Big East Results-All Nash Central

The Lady Bulldogs of Nash Central have won The Big East tournament beating the top seed Rocky Mount 52-49 snapping the Lady Gryphons 12 game winning streak.

This is only the third game all year That Rocky Mount has given up fifty points. They gave up 65 back in December to a 4-A school which was a loss. Their only other time to surrender fifty points was a Gryphons win 61-52 over Nash Central. So  the Lady Bulldogs have scored 52 twice on the Gryphons.  Rocky Mount will still be top seed from Big East and Nash Central second and both should draw home games when the state playoffs begin next week.  Playoff seeding will be released sometime around 3 pm Saturday.

The Nash Central boys finish off a perfect night for Nash Central basketball as the Bulldogs take home the Big East Tournament title beating Rocky Mount 55-47.  The Bulldogs will get the 2nd seed from the Big East and a real good chance of a girls/boys basketball playoff double header the opening night of the playoffs.

Rocky Mount quest to make the playoffs comes up one game short as pre playoff computer projections show that as Big East number 4 seed Rocky Mount's 11-13 will not get in.  Projections show Rocky Mount, Nash Central, Fike and Hunt will get in for the girls while Northern Nash, Nash Central and Fike will get in for the boys

Saturday the NC Wesleyan basketball team has a home basketball game which is a must win if they are to make the year in tournament next week.  Game time is 2pm.

The women open play in the women's tournament where they play William Peace at 4pm. Tournament is survive  and advance or lose and go home.

Thursday an N C State treasure was lost.  It had nothing to do with the firing of Mark Gottfried as basketball coach.  The "Voice of the Wolfpack" in Reynolds Coliseum  C A Dillon was  the man behind the mic of every men's basketball game in Reynolds until the first two played in PNC Died. 

If you have ever been in Reynolds and heard his voice he was part of the building.  He started doing PA for the new coach in 1946 Everett Case because at the time Dillon was a student at State and Editor of the school newspaper "The Technician".  The Grey Ghost Everett Case liked Dillon and ask him to do the PA in old Thompson gym. 1949 when Reynolds opened he was behind the mic for every Wolfpack game, every Dixie Classic and every NCAA playoff game played in the old barn. Almost 9 million people watch college basketball games in Reynolds over it's 50 year run and if you were there at any of them you heard C A.   He missed two games in his fifty years in Reynolds.  Once when he got married and the next 40 years later to attend his mother funeral.  He was a fixture attached to the building.

Graduated and part of his family business Dillon Supply Company just down the street from campus Dillon had a voice made for the building.  Having had season tickets to Wolfpack basketball games for many years I remember the day David Thompson crashed to the floor in an NCAA East Regional final game against Pittsburgh when everyone in the building thought David Thompson was dead.  During the halftime he announced to the crowd that Thompson was ok and heading back to the gym from the hospital.  I don't know if I ever heard the building any louder than the roar that Thompson was ok.

1. Dillon chose to retire after those first two games at PNC because it just wasn't the same as the old barn.  My memories of games started back in either 1959 or 1960 attending the old Dixie Classic.  when I think back his voice was part of the show.  I miss that now in PNC.  A banner with a microphone hangs in the rafters at Reynolds honoring C A Dillon.  He was 91 years old.

Defense Does It Again

Tonight the top seeded Rocky Mount girls took to the court for the first time during the Big East Tournament.  The strength of this team is it's defense.  Hunt the fourth seed has played the Gryphons twice.  Their first meeting at Hunt was tied 41 all heading into the fourth quarter but the Lady Gryphons held the Lady Warriors to seven points in the fourth quarter while scoring 26 themselves. The game in Rocky Mount Hunt never scored in double digits in any quarter and could muster but 28 points while Rocky Mount scored 48.

So if Hunt can win tonight they either score more or hold down the Gryphons.  Which one what will it be?  Rocky Mount hits double digits in every quarter while the Gryphons defense held Hunt to single digits through the first three quarter. Hunt got 11 in the fourth but 34 points is not nearly enough as the Gryphons post 52! Rocky Mount High sends both teams to The Big East finals Friday night.

So if you are Rocky Mount who would you rather play?  Two games against Fike the Gryphons won by 27 and 41.  During the Nash County Chrismas Tournament Nash Central beat Rocky Mount 40-36.  The two conference games the Gryphons won by 15 and 9.  It doesn't matter who they want they are getting Nash Central who knocks off Fike 43-39.  Friday night is and all Nash County finals and it's all Nash Central and Rocky Mount in both games starting at 6pm.

