Let The Games Begin

Quite frankly as the NCAA Basketball Tournament begins today I find myself not all that excited about this years tournament mostly due to the fact I don't see any of North Carolina's team playing the last weekend.

As uninspired as I am I am sure come 12noon on Friday when Duke hits the floor I will be pumped up to pull hard for Duke.  The Pack will begin play at 1:40 Friday and who knows which team will show up. Carolina gets into action Friday night.  All three big Four teams should win Friday.

I can't see N C State beating Indiana in Dayton.  Just North of Cincinnati practically right on the Indiana border. into Indiana.  That like any North Carolina based ACC school is like playing in Charlotte for I-U.  The place will be all red on Sunday but not Wolf Pack red.

Who in their right mind can pick Carolina Sunday if they play Kansas in Kansas City.  Nobody should but as the ESPN Special this week on the 1983 N C State team showed the world any team can win.  The best of the three Triangle teams in Duke and I have picked them to make it to the final eight but I have to tell you my confidence in them is not very strong.

If the NIT can give you a gauge then the ACC is 2-1 and Kentucky is home.  Maryland and Virginia advanced while FSU is out.  Kentucky played at Robert Morris and all Gryphon fans know who Robert Morris is.  That Baseball's Andy Morris's Dad.  Well almost any way.  Robert Morris gym held an over flow crowd of three thousand fans.  Kentucky's house the bathrooms holds more than that .  In this day's world of college basketball it's anybody's game and we just might have a no name cutting down the nets in two and a half weeks.

Wednesday Gryphon baseball traveled to Southern Wayne.  These two met two weeks ago in the season opener and the Gryphons played poorly but they gave a good accounting of themselves yesterday.  Spencer Ramsey pitched five innings and he gave way to Andy Morris with the score tied 3-3.  The Saints scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win 5-3.  The Gryphons are on the road again today.

NCAA Brackets A Real Roll Of The Dice

I have been filling out NCAA brackets long before  there was ever one printed in the paper much less go on line to any site and try to win a million dollars by picking a perfect score.  This years NCAA Tournament is probably the most wide open in the history.  Regardless of why but there is no Houston and Phi Slamma Jamma in the field.  Yes,there are some really good teams but look  the top seeds have all lost a bunch.

If there was ever a year for Butler this is it.  Of the forty years or so that I have filled out brackets I think for the first time I don't have Duke or Carolina in the final four. I always have one or the other.   For someone who lives on Tobacco Road I have sinned greatly and ask for forgiveness.  I have waited until Tuesday night before I looked at the brackets for the first time because I wanted all the information I could find.  I have every teams RPI, BPI, Victories on the road. foul shooting the last four minutes and even their blood pressure.  I am armed and dangerous I as  reveal my final four.

I have laid out my brackets and a funny thing happened on the way to the Final Four some team named New Mexico  has become my Butler for this year.  They are a #3 seed and I found myself continuing  to put a check my their name in every game.  I am sorry to say but I have Kansas taking out the Heels in the Sunday game and Kansas will make it to the  big weekend.

Almost everyone in the Twin Counties should deep down in their heart be pulling for Louisville with North Edecombe player Montrezl Harrell on the team and thanks to him Louisville won the Big East Tournament.  I have them taking out Duke  in the Final eight game.  There is only one spot left and that is for the ACC Champion Miami.  There must be something wrong with this world when you say Miami ACC Champions but I tell ya man Miami, the Canes on back to back days took down the Pack who played rather well and North Carolina  who was just as good as the Pack and they did it in Greensboro.

Those four who make it to the Elite eight are Duke,Georgetown, Indiana and Kansas State.When all is said and done on semi final Saturday Miami and Louisville will play for the national title and the Ville will win.  Ok so that is my first bracket.  My next one will not have any of those team making it.  Let me see if I can find a Butler the second time around.

Gryphons Open Conference With Win

Jeremy Johnson gave the Rocky Mount Gryphons six strong innings of pitching allowing only one run  on five hits while striking out ten Wilson Fike batters as Rocky Mount opens conference play with a 3-1 victory over Fike.

Andy Morris open up the game getting a triple in the right center gap and Johnson's sac fly gave the Gryphons a 1-0 lead in the first.  Starting Fike pitcher Charlie Vaughn held the Gryphons in check for four inning giving up only one hit.  Tyler Poythress pitched the fifth and sixth innings for Fike.  Fike was quiet until the fifth when Tyler Poythress singled advance to third on a sac infield single by Sam Ellis.  Poythress scored on a fly ball sac by Richard Hinton.

The bottom of the sixth inning  Johnson started off with a single, Trevor Hayworth reach on an error.  Ben Winstead's fly ball drove in Johnson to give the Gryphons the lead at 2-1. Jerrell Hunter drove in run #3 with a hit over second to give the Gryphons their three runs.

