Rookie Of The Year

The three top rookie quarterbacks Andrew Luck, RG3 and Russell Wilson  are probably the best combo of rookie quarterbacks in NFL history.  The 2004 class only had two of the three made it to the field in 2004 Ben Rothlesburger, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers.  Rivers was three years before he got on the field full time.

There is plenty of talk of which is the best of these three prize rookies.  Andrew Luck as the number one pick by Indy is playoff bound.  If the Redskins beat Dallas Sunday they are in with RG3 and Seattle just might be the surprise team in the NFL this year with Russell Wilson.

Let's take a look at the key stats and see if we can pick who should be rookie of the year.  Passing yardage is not a factor in my selection of ROY but the first stat to look at is Touchdowns to interceptions.  Luck is 21/18, 3 is 20/5 and Wilson 25/10.  Give the edge to RG3, Wilson second and Luck third.

Yards per attempt  Luck 7 yards per try.   RG3 8.3 and Russell Wilson 7.7.  Once again RG3 takes the lead with Wilson second and Luck trailing the field.

Passing completion %  Luck  54%, RG 3 66% and Wilson 63%.  Same winner same second place and Luck trails the field.

Quiarterback rating.  Once again the same order  Luck 75.6, RG 3 104.1 and Russell Wilson 98.0

Yes there are other categories to look at including running with the ball but the same measurements come forth there too.  R G 3, Wilson and Luck.  I say the Rookie of the year in the NFL is Robert Griffin 3rd with Russell Wilson second.  I think with all the comebacks that Luck has had he seems to be the media darling.  I'll Take the Skins man in RG 3.

As far as comeback player of the year let me point out one thing that people seem to have forgotten.  Adrian Peterson rushed for 970 yards last year before his knee injury at Christmas.  To me the come back player needs to have not played at all like Peyton Manning.  Denver made the playoffs last year and won one playoff game so my choice for MVP is Adrian Peterson.  Manning as the comeback player.

Post Christmas Basketball

The Lady Gyphons return to the High School OT Holiday Invitational Tournament for the second year in a row.  You may ask why are the Ladies back  and the boys are not.  Two reasons might be true first of all the Lady Gryphons won their bracket played at Cary Academy and of course they have one of the best players in the state in J'Kyra Brown heading to ECU next year. The boys despite being the defending State 3-A Champs were not suppose to be this good this year and do not have a highly recruited player that this tournament likes to high light each year.

The Lady Gryphons begin play at 5pm today against Dudley High School.  The guys are playing in a tournament at Riverside High in Durham.  It is called the Tobacco Road Holiday Invitational Tournament.  They play Northside Christian Academy at 5.30 On Thursday.

Next week when school takes back in the Gryphons have a home game Wednesday  night against Rose High and then begin conference play January 4th against Nash Central at RMHS.  This will be Charles Austin Night and next week I will pass along more details.

I think most folks would tell you at this point Rocky Mount boys being 8-0 is a nice surprise.  They have won seven of their eight games by at least 12 points.  They are averaging 64 points per game while giving up 52.  They have played four games so far this year on the other teams court but they are still averaging winning by over 11 per game.  The entire starting lineup played significant minutes on last year state championship team.  So far they are not as deep on the bench as last season.

Where Are they Now:  Christmas vacation brings many players home for the holiday and had a chance to run into many of them last week during the Nash County Tournament.

Tabais Hilliard: Rocky Mount - Freshman Methodist point guard.  Started first game of season at point guard.  averaging about six points per game.

Terrill Hilliard:  Rocky Mount - Freshman Wingate   Red shirting this year.  You may remember got stress fracture in shin in state championship game in 2010.  Played AAU and High school ball both Junior and senior seasons and never properly healed.  Has had surgery and is resting this season.

Montrezl Harrell :North Edgecombe -Freshman Louisville  Averagering 19 minutes per game for Rick Patino.  Scoring at 6.7 points per game and pulling down 4.5 rebounds for the 11-1 Louisville Cardinals.

Tia Hudgins: Rocky Mount -Freshman Queens College.  Averaging 7 points per game and has started 3 of 7 games.  Was power forward for Pam Gainey but at five feet eight inches having to learn to be a guard in college.

Trey Sumler:  Nash Central - Western Carolina Senior.  He is on the Bob Cousy list as one of the top point guards in the country.  Averaging 16.3 points for the Catamounts and has been leading scorer in six of Cats 12 games.  Averaging 3.9 assist per game.

Dyonna Battle: Rocky Mount -Queens College.  Played center in high school but at 5'8" is a guard at Queens.  Averaging 3.8 points per game.

It's All About Jesus

We now live in a world that if there is someone that doesn't believe like you they are going to find a way to make it shameful for you to feel as you do.  Some where along the way about 3 per cent of the people have taken control of the other 97%.

