy continues with the Holly Project.
Nash County Babe Ruth team wins Eastern North Carolina State Championship and finishes second in Southeast Regional.
August:
Big East Coaches pick Fike to win Big East football Championship. Rocky Mount voted to tie for third.
Nash Central breaks their 25 game football losing streak beating Smithfield Selma 36-21.
SouthWest Edgecombe football player Quantellas Norwood was shot by a drive by shooter after a Cougar football in Rocky Mount. He would return to action in October.
September: Winston Salem State beats Elizabeth City State 17-10 to win annual Down East Classic at Bishop Stadium.
October:
Lady Gryphon Tennis team finish undefeated in regular season 12-0.
Lady Gryphon doubles team of Brenna Bryant and Chandler Brice finish 3rd in state doubles finals.
Northern Nash wins 3A cross Country regional.
Northern Nash finishes 3rd in state cross county championships
November:
Devonte Brown Gryphon JV football player was gunned down in the streets just hours before Northern Nash and Rocky Mount played the final regular season football game.
Former Gryphon Nick Hahula named the CIAA special teams player of the year for his punting, field goals and kickoffs while playing at Chowan University.
Grover Battle wins his 500th career basketball game as head coach of the Northern Nash girls basketball team.
December:
Rocky Mount wins 3A state football title beating South Point 24-21 in overtime
The Gryphons win the WRAL Fabulous 15 trophy as best football team in the TV five viewing area.
Northern Nash boys and Rocky Mount Girls win Nash County Christmas basketball
Tournament.
Tarboro's Todd Gurley rushes for over a thousand yards for the St Louis Rams and is
named to the Pro Bowl team.
Like always many good things happened in the Twin Counties in 2015. Looking for more in 2016.
Southern Nash football player Aramahs Martin plays in the East/West high school all star football game in Greensboro.
Leonard Allen resigns as baseball coach at Northern Nash to head to Riverside in Williamston
Kent Cox resigned at Rocky Mount baseball to head to be Chris Lee's assistant in football at Nash Central. Pat Smith returns to coach Rocky Mount baseball.
Holly Fryar dies. The former Gryphon soccer goalie five year battle with cancer ends. Her legacy continues with the Holly Project.
Nash County Babe Ruth team wins Eastern North Carolina State Championship and finishes second in Southeast Regional.
August:
Big East Coaches pick Fike to win Big East football Championship. Rocky Mount voted to tie for third.
Nash Central breaks their 25 game football losing streak beating Smithfield Selma 36-21.
SouthWest Edgecombe football player Quantellas Norwood was shot by a drive by shooter after a Cougar football in Rocky Mount. He would return to action in October.
September: Winston Salem State beats Elizabeth City State 17-10 to win annual Down East Classic at Bishop Stadium.
October:
Lady Gryphon Tennis team finish undefeated in regular season 12-0.
Lady Gryphon doubles team of Brenna Bryant and Chandler Brice finish 3rd in state doubles finals.
Northern Nash wins 3A cross Country regional.
Northern Nash finishes 3rd in state cross county championships
November:
Devonte Brown Gryphon JV football player was gunned down in the streets just hours before Northern Nash and Rocky Mount played the final regular season football game.
Former Gryphon Nick Hahula named the CIAA special teams player of the year for his punting, field goals and kickoffs while playing at Chowan University.
Grover Battle wins his 500th career basketball game as head coach of the Northern Nash girls basketball team.
December:
Rocky Mount wins 3A state football title beating South Point 24-21 in overtime
The Gryphons win the WRAL Fabulous 15 trophy as best football team in the TV five viewing area.
Northern Nash boys and Rocky Mount Girls win Nash County Christmas basketball
Tournament.
Tarboro's Todd Gurley rushes for over a thousand yards for the St Louis Rams and is
named to the Pro Bowl team.
Like always many good things happened in the Twin Counties in 2015. Looking for more in 2016.
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