Friday night in the championship game of the boys Big East finals Rocky Mount the number four seed will meet Nash Central the number two seed.  I was interested to see coach Henry Drakes comments after the game in the Rocky Mount Telegram concerning a major problem that has reared it's ugly head for the Knights, injuries.

Coaches make decisions all the time based on information they know about their team and are very good at hiding weaknesses from other teams.  Injuries are hard to hide.  We might see a player playing and wonder why he doesn't seem to have the normal fire only to find out weeks later he was injured.

Coach Drake's comments tell us about how he views the world of high school basketball.  He has two players injured and one did not play at all against Rocky Mount.  His reasoning I rather win the state championship with a healthy team if possible than win the Big East tournament and then  limp into the playoffs.  It hardly ever happens any player hampered with any injury gets  better until they rest the injury.

Reading between the lines I think and from what I have seen this year he is right, with a healthy team he has a shot to win the state championship.  There is no guarantee that rest will heal the injuries in time but what is already secured  the Knights will get two home games next week if they win the first and depending on out come from other games may get more from what their record to date has secured 22-3.  The only team in the east bracket with a better record is Eastern Guilford 23-2 and they will be in a different sectional than Northern Nash

Rocky Mount struggling to get enough wins to qualify to get into the tournament are the beneficiaries  of Drake's gamble to be able to beat Rocky Mount resting injured players. Drake also knew that resting your best player could lead to defeat since both games against Rocky Mount seven points were the total difference in both. The Gryphons basketball team is looking for wins due to the five playoff games in football.  Interesting that two of the three leading scorers in the Northern Nash game were football players.

I like what coach Drake did.  To me the big picture will be how you did starting next week not how many Big East tournament trophies you have in the trophy case.  I know there are people upset that he took a loss to the Knights arch rival but you have to remember.  They almost won anyway.  This way they will be healthier next week

Nelms Wins NCHSAA Performance Of The Week

Nash Central Michaela Nelms is this weeks winner of the NCHSAA Performance of the Week.  During two basketball games against Hunt and Southern Nash she scored 44 points, pulled down 13 rebounds, made nine assists that lead to teammate buckets and had nine steals.  While doing all of this she surpassed the 1,000 points mark in her high school career.

Saturday The senior was in Winston Salem where she ran in the State Indoor Track championships.  She won the 300 Meter dash setting a new record for 3A schools.  She then joined teammates and won the state Indoor Championships in the 4x200 and 4x400 relay events.  Three gold metals on the track and 1000 point career on the basketball court.  Just your average week in the life of Michaela Nelms.

Big East Basketball

There was one sure thing about the two meetings this season between  Northern Nash and Rocky Mount. The two games Northern outscored the Gryphons by only seven points. However in the first quarter the Knights outscored the Gryphons  by 17.  18-11 at RM and 10 24-14 at Northern. If the Gryphons have a chance they need a better start.

Tonight they won the first quarter 19-17.  Northern won the second quarter to lead at the break 35-31.  The back and forth affair was even at 48 heading into the fourth quarter.  By the end of the fourth we are still tie and in overtime Rocky Mount's hopes of making the state playoffs by winning the Big East Tournament are still alive beating Northern Nash 72-65 outscoring Knights 13-6.  Shyheim Battle led the Gryphons with 17.

Northern suffers just their third lost of the season at 22-3. Rocky Mount wins their 10th in 21 tries

It will be an all Nash County finals as Nash Central beat Fike 70-64 to secure their 16th victory of the season.  The Bulldogs and Gryphons met three times during the season with the Bulldogs winning all three games.

On the road tonight at Methodist who is second in the conference the Battling Bishops lose 90-83 to drop to 5-7 and 9th place.  The good news is the team ahead of them for 8th the Bishops play at home Saturday.

Girls Night Out

Girls took to the floor at Southern Nash High School in night two of the Big East basketball  Tournament.  Number three seed Nash Central took on Southern Nash after just beating Southern by 22 last Friday. The Lady Birds scored the most points that they have scored in any Game this year 44 points but  it still was not enough losing 52-44. Nash Central meets Fike Thursday night at 7:30

Hunt beat Northern Nash 35-25 to earn a chance To meet the Lady Gryphons at 6pm Thursday. Projections for next week's playoffs have all four girls teams playing in the semi finals making the playoffs.