I am a Believer in Jesus Christ.  I try to live a certain way that when ever the day comes I will be in the HOV lane to heaven.  I know that I fail sometimes to carry out my beliefs but I do try to live the path  that has been laid out for all of us who believe should follow.

We are at the moment where it is the birthday of my lord and I hope yours too.  Sorry if I offend you but I have a Christmas tree in my house not a Holiday tree.  I still say Merry Christmas and a Happy new year even though the 3% say that I offend them by saying it.  Sorry but on this one just be offended.

Today is the birthday of Jesus Christ.  I hope that you will take the time to remember that Santa was no where near Bethlehem.  The gifts you give others  this season is in honor a child born in a stable. Gifts were brought to the stable to honor him.    He lived such a short time to die on  a cross for my sins and yours.

Happy Birthday Jesus

And to all of you Merry Christmas

Random Thoughts

Maybe just Four weeks ago I was excited about the Charlotte Bob Cats had won six games and I made the comment they had all year to win two more games which would be more wins than they had all of last year.  The Cats have won one game since I commented on them and right now are on a 15 game losing streak.

Former Southern Nash Firebird Tracy Coppedge was named to the All Southern Conference freshman team.  Coppedge averaged 4.1 yards per carry in running for 430 yards at Elon.  He added another 100 or so pass receiving.

ECU lost their Bowl game yesterday to Louisiana Lafayette 43-34.  Some how or other that is about what I thought the score would be.  Two other North Carolina college teams still have bowls games to go.  Duke and State and I doubt that either will be favored in their games.

Duke is 11-0 on the college basketball season and ranked #1 in all the polls.  They remain first in the RPI which of course factors in the strength of schedule.  N C State is up to 9-2 and 8th in the RPI. years past State might be 9-2 but their RPI would be 100 from their not so tough schedule.  Mark Gottfried  likes the tough schedule early and the Pack is improving.  I bet nobody knows that Miami is 7-1 so far this season and 11th in the RPI.  You had better keep your eyes on them.  Carolina at 7-3 is 61st in RPI.

The final game of the NFL season next Sunday and the Washington Redskins have to beat the Cowboys to get in the playoffs.  Most of Eastern North Carolina is still a strong hold of Skin Fans. The Carolina Panthers have been around since 1995 and you can't get the Skins on TV in this area like it use to be.  Back in the old days during the preseason teams used to go to areas and play a preseason game and the Skins use to play in Norfolk VA.  Wish the Panthers and Skins would play a preseason game in Raleigh.  Despite the regular price for preseason games I bet that one would be a sellout.

Christmas Break Review The Girls

Last year the two best basketball teams east of Raleigh resided in Nash County.  This year you can say two of the best teams east or Raleigh are here.  South Central has already shown they want to be a part once again of the best basketball in the east.

Northern Nash:  9-0  They have ten players that all look alike.  Take one player out and put another in and they still look the same. This senior group made the Regional as Sophomores but only Rocky Mount prevented them from returning last year.  This point in the season only one team can keep them from going undefeated in regular season or should I make that two.  Themselves and Rocky Mount.  Alexus Hill can shoot from the outside and she provides speed for all of the other bookends.  Those book ends have names Quinesha Lynch,  Shakyia Mercer, Khadrijah Richardson, De ja Lewis,Jordan Oldham, Camille Branch and Suzannah Sykes.  Northern Needs to shoot more from the outside because they can control most of the rebounds on misses.  Lack over all team speed but they are the class of the Big East.

Rocky Mount : 6-2  So far this year lost in over time to Northern Nash and lost by three to South Central.  This Gryphon team must depend on it's defense because  other than the best player in the east J'Kyra Brown.  No one else willing to shoot.  Carmen Richardson needs to get greedy and shoot more just to to ease the double teams on J'Kyra.  Until this team finds more scoring it will be hard to beat the best in the east Northern and South Central. That being said as long a J'Kyra stays healthy Rocky Mount can beat most of every one else. Every team is double and triple teaming J and by late in the game she is wore out and in the big games she can't do it alone.  If one or two others step up offensively Rocky Mount could be real good again.

Nash Central: 7-2  The most over looked team in the area is Nash Central.  They showed everyone how good they were as the #3 Big East team in the playoffs last year.   Ni'Ya Styles is maybe the best point guard in the area and the Bulldogs are a team none of the big dogs had better overlook. Veteran Timyra Staton provides  rebounding underneath.  If either NN or RM stumble Nash Central will be ready to race by the one that scratches their knee.

Southern Nash  How good can you expect your team to be when three of your conference members are NN, RM and NC.  That's only on this side of the county not including next door in Wilson County.  Southern has good talent but next to a six footer I am real short.  Danielle Noland and Khadijah Manning are a good nucleus.