In somewhat of a gamble with several pitching injuries still plaguing the Gryphons coach Kent Cox brought on Cody Smith to pitch the seventh.  So far this season Smith either strikes you out or walks you and Smith acted like a closer should in striking out one batter and got a three up and three down top of the seventh to record the save.

Andy Morris, Jeremy Johnson and Jerrell Hunter had the three Gryphon hits while Tyler Pouthress had two singles and he had help  with a hit from Sam Ellis, a double by Charlie Vaughn and a Jordan Crumpler hit .  Jeremy Johnson got the win and Tyler Poythress took the loss.

Rocky Mount record expands to 4-3 but 1-0 in Big East play while Fike suffered their first loss of the season as they stand 6-1 and 0-1 in the Big East.

Former Rocky Mount Gryphon Benton Moss was named Monday as the ACC pitcher of the week after he pitch a seven inning gem Saturday night for North Carolina.  Moss allowed two hits and struck out seven batters and picked up his fifth win of the year and stands at 5-0 which is the most wins any pitcher in the ACC has.  His five starts this year for the Tar Heels he has struck out at least seven in every game and 39 on the season which is fourth in the ACC.

I hope you had a chance to see ESPN's 30-30 Series Survive and Advance Sunday night.  It featured the 1983 N C State WolfPack and their journey having to win nine games in a row  to either get into the NCAA tournament and then survive trailing in the second in seven of them.  It is not only about that team but the death of coach Jim Valvano and the spirit he gave that 83 team to never give up and even as he died from cancer he lived the spirit until his death.  It was an awesome show and I hope you catch a rerun that they will show a million times in the next two weeks until the next 30-30 hits the air ways.

IN THE MONEY!

One of the real concerns I had for my Cousin Lauren Doughtie when she finished high enough in December to win her LPGA playing card was the fact that even though she won one tournament last year she missed the cut way too many times playing in the minor leagues and this LPGA is a big step up.  Why should we think that she will ever make a cut on the LPGA and any one who follows golf knows if you don't play the weekends you don't cash a check.

This weekend the LPGA played on United states soil for the first time and fourth tournament of the year.  Lauren had gone to Australia for the first one and you guessed it she didn't make the cut. This week they played in Phoenix Arizona and Lauren shot a very nice 69 in the opening round to tie for 21st at three under par.  Friday another good day coming in with a 71 which is good enough at four under to make the cut by two shots and she dropped to a tie for 32nd.

Brooks Doughtie and I were texting back and forth Saturday  talking about Lauren and I made the comment that she had made the cut but by Sunday she would be very lucky to finish 70th which would be the last person to get a check.  Brooks response to me was "If you finish last in class in medical school what do they call you?"  "A Doctor."  He was right Lauren was going to be able to pay her bills for this weekend regardless of where she finished.

Saturday came and she shot a two over 74 and fell to 59th.  Still two under for the tournament and yes last year on the Futures tour she would have been in the top ten.  But, this is the LPGA and she finds herself 17 shots out of the lead.  Then Sunday she tees off on #10 while the leaders are going off #1.  She shoots a 33 on the front and replicates another 33 on the back to shoot a 66.

Eight under par her second best pro tournament of her life. Just to show you how it is going to be playing on the big tour a 66 only moved her up to a tie for 43rd.  But that is still the second biggest check of her pro golfing career.  Only her one win on the Futures tour last year paid her more.  We all know those of us who pull for LD that next week the risk of not making the cut will still be there.  Looking at the future she has to make enough money to qualify just to play on tour next year.

It sure was something to watch the Golf channel coverage and watch as the scores scroll across the bottom of the screen and see L Doughtie -5, the next time -6 then even the next time -7 and oh yes -8.  Our goal now is to get close enough to the lead to see her make a shot on the TV.  I might not be next week but our hopes sure have climbed this weekend.

Not Much Consolation BUT

I know this is not much consolation for any Rocky Mount fan but Webb won the State Title in 3-A last night beating Statesville 73-70 in overtime.  Issiah Hicks the Carolina recruit who was a pain in the butt to the Gryphons scored 34 points and hauled down 30 rebounds to lead the way for Webb.

I know this is not much consolation for Rocky Mount Prep but they did beat a state champion during the regular season.  Good friend Gaddis Hodges who is the play by play announcer fort Hertford County called me yesterday to tell me that Brunswick County (Lawrenceville)Virginia won the State 2-A level.

Back during the Christmas Holidays Prep played in Brunswick's tournament and beat them 57-48.  It was Brunswick's first loss at home in more than three years.  Brunswick if you remember is the school that former UVA player Brian Stith played for.  By the way he is their coach now.

Considering that Prep gym only holds about 400 and every game was packed during the season my guess was there was about 1,000 in Reynolds yesterday pulling for the Jags.  I know there are many complaints made by the public schools in Rocky Mount and other areas where Prep schools and private schools invade their territory but all of Nash county should have been in the house yesterday like they have been to support Rocky Mount High in their two state championships.  Prep has only played by the rules as they exist now. 

