Best Effort Of Year

The Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan desperate for a conference win as of now outside looking in on the upcoming tournament got a triple double from junior Adrian Moore 14points, 11 rebounds and 11 assistants was not the whole story tonight.

Freshman center AJ Frye scored almost at will even though guarded by a man three inches taller led the Bishops with 26. Chris Braswell helped open up the middle for Frye rattling home 6 threes ending up with 20 points.

Even with the Bishops humming on offense the Monarchs of Methodist hung tough trailing by  no more than 12 finally falling to the Bishops 79-74.

The Bishops go to 9-8  and 2-4 in conference USS South.  The Monarchs fall to 11-8 and 5-3.

NC State's comeback win at Duke Monday was a major shock to both the Blue Devil and Wolfpack Nations.  Duke's big win Saturday with the return of Jefferson seemed to solidify Duke and N C State has floundered losing to the bottom level teams.

Hillsbough Street had to be closed in Raleigh as students went to the Bell Tower to celebrate the Pack's win.  Is it the turn around point for the Pack?  They have a game in Louisville Saturday.  Beating Duke will not mean a thing if they turn around and lose at Louisville.  I kind of feel like it is an indictment on Duke more than improvement by the Pack.

All of the so called All American high school players in the freshman class for Duke don't seem to know about defense.  The Pack showed when they have the want to on they can beat anybody.  If Duke doesn't improve their defense they will finish in the second division which has not happened since 1995.

Funny isn't it that 1995 was the last time Duke lost to N C State in Durham and coach K was out with a hip replacement back then.  He's out this year too.  One other oddity was Jeff Capel was the guard at Duke in 1995 and now he is acting head coach.

We are halfway through with the high school basketball conference play and Friday night marks two weeks to go in the season.  Northern Nash leads the way in the boys side of the ledger with a 5-0 mark.  Nash Central is second at 4-1 while Fike finishes the top division at 3-2.  Rocky Mount stands 4th at 2-3, Hunt fourth at 1-4 and Southern Nash  sits last 0-5

The halfway point finds Rocky Mount girls 5-0  followed by Nash Central 4-1 and round out the top of the standings is Fike 3-2.  Hunt suffering a three game losing streak is 4th at 2-3 followed by Northern Nash 1-4 and Southern girls conference losing streak has extended to more than two and a half years is 0-5.

Old Friend Named To Another Hall Of Fame

Those of you who have followed this blog know that from 1981 through 1993 I did Chowan College basketball on the radio.  That happened to be part of the years that Bob Burke was the coach at Chowan and at the time became a national power in Junior College Basketball.  Burke is already in the Chowan Hall Of Fame and I told you just a year ago at this time I returned one Saturday afternoon to Chowan when the basketball court at Chowan was named Bob Burke Court.

I am please to hear that Bob will be joining his alma mater Campbell into their Hall of Fame.  Burke spent 22 years at Chowan winning 419 games a few after the school changed to Division three from Junior College.  He coach high school at Wallace Rose Hill,  in College and spent his last coaching days as assistant coach for Nate McMillan a Bob Burke player at Chowan as an assistant on the Portland Trail Blazers.  Few coaches have ever coached high school, junior college, college and pros.

Northern Nash is half way home and 5-0 in conference play but tonight they got all they could handle from Rocky Mount.  The Gryphons trailed by seven after the first.  They were down six at the half,three after three.  When the buzzer sounded Northern survived 72-71.

Rocky Mount Lady Gryphons hit the halfway point in the conference season 5-0 after a trip to Northern Nash and the Gryphons stifle an already struggling offense eight points below their average and win 46-21.

Tonight at Southern Nash Nash Central handled the Firebirds 65-34.  The Bulldogs finish the first cycle 4-1.  Southern Nash lose their ninth straight basketball game and all five conference games. Girls action the Lady Bulldogs beat the Lady Birds 50-20

Wilson County clash of Hunt and Fike is all Fike as the Fike Girls give Hunt their third straight lost after opening the season 14-1.  Lady Demons win 53-49.  The Boys of Fike take down Hunt 63-58 to finish out the first half of conference play.

Have you heard of the start of the Hunt-Rocky Mount girls basketball game Monday night?  Hunt received a technical before the game started because the score keeper was not present before the scheduled time of 6pm.  Apparently the score keeper was doing the score book in the auxiliary gym of a jv game

So Rocky Mount  gets two free throws making one.  When Rocky Mount came out a player wearing a white tee shirt which matched the home jersey but on the collar was the name brand of the tee shirt which is not high school rules. Hunt got two free throws making one so even before the tip off the game started out 1-1.

Lady Gryphons/Northern Boys Own Outright Leads

Friday night the Nash Central girls pulled the rug out from under the high flying Lady Warriors of Hunt.  Having won 14 of 15 Hunt looked to be class of the Big East.  Tonight Hunt comes to Rocky Mount now the only undefeated team in the league but Hunt can jump right back in first with a win.

The first three quarters this game is what first place battles are suppose to be.  Tied 41 all the fourth quarter belongs to the Lady Gryphons.  They out score Hunt 25 -8 to run away and hide winning 66-49.

The Lady Gryphons hold first at 4-0 with a trip to Northern Nash Tuesday.  Hunt losses their second in a row by double digits 2-2 in conference.

The Knights of Northern Nash who right now state wide hold the second best record in the state did not tarnish their record tonight beating Southern Nash 80-69. 