Wednesday night returns back to boys action when the top team in the Big East takes the floor at 6pm. Northern Nash 22-2 will take on rival Rocky Mount 9-11.  Two wins for Northern would guarantee the top seed in the east in next weeks state playoffs.  A loss might drop them as low as third depending on scores of other conference tournaments in the east.

Rocky Mount has no such luxury as they must win both games remaining in order to jump to second seed in conference. A loss in any game this week will knock them out of contention for the playoffs because of overall record.

The night cap will feature a Nash Central team who will play for the first time this week after receiving a bye for finishing second. Fike plays Wednesday after beating Southern Nash.  These two played each other twice during the season with Nash Central winning both  58-53 at home and 67-53 at Fike.

This week Spring training camps for all of the major league teams are breaking out in Florida and Arizona.  Brian Goodwin reports the Washington Nationals training camp Friday.  This is of course his second camp with the big club but last season was hoping to make the roster.

All of the trades made by the Nationals during the off season looks as if Brian and Michael Taylor who started in centerfield for most of last season will be competing for the job of 4th outfielder.  Taylor hit poorly last season which gave the Nationals the opportunity to bring up Trey Turner and place him in center field.  That worked so well that Turner finished second in the Rookie of the year voting.

Goodwin was brought up from AAA after an injury and the second call up because his first two weeks went so well and on his return to Syracuse continued his good play.  Looks as if he will be competing for either spot duty giving players days off in the outfield or just as a pitch hitter.  All of that changes when injuries occur.

Gryphons Advance

Rocky Mount was matched with Hunt in the 4/5 game the second game of the opening night of the Big East Tournament.  Is it possible any two teams could be as equal as these two.

During the regular season Hunt won on a tip in at the buzzer to beat the Gryphons 52-51 at Hunt.  In Rocky Mount the Gryphons win 67-64.  The Big question is how close can it be on a neutral court?

Hunt led by one at the quarter, and the Gryphons by two at the half.  The lead expanded to three by the end of three quarters and the Gryphons hold on beating the Warriors 68-66.

Rocky Mount advances to a Wednesday night showdown against Northern Nash.  According to the latest projections Rocky Mount is on the outside looking in as their overall record is short of Making the playoffs.  What better way to inject yourself back in the picture than beating the top team in the east Northern Nash.

One year after winning the Big East basketball tournament the host team to this year's Southern Nash season has come to an end.  Losing almost the entire starting lineup to graduation the Firebirds went  winless during the conference season and tonight hosting the third seed Fike Golden Demons.

These two had played two really close games during the regular season 69-56 Fike at Fike and 67-62 at Southern.  I thought there was an outside chance the Firebirds just might get a win on their home court.

Down by 10 20-10 after the first quarter. The Firebirds could muster only five points while yielding 25 to be down 45-15 on their home court.  The second half was a matter of Fike trying to stay healthy and the Golden Demons advance to Wednesday night's semi finals where they will play Nash Central. Fike 78 Southern Nash 51.  Fike record goes to 17-7 while Southern Nash finishes it's season 5-20 losing their last 15 games.

Tuesday night belongs to the girls in Big East basketball.  The 6pm game will feature  Nash Central who tied for second with Fike but lost out on the tie breaker so they play as the 3rd seed and they will play 6th seed  Southern Nash.  These two finished the season against each other last Friday night with the Bulldogs winning by 22 at the Dog Pound.  Southern is playing on their home court but as the lower seed is the visitor.  The winner will meet the top seed Rocky Mount Thursday night at 6pm

The second game of the double header is the 4/5 game and Hunt will be in the white uniforms as the 4th seed  while Northern Nash as the five seed.  During the regular season Hunt won both encounters winning 48-37 at Northern and 57-38 at home.  The winner will play Fike at 7:30 Thursday night.  All the computer projections in order for Northern to make the state playoffs they must win the tournament.  If they don't their overall record will not get them in.

This Saturday the Lady Battling Bishops begin play in Conference USA South basketball tournament.  The Bishops finished conference play 8-6 and won the tie breaker with William Peace also 8-6 to get the number four seed from the south division.  The Lady Bishops had to win their last four games in a row to jump to fourth.

The conference has 12 teams involved so since they are scheduled to play 5th seed William Peace on the home floor of the top team in the south division Ferrum.  The Saturday winner will play Ferrum Sunday and should they win that will make the Semi finals which will not be played until the following weekend.

