Finally Basketball Again

You know when ever your star player almost outscores the other teams total you know a stomping is on the way and the undefeated girls of Northern Nash remain so after they open the 3-A playoffs with a 60-31 victory over Morehead.  Kiana Thomas scored 27 for Northern as they advance to round two Monday night at home when they will take on Walter Williams from Burlington.

Northern Nash boys were the only Big East team playing in the first round with a losing record and Adam Renner's shot at the buzzer missed and Northern's basketball season is over as they lose 49-48 to Southern Lee.

If there was any question about whether the Big East having all the teams jammed together would pay off in the playoffs it hasn't.  Being so even almost every boys team was on the road and they all lost.

Rocky Mount made  a good account for themselves but both the boys and girls season has ended on this the first day of the playoffs.  Rocky Mount boys trip to Gibsonville to play Eastern Guilford was close but no cigar as the Gryphons lose 78-74.  The girls played a higher seed in Corinth Holders and the Lady Gryphons came close but lose 46-43.  The boys finish 12-8 and the girls are even at 10-10.  I think considering the first day of practice for the Lady Gryphons was the day after senior forward Tiara Hinton  was killed in an auto accident this team has a heavy heart all year.

Hunt boys the conference champion and Hunt girls who are rather good except they are in the same conference with Northern Nash's girls both win impressively against conference foes  Hunt girls beat Fike 61-46 and they travel to Chapel Hill Monday while Hunt boys beat Nash Central 63-45.  The Bulldogs could not get a rebound.

Southern Nash big moment this season was beating Rocky Mount in Rocky Mount and it was uphill rest of the way.  A trip to Cardinal Gibbons ends the FireBirds season 78-52.

Fike gave a good account for themselves but in the end another Big East team loses 76-68 at Northern Guilford.

Nash Central girls traveled to Havelock and once again the Big East comes up on the losing end  58-45.

We worried all year about all the teams having no height and every one of the so call just alike teams fall in the opening round.  Hunt the top boys team looks  to host Northern Guilford Monday while the two tallest teams in Big East girls  Northern Nash and Hunt move on to Monday playoff basketball.

Hunt boys and girls each played a Big East team.  The other boys teams were 0-4 and the girls were 1-2 against other conference competition.

Basketball Saturday

Yes, there will be basketball on Saturday for every team in our area that qualified for the playoffs.  The NCHSAA had to make an executive ruling that was not what the schedule called for and here is what they have decided.

There will be basketball on Saturday for all the teams that did not go to school on Friday.  About 10% of teams have gotten their first round in and that leaves everybody else to play Saturday.  If the weather is too bad in your area then Sunday can be a first round playoff game only.  All first round games have to be finished by end of Sunday and only first round games.

Monday will be the second round and the third round or sectional finals will be Tuesday night.  Wednesday will be news conference day in Fayetteville for the teams winning three games.  Starting Thursday four games will be held per night in both the Crown Coliseum and Crown Arena.   The times and scheduling has not been posted for how early or how late the games will go starting Thursday.

Back to the Saturday action since most everyone has forgotten  who they are playing and here is the time as we know it right now.

Rocky Mount boys seeded 18 travel to Eastern Guilford seeded 15th and the game will be played at 5pm
Rocky Mount girls seeded 28th travel to 5th seeded Corinith Holders game time is 5pm
Southern Nash  Boys seeded 28th travel to Cardinal Gibbons 5th seed  game time 4:30
Nash Central seeded 27th  boys travel to Big East champions Hunt 6th game time 5:30
Nash Central girls travel to Havelock time unknown
Fike girls at Hunt  4pm
Fike Boys at Northern Guilford 5:30PM
Northern Nash Girls host Morehead at 4pm  and Northern Boys host Southern Lee at 6:pm..

The state did allow  any team  not in school today to hold a practice considering for some that they have not held a practice or been together as a team since the last night of the regular season which was two weeks ago tonight.

Weather Hits Everybody

The high school basketball playoffs are on the verge of having sometype of drastic measures taken in order to get just one game in.  Once again school is out in this area and that leaves us game less Friday.  There are many schools Friday especially in the southeast are are attempting to go to school in some cases two hours delays but many are playing first round games against teams still out Friday which kills their opportunity to play.

We are to the point that the NCHSAA must make some decisions.  First would be a decision directly in opposite of what the NCHSAA stands for, money!  Most all playoff games the the NCHSAA  get a major cut of all the gate and round one games is the least.  They could drop first round games and announce Saturday a new bracket 1/16- 2/15 and cut to two games making it to the regional.  That would require playing games Saturday whether your school went to school on Friday or not and just maybe playing second round games on Sunday or Monday.

If they are willing to play games Sunday like last year they could stay with the regular three game bracket and play Saturday-Sunday and Monday.  The 3-A regional boys start Tuesday which would require for those who advance four straight days of basketball without much practice in the last two weeks.

Spring sports like basketball have not gotten any practice in since Mother Nature took control of our roads.  Rocky Mount was suppose to have had a practice game Thursday with the opening of the season next Tuesday.  Baseball is a game that pitchers need more throwing to build up strength in their arm and at this point no body is building strength in this weather.