They are 4-0 and are the only unbeaten Boys team left and they finish up the first round of conference games Tuesday hosting Rocky Mount.  Southern falls to 0-4 and 5-13 on the season.

Rocky Mount hosted Hunt boys in a games where the winner gets to the middle of the pack.  Last year at this time Rocky Mount was still looking for their first win of the season.

Tonight Rocky Mount moves to 2-2 with a 67-64 win over Hunt.  They up their record to 6-7 and even though they played football almost to Christmas just like last year their record is much better than last still seeking one win.

Hunt falls to 1-3 4-13 has a meeting with Fike Tuesday.  Rocky Mount travels to Northern.

Nash Central boys played a close one to the wire with Fike as the last few minutes made the difference as the Bulldogs survive to beat Fike 58-53.  The Dogs are second in the Big east at 3-1  11-4 while Fike is 2-2 12-5.

Fike plays Southern Nash Tonight while Fike has rival Hunt.

Where Is The Next Coach Coming From?

Is there an upcoming crisis in the heart of Tobacco Road? February 13th coach K turns 70 years old.  Roy Williams will be 67 on August 1st.  How much longer will either be at the head of their basketball juggernauts?  Back in Raleigh  NC State is now in the sixth year of Mark Gottfried.  Since the departure of Jim Valvano only one coach has survived more than six years.

Over at Duke Coach K has gone under the knife and all Duke fans need to realize the Jeff Capel who has stepped in to be head coach is right now Having and on the job interview to be the next coach.  If they lose more than they win while K is out will not be good for Capel especially if Duke starts winning again when K returns.

Capel has brought Duke into the era of one and done with his recruiting which Kentucky had a monopoly of at it's inception.  The team of Capel's recruits them K coaching them has kept Duke in the top five of major colleges in basketball.

If Roy Williams retired today Carolina fans who is in line in Chapel Hill?  Should it be someone from the Carolina tree?  Jeff Lebo ECU.  I thought back in his playing days at Carolina he would be the next coach at Carolina after Dean Smith. He has been a college coach almost 20 years now and has never made NCAA tournament.

Scott Cherry, Wes Miller, King Rice.  None have had overwhelming success but Wes Miller is the youngest still under 40.  Really it looks who ever replaces Roy when the time comed might be from some other big time school.  Remember after Bill Guthridge left there were not many high profile coaches who wanted to follow the legend or were tied into their contract.

Raleigh has a different problem altogether.  The Pack is 2-5 in conference play and for the most part have only played the teams predicted to finish second division in the ACC. How can any one expect more wins when there are not many easy ones left?  Just look at the high priced seats at mid court as they have already deserted Gottfried.  When that happens you better start Winning now.

There has never been a history of bringing in a Wolfpacker to coach except Sidney Lowe but is there any Wolfpack limbs deserving a look should the end be near for Gottfried?

What about Archie Miller the head coach at Dayton?  The Pack for the most part has been more willing to find the bright New coach
Up and coming coach.  Since they have been in the coach searching business more that Duke and Carolina they already know about these unbreakable or too high to buy out contracts in the world of College coaches.

What I don't want to see is a Joe Paterno or Bobby Bowen situations in Durham or Chapel Hill where both K and Roy hang on too long.  I would like State to find somebody where they could have that problem in 30 years.

Week Of Decision

It has taken three weeks to play three conference games in Big East Basketball.  This week three games will be played barring any weather issues.  That's 30% of the season will be played this week.  A lot can change by the end of Friday.  It all gets started Monday Night with the ice games missed. The biggest game of the entire week goes down at 6:30 Monday night in Rocky Mount.

Hunt girls 14-2 2-1 arrive to meet the Lady Gryphons 10-2 3-0.  This was suppose to be the conference unbeatens but that was destroyed Friday night by Nash Central

Win or lose both teams are right back on the court Tuesday night.  Tuesday night is the last game of the first cycle of round robin conference basketball so it is rival night.  Hunt travels on back to back nights  to Fike while Rocky Mount is in the gym at Northern Nash.

Monday Fike 12-4 2-1 pounds the hardwood at Nash Central 8-6 2-1 Records might not show it but these two are evenly matched.  Tuesday Fike Host Hunt while the Lady Bulldogs visit Southern Nash.

Monday finds Northern Nash 6-11 0-3 in Southern Nash county in Firebird country 3-11 0-3.  Both these teams are struggling to put the ball in the hole as Northern averages in the upper 20's while the Lady Birds the lower 20's.Tuesday Northern Host Rocky Mount while Southern is at Nash Central.

The boys ledger has everyone chasing Northern Nash 15-2 3-0 as they are the only unbeaten conference team left.  Their week begins at Southern Nash 5-12 0-3 then Tuesday host Rocky Mount.

Fike 12-4 2-1 begins the week at Nash Central 10-4 2-1.  Fike host their most hated foe Hunt on Tuesday.

Nash Central  chasing Northern has a Monday game hosting Fike which is the game for out right second place while Tuesday at Southern Nash.

The battle to get into the middle of the pack has Hunt 4-11 1-2 at Rocky Mount 5-7 1-2.  Both have fierce games on Tuesday.  Both need a win Monday as Hunt travels to Fike and Rocky Mount to Northern Nash.

The entire season could change this week for everybody or we will begin to see where everyone in falling into the seedings for the playoffs.

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.