During the regular season NCW and William Peace split two games.  The Bishops lost at home 69-52 while winning in Raleigh 80-76.  The Bishops lost both games during the regular season to Ferrum by 63-51 at home 69-52 at Ferrum.

Regional Wrestling Results

Only one wrestler from Nash County brought home a regional title on Saturday as the East Regional were contested at West Brunswick High School in Shallotte.  Rocky Mount junior Rahsun Lawrence win all four of his matches three by fall to win the regional title in the 113 pound weight class.

West Brunswick the host school won the Regional scoring 136 points. Fike led the way for the Big East finishing fourth with 113.  Southern Nash and Rocky Mount tied  for 13th scoring 62 points.  NASH Central scored  17 and Northern Nash 16.5.

Here is a list of every wrestler from Nash County that scored at least a point during the all day action.

106:  David Jacobs Rocky Mount 3rd place. 5-1 in matches

113:  Mark Sanders Southern Nash 0ne win.....Jordon Sanders Northern Nash two wins.  Rahsun Lawrence Rocky Mount Regional Champ.

120: Daniel Medina Southern Nash two wins.

126:  Jason Bland Southern Nash one win

132:  Keynote Williams Rocky Mount four wins finished fourth

138:  Nick Serrona Southern Nash two wins

145:  Trevor Hatch Rocky Mount two wins

152: Joshua Brice Southern Nash two wins

160: Zachary Coble Southern Nash three wins

170: Vyshaun Richardson Southern Nash 4-2 fourth place

182:  Kevin Dardin Nash Central three wins,,,Jalen Spooner Northern Nash two wins and Rylan Hight one win

195:  Alex Noble Nash Central two wins,,,,Jesus Reya Southern Nash one win

220:  Dillon Joyner Northern Nash two wins

285:  Kendrick Watson Southern Nash  three wins second place.

The Big East basketball tournament starts tonight.  Southern Nash boys 6th seed meets Fike at 6pm while Rocky Mount takes on Hunt in the night cap.  Northern Nash boys have won 12 in a row.  Rocky Mount girls have won 11 in a row.  Southern Nash will be hosting.  The Southern Nash boys have lost 14 games in a row.  The girls 10 in a row but they have lost 34 straight conference games including tournament games.  I wonder has there ever been a host school that neither team won a conference game during the year.

Today is the first day that spring sports can officially practice.  Baseball games start February 27th.

Lady Bulldogs Finish Third Indoor Track

Michaela Helms won one individual events and two relay teams in leading Nash Central to a third place finish in the team title with 44.5 points and Nelms herself scored 30 points.

Nelms won the 300 meter dash and was part of the winning 4x200 and 4 x 400 relay team wins.  The teammates in The 4x200 were Myia Spivey, Teona Hill and T'Keyah Macklin.  She was joined in the 4x400 by Macklin, Hill and Carisha Leonard.

Carisha Leonard won the 500 meter dash giving the Bulldogs four events that they won.

Rocky Mount scored 10 points when Keyanna Spivey won the Shot put by 3 inches.

Southern Nash boys finished 15th overall after Junior Nadir  Thompson won the 300 meter dash and finished 3rd in the long jump that was worth all 16 Firebird points.

Rocky Mount Boys have a state champion in the Shot put when Sherrod Greene won the event by four inches. Greene's 10 points gave Rocky Mount 19th spot.

The Battling Bishops girls basketball team  went to Greensboro on Saturday and beat one of the teams ahead of them in the standings 62-59 and by doing so earned a spot in next weeks USA South tournament.  Greensboro falls to 9-4 while the Bishops jump to 7-6..  Timyra Staton led the way scoring 14 followed by Alexis Fitzgerald with 12.  Today again on the road the Lady Bishops finish the season at William Peace who is ahead of the Bishops at 8-5.

The men were on the road at William Peace. A couple weeks back they played a high scoring game 104-98 and Saturday was not much different and Peace hits the century mark again winning 104-90.  The lost knocks the Bishops back into 9th spot with three games to play.

The Bishops have a road game Wednesday and two home games next weekend to climb back into the top 8 spots and qualify for the Tournament.  Adrian Moore hit for 30 points and 13 rebounds but it wasn't enough.

Wesleyan baseball started their season winning a doubleheader at home beating Virginia Wesleyan 8-4 in ten innings in what started out as a seven inning game and won the second game 6-5.