The basketball playoffs regardless of what path they wind up taking will be filled with teams looking like it is the first practice of the season  and this year we may get a champion who's record may just be above 500.

Baseball just might have many games early where the losing team scores 10 runs on walks from pitchers who haven't thrown a strike in practice all spring or winter which ever is correct.  Hitters will have no rhythm and ground balls may go through many legs before the wall stops them.

College baseball has seen baseball games snowed out cancelled or move 500 miles just to get a game in.  Like high school it might be April before we see what your team may be like after they have played and practiced enough to say this is what our team is.

History Found In Canisters

If you played football for Rocky Mount High School in  the years 1967-68 and 69.  The orginal 16 or 8 millimeter film canisters have been found and containing all game footage from those years.  The film is in better condition than what you might expect  but look that is old time film almost fifty years old and it has been found in an attic.

If you happen to be someone that would like to prove to your grand children that you did actually play football this might be for you.  This is certainly history of Rocky Mount High School..  The  holder of this film has found this tucked away in and attic and really isn't sure what needs to be done with it.

Contact Mike Pearce at 908-3084.

Didn't we just talk about this about five weeks ago or so.  NC State had beaten Duke and students stormed the court  and the WolfPack was on the verge of moving up in the high rent district of the ACC a place that WolfPack fans desperately want to return to.

The emotion of the Duke victory State lost six of the next eight games but they have worked their way back to respectability.  Their victory over Carolina that other team State wants to be like has State standing in the very same spot they stood five weeks ago.  They have the keys to the pent house in their hands all they have to do is beat the teams they should beat which could be the next two games at Boston College and at Clemson a team that ripped them in one of those six losses after the Duke win.
 
Pack fans the most important game this year is Saturday at Boston College.  A lost to the last place team  in the ACC  would destroy all they have worked for to get back in the NCAA picture.

Those of you let's get rid of Roy folks after the Pack's win on Wednesday I think the entire Carolina  season and future for rest of the season lies in the foot of Marcus Paige.  You can say all you want but Carolina Goes as Paige goes and anybody that can't practice everyday because of the constant pounding on this foot can't be prepared on even in physical shape to play college basketball  the way it needs to be played.    It is hard for fans who sits in the stands to know what a small injury does to any player.

I sit here on my IPAD  the ground is covered in little more than an hour after the snow  Started and schools are closed again Thursday which kills another day for playoff basketball but there is another issue the fact that players have not practiced in about two weeks.  Who can possibly be in shape.  If they go to play the first day back in school when ever that might be then players will be susceptible to pulled muscles  and injury. This year is quickly becoming the year that the playoffs were cancelled.
 You know that will never happen.

Dire Straits For High School Basketball Playoffs

Tuesday was lost for playoff games and Wednesday has joined in as both Wilson and Nash County  schools are closed tomorrow.  If school is in session Thursday and Friday then the playoffs will go three straight nights which surely could be a major advantage for the home teams.  Reality tells us that the home team has all the advantages regardless of playing three straight nights over every other night.

This weather forecast has nothing in it that would make anyone think there will be school for the rest of the week.  If that happens then the first possible  day for basketball playoffs will be Saturday.  Last year basketball was allowed on Sunday for the first time in history.  So if games are played Saturday and Sunday that still leaves the championship for Monday which is suppose to be press conference day at the Crown Complex  in Fayetteville.

There is still one other possible disaster for the basketball playoffs.  Suppose this Wednesday night Thursday  weather turns into a major storm and there is no way to get any basketball in before Monday.  The regional is suppose to start Tuesday with 3-A  boys in the Coliseum and 2-A girls in the arena.  If the first round of the sectional are played Monday what happens then?

There will be two rounds yet to play and Thursday would be first day for the regional.  I could see a triple header Thursday and Friday  in Fayetteville and maybe play enough games Saturday to play the Championship of the Regional on Sunday.  This is of course contingent on no bad weather next week.

Here is another option drop teams in sectional seeded 17 through 32 and it only takes two games to win sectional.  The Big East boys would  not get to play would be Rocky Mount, Fike, Nash Central and Southern Nash.  The girls would lose Fike, Rocky Mount, and Nash Central.

This weather just may cause some unusual circumstances and all of it depends on how deep the snow or ice is by Dark Thursday night.

Playoffs Start Tuesday? SNOW?????

WEATHER HAS DONE IN TONIGHT'S STATE BASKETBALL PLAYOFFS                       1ST ROUND.!!!!!!!!!!


Saturday basketball teams were allowed to practice even though schools had been iced in since early release on Monday.  So starting the playoffs on Tuesday gives teams an opportunity to at least go over a scouting report on their first round foes. I am sure as much as anything Saturday was a run and condition day as much as shooting since nobody has been able to see a back yard basketball goal or the inside of a gym all week.

What happens if because of expected snow  Tuesday school lets out early or even if no school Wednesday?  The basketball playoffs starting on Tuesday this year has already taken what has been a game day away and if school gets out early for weather goodbye Tuesday night basketball.  If school takes in Wednesday that leave four days through Saturday to play three playoff games.  Oh yeah another system is coming Wednesday night.  Have you ever heard two games on Saturday.  Unusual things happen when playable days disappear.