If you don't think the rules are fair for private schools or charter schools having students from just about any where change the rules or vote them out like NCHSAA members had a chance to do last year but 80 members chose not to vote on the private school issue.  Private school Bishop McGuiness won their 8th straight girls 1-A title in Raleigh.  They were down 10 with 3:45 to play and won by 5.

Rocky Mount High opens their conference baseball schedule Monday night as they host Fike.  Game time is 7pm.

Second Quarter Dooms Prep

It was suppose to just maybe the highest scoring 1-A championship game of all time but a funny thing happened on the way to all those points two defenses showed up.  Both teams looked as if they were playing in at least the 3-A title game with all the height and speed but neither could solve the others defense.
In the end Winston Salem Prep scored more and wins the title 53-41.

The second quarter will be the look back in time and Rocky Mount Prep will wish they could play the second quarter over as RMP made just 1-13 in the second.  The first half they made just 6 field goals in 30 shots mostly outside shots.  While they were shooting 20% WSP was hitting 44% and they had a 28-15 lead at the half.

Mike Hughes lead the second quarter charge that broke open a two point first quarter lead to 13.  He was chosen the games MVP as he would finish with 12 points.  WS-Prep outstanding player Coye Simmons lead all rebounders securing 13 in the game.  RM-Prep's DeShawn Freeman 15 points and 9 rebounds was RM-Preps outstanding player for the game.

The second half RM-Prep improved their shooting to almost 40% but when you add it all up they shot a paultry 28.9 % for the game.  Give RM-Prep credit they were able to hold WS-Prep to on 38% for the game.  Take away the second quarter scoring 15-4 WS-Prep  the other three quarters we 38-37 WS-Prep.

Factors in the game all during the season RM-Prep was always taller and quicker than anyone they played  but today WS-Prep was there just as quick and just as tall and it did have an effect on both teams.

DeShawn Freeman 15 points  and Jacob Barrett 11 points were the only double digit scorers for RMP.  Donte Samuels 7, Gary Smith 6 and James Bond 4.  This is the first loss of the season since Freeman was in the lineup this year for Prep as they will finish 24-4.  WS Prep wins their second straight title and finish 31-1.

For the second year in a row the Big East is on the sidelines looking as Chapel Hill lost the girls 3-A title to Harding High.  Last year Rocky Mount lost in the Eastern Finals to Eastern Alamance who would lose the title game.  This year Northern Nash gave Chapel Hill their only other loss on the season.

Pitching When They Needed It

 Lauren Doughtie shot a -3 under 69 Thursday to tie for 21st spot in her second LPGA Tour event.  The LPGA Tour is in Phoenix Az which is the first event of the year in the USA and 4th event of the year.  The low round of the day was a 63.  She tees off today at 10:40am hoping to make the cut.

Andy Morris came from behind the plate Thursday to pitch four innings of relief  and then managed three hits to pace Rocky Mount to a 9-5 win over Bunn.  Sam Lilley started on the hill but in two innings surrendered eight hits.  The good news he walked only one batter and got a great throw from his center fielder Jeremy Johnson that saved a run at home.  Morris took over in the third in a 3-3 tie but yielded two runs in the third but shut the door on the Wildcats the next three innings to get the win..

Down five 5-3 the Gryphons scored three times in the fourth when Sam Lilley reached on an error, scored a rbi  triple by Andy Morris and Morris scored on a triple by Micah Varnell.  The Gryphons took the lead for good on a single by Spencer Ramsey.  The Gryphons scored three times in the fifth  on a Sam Lilley hit  he reach home on a Andy Morris single, Morris scored  after Micah Varnell walked and Spencer Ramsey doubled them home.  Ramsey pitched the seventh and got out of a bases loaded jam to finish off the Wildcats.

Rocky Mount record grows to 3-3 and they will begin conference play Monday night with a home game against Fike.  Game time is 7pm.

The so called minor sports  like volleyball, Soccer and tennis most play in the afternoons and  the only people there are family members.  Glad to see in the Telegram yesterday the Barry Nethercutt the Gryphons Tennis coach recorded his 600th victory as a tennis coach.  Yes he coaches both the girls in fall and the boys in spring but do you realize how many matches you have to win to get to 600?  Gryphon tennis in most every year is competitive  and the Gryphon nation is lucky to have the dedicated service of Barry. Congratulations Coach!

Next weekend J'Kyra Brown will be playing in the Carolina Classic basketball  game in Myrtle Beach.  The game has been moved to Myrtle Beach High School.  Game time is 6:30PM  on the 23rd.

Paul Andre and yours truly will be in Raleigh Saturday bringing you the Rocky Mount Prep quest for the state 1-A basketball title.  Air time is 2pm with the tip off coming at 2.30.  You can hear all the action on Power 95.5.  You can go on line and hear us @ powerhits95.com.  You can also go on line and watch the game live at news14.com that is the Time Warner cable system web page.  They have the tv rights and are showing all the games live on Time Warner systems throughout North Carolina on Saturday