The all Tournament team at the Nash County Holiday Tournament:  MVP Quinesha Lynch Northern Nash, Alexus Hill Northern Nash, J'Kyra Brown Rocky Mount, Carmen Richardson Rocky Mount, Ni'ya Styles Nash Central and Khandijah Manning Southern Nash.

The State Of Nash County Basketball

If might not yet be the official halfway point in the high school basketball season but the Christmas break is a good time to review what has happened so far.

Rocky Mount Boys:  8-0 Looks as if there is no let down following their second state title in three years.  Donte Battle has turned into a beast under the boards and he is getting plenty of help inside from Jaquel Bryant and up and coming Imanuel King.  Coming back from missing almost the entire last season  M J Gainey is just maybe the best all round Gryphon.  It doesn't matter who the athlete is missing time with an injury is heart breaking but Little Mike has come back with a dead eye shooting and a coaches son basketball wealth of knowledge.  The Hines brothers  Mason and Mike round out the best starting lineup in the area.

Nash Central :7-3  If there is one thing every team in this area needs to compete with Rocky Mount is height and the Bulldogs don't have enough of that.  They do have speed which they will need to use to their advantage.  Nate Pittman leads  the way but the Bulldogs need to improve their outside shooting if they are to endure  once playoff time rolls around.Jaquan Williams and L J Porcher need to lead their.  There is also Daniel Pittman and Cole Smith. The Bulldogs are better than I thought they would be after what graduated last year.

Northern Nash : 4-5  No one has improved this year more than the Knights.  Already with four wins after only one last season.  The Knights desperately need some taller trees.  They will be more competitive this year and will not go win less in the Big East.  Isaiah Alston is giving Northern solid leadership and as the Knights proved in the Nash County Holiday Tournament they will win some close games this year.

Southern Nash :1-9  Graduation hit the Firebirds harder than any other team last season and so far like most Nash County teams no tall timber under the basket.  Firebirds will rely heavily on Chi-Ali-Bunn for leadership this season.  Already been a long season and January isn't here yet for the Firebirds.

The All Tournament team from the Nash County Holiday Tournament.  M J Gainey MVP  Rocky Mount, Donte Battle Rocky Mount, Daniel Pittman Nash Central, Nate Pittman Nash Central, Isaiah Alston Northern Nash and Chi-Ali-Bunn Southern Nash. 

Tomorrow we will feature the girls.

Northern Out Last Gryphons

Went to see a basketball game and a rugby match broke out.  They started pushing and shoving in the first quarter and by over time Northern Nash remains unbeaten as they survive Rocky Mount 55-50.  Rocky Mount had four players foul out including J'Kyra Brown who scored 31 points but the 25 scored by Lady Knight Quinesha Lynch was the difference in the game.

Northern decided to take the first quarter off as Rocky Mount lead 11-0 at the end of the first period.  The Knights had cut it to 25-15 at the half but at one point Rocky Mount lead 25-8.  Neither side shot very well at the foul line for if they had of this one would never have made over time by either side.  Northern had whittled the Gryphon lead to three at the end of the third and lead by three with under two minutes to play but were tied at 47 at the end of regulation.

As Rocky Mount lost players because of fouls Northern kept right on moving forward and managed to win it 55-50.  That first quarter it seemed as if Northern was more focused on making sure this was a rough and tumble game that they forgot they needed to score.  Once they started making shots their flow came with it and the victory.  Their ninth of the year without a defeat.  Alexus Hill scored 10 second half point and Khadrijah Richardson  had 9 to lead the Knights scoring.  Carmen Richardson had nine and no other Gryphon had more than four.

In the boys championship game Nash Central lead the entire first quarter but there  was a point where Rocky Mount became taller and the Nash Central basket shrunk  Rocky Mount pulled to a 33-27 lead at the half but in the second half played zone most of the time and the Bulldogs couldn't make enough outside shots to keep up with the taller Gryphons who weren't letting anything inside.

Rocky Mount lead swelled to 17 down the stretch.  MJ Gainey made outside shots 17 points but Donte Battle, Imanuel King and Jaquel Bryant controlled the boards.  Rocky Mount does their part winning the Nash County Holiday Tournament 66-53 on the home court of the Bulldogs.

Donte Battle lead Rocky Mount with 18, but Nash Central transfer Imanuel King chipped in 14 against his old team.  Nash Central had four double digit scorers but in this one they needed five or more. Nate Pittman 12 points, L J Porcher 11, Jaquan Williams 10 and Cole smith added 10.

The 3rd place of the boys game Northern Nash down two hit a trey with ten seconds to go and survived two Southern Nash shots to win 47-46.