Northern Nash will host a doubleheader with the unbeaten Lady Knights  21-0 #2 seed  facing Eden Morehead  10-12 #31 seed and then the boys 9-12 #14 seed  host Southern Lee 13-9.  How will the long layoff effect every team but you hope that of all the teams least effected would be the Lady Knights.  They had a few injury issues that now might play in their favor.  Northern's boys have been the best team in Big East over the last four weeks but record wise Southern Lee could compete.

Hunt will try this double header deal with their girls 17-5  #13 seed facing Fike #20 seed  10-12.  The last time these two teams were on the court Fike won.  Don't care who you are playing any conference foe in the first round is bad but when it is your top rival this needs to be a third round matchup.  Hunt boys 15-7 #6 seed in east will host Nash Central 13-9 and #27 seed in tournament.  This must be let's pick on Hunt day as the state is sending Hunt up against two conference mates who will be fired up not only for the first round but they are playing a conference enemy that both Fike and Nash Central should know a lot about.

Any time you say Cardinal Gibbons you think of state championships in soccer, volleyball but they are only average in basketball when compared to other Gibbons sporting teams.  Gibbons 16-6 #5 seed will host Southern Nash 12-10 Seeded #28.  Southern had the most disappointing finish of all Big East teams.  Anybody see the correlation between N C State a want-a-be when they beat Duke they have been so so since.  Since Southern beat Rocky Mount a team the Firebirds would die to beat Rocky Mount in any sport. Their emotions were so high that it effect rest of their season? They have only been 2-4 since beating the Gryphons.  This is a good matchup for Southern.

Fike 15-7 #22 seed in East will travel to Northern Guilford 16-6 #11 seed.  Winnable game for Fike but guess who they are in the bracket with Hunt/Nash Central.  The Big East sectional tournament could continue into later in the week.

Nash Central girls 12-10 #27 seed travels to Havelock 14-7 #6 seed.  The early years of Nash Central this would have been a conference game.  I think Nash Central this year is in the Northern and Hunt shadow.  Better than their record, could be interesting game.

Rocky Mount will send both of their teams west with the girls 10-9 #28 seed  stopping thirty miles down the road at Corinth Holders 17-5 #5 eastern seed.  Here until the end of the season for the Lady Gryphons will totally be in the hands of how the guards handle the ball.  If the Lady Gryphons guards
play well they may play deep into the week.  If not the season ends.  The boys  12-7 # 18 are as quick as anybody and handle the ball about as good as any Mike Gainey team. Shot selection and  rebounding are this teams Achilles heel.   Eastern Guilford 18-4 #15 seed will be waiting in Gibsonville for the Gryphons.  Strong on the boards every game and this Gryphon team could play all week.

All doubleheaders will start at 6pm and single games at 7pm.  Northern is  the only home team in the county playing so let's go watch a ball game.

ACC Basketball Hard To Endure

Benton Moss the former Rocky Mount Gryphon and now senior baseball pitcher for the UNC Tar Heels is among 53 ACC Athletes who has won the  ACC Weaver-James-Corrigan Post graduate scholarships.  Moss who's intentions are professional baseball after baseball season in the spring will be named and honorary winner. 

 I hope you didn't try to endure the Louisviile -  Miami game on Saturday and then turned around and tried to watch the Virginia -Florida State game Sunday night.  If you are proud to call yourself an ACC fan the brand of basketball in those two games makes the 12-10 State-Duke ACC tournament game of the sixties had more offensive action.  Those of you that remember the 7-0 at the half Duke - Carolina game in the 70's that finished up 47-40 had more offense in the final half over both those games this weekend combined.

Virginia's close to the vest offense  is only saved by a defense that shut Florida State down even when Virginia had a starter missing when the game started.  Lost two with ten minutes left  over two heads colliding and Still Florida State couldn't whip a depleted team.  FSU is still hoping to make the NCAA's.  Who's kidding who.

Yet it seems when you get past the top three there seems to be a whole conference full of kidders who think they ought to be in NCAA's. FSU and Clemsom are 7-8.  Pitt., NC State, Miami are all 7-7 and each can give you reasons why they should be in.  Syracuse 8-6 but trying to stave off the NCAA infractions committee by bowing out of this year's playoffs  so how guilty are they?

Louisville, Pitt and Syracuse have given everyone in the ACC that says Kentucky couldn't  go undefeated in ACC every reason to say UK can't.

Virginia has lost but once but I don't know how.  Notre Dame can score points and just might have the team to last the longest in the NCAA's.  If Duke can stay close they have a habit of nailing threes to pull out victory.  I don't think that is a good  in the long run.  Louisville can't shoot which seems to be a disease many teams in  the ACC have.  Carolina at times can be pushed around as if they have no strong players.

If you have tickets to this year's ACC tournament in Greensboro no need to get a hotel.  Most of the basketball action should put you to sleep.

Carolina did a find job with the service for Dean Smith.  I thought Roy Williams pointing up to heaven to thank Dean for an assist in his life was perfect.