Injuries Can Change Your Life

We hear all the time people  while working during their lifetime get injured and they never are able to return to a normal life after that.

Sports is the same, an injury to a key player can make a contender a pretender.  Northern girls last year were never quite the same after Alexus Hill injured her knee during a regular season game.  She played to the best of her ability with the injury but the Lady Knights never were as strong as they were when she was healthy.

Duke this year has the same problem.  The #1 team in college basketball and one of their best three point shooters goes down and Duke is a top 20 team but no where near a final four product now.  Coach K has said that they are really good when all the pieces fit and right now they don't fit with Kelly on the sidelines.

Rocky Mount girls went through the first round of conference play at 4-1 with Northern being the only team they can't handle.  J'Kyra Brown's injury and right now they can't beat anybody.  Once again not being full strength is hurting the Lady Gryphons.

Nash Central has suffered a major blow losing Timyra Staton.  They head into Friday night with an opportunity to finish second out right.  Nash Central is a case of a team that those that have replaced Staton have stepped forward and her loss is not as noticeable because the bench has answered the statement "Next one up"  Throughout sports coaches preach to bench warmers to work hard and be prepared that it only takes one play and you are in the lineup when an injury occurrs.

Every injury effects teams differently depending on how good the player hurt is and how the bench comes up and fills the gap.  Duke's case I don't see that anyone player has stepped up to fill the Kelly's injury as much as Coach K just knows how to hide a teams short comings.

Rocky Mount simply doesn't have anyone one the bench that can replace one of the best players in the state.  N C State is going through the Lo Brown injury right now.  Tyler Lewis played well as his replacement last time out and if he plays that well the rest of the season then Brown's injury will have help improve the Wolfpack for down the road where they may fall again with him out.

Injuries are never good as any player who misses time  because they can never get it back.  What all teams hope that happens is a 1983 that happened for the Wolfpack.  Those who played during the Whittenburg injury strengthened the Pack for later in the season.  They could depend on the bench in the playoffs where they could not until those replacements got more playing time.

Time is running out on the high school season and those filling in now must step up quickly or the season will be over soon.

Northern Stays Perfect

The last week of the season is not easy for either Northern Nash teams as tonight's  Fike game and Friday's Rocky Mount visit are both on the road.  The Lady Knights will try to finish the season perfect when they head to the Mount after taking care of business at Fike winning 68-47.

Only once this year has anyone taken the Lady Knights to the wire and that was Rocky Mount in the Nash County Holiday tournament.  That game went to over time before Northern could get a hold of the game in winning 55-50.  The rolls have been reversed this season as Northern played the last few games last year  with a gimpy Alexus Hill and this season Rocky Mount is limping with J'Kyra Brown's knee injury.

After a great win on Friday against arch rival  Nash Central Northern boys headed to Fike with a head of steam but a player has been dismissed from the team this week and another not playing tonight and it cost the Knights greatly.  They were down 15-3 at the end of the first quarter and never could catch up
 
Over at Nash Central the Lady Bulldogs and Hunt Warriors were in a battle to hang on to a shot at second on Friday.  Both Hunt and Nash Central were 4-4 and this one was played as if the playoffs were on the line.  Nash Central 40 Hunt 38.  A victory by the Lady Bulldogs Friday a with Southern Nash just might pull second place out for Nash Central.

Hunt kept up their end of the bargain and remained tied for first place with Rocky Mount as they down Nash Central 46-40 at Nash Central.  They are 8-1 heading to Fike Friday night to end the regular season.  Next week the conference basketball tournament will be at Hunt.

At this hour I have heard nothing from either of the games  with Rocky Mount at Southern Nash.  Whether Rocky Mount boys still hold a share of the Big East lead or if the girls are one game ahead  of Nash Central I don't know at this hour. *  Rocky Mount boys beat Southern 59-36 while Lady Firebirds beat Rocky Mount 49-43. Those modern conveniences.  I washed my cell phone last week and with it all of my speed dial numbers so at this point tonight I don't have any body's cell phone number that can get me the scores.  Where is my 1970's rolodex?

Down The Stretch They Come

Rocky Mount and Hunt head into the final week of the regular season in high school basketball stride for stride heading toward the finish line. Both are 8-1 in Big East play and the #1 seed in the Big East Tournament is up for grabs to be taken if one of the two stumbles this week.  Should they win both of this weeks games then a drawing will be held for the Seeding in the tournament and the #1 seed in the playoffs would be determined by if either of the two wins the Big East Tournament which is at Hunt.  We all assume that both will win their semi final game and if that happens the championship game will carry the #1 seed for the winner in the playoffs.  We all know how that turned out last year between Rocky Mount and Northern Nash girls meeting again in the sectionals.

Rocky Mount is on the road Tuesday at Southern Nash while Hunt travels to Nash Central.  If there is to be a slip up on Tuesday Nash Central at 4-4 will be a toughie for the Warriors.  You can never take anybody lightly but if the Gryphons show up ready to play they should win.  The roles could be reversed on Friday as Hunt travels to Cross town rival Fike while Rocky Mount host Northern Nash.  If there is going to be a slip up by either of the big boys on this night it could be the improved Knights but you can never count out a rival game .

First is all ready sewn up for the Lady Knights of Northern Nash so this week becomes a stay healthy week for them as #1 seed in the tournament and #1 seed in the playoffs are theirs.  The big question right now is who is going to get second as Rocky Mount at 5-3 has a one game lead.  Hunt, Fike and Nash Central are all still in the Hunt for second but they all need to win and Rocky Mount lose in order to either tie or pass Rocky Mount.

The Rocky Mount Gryphon wrestling team  won the Big East Duels at Southern Nash Saturday beat all five of their conference foes including Southern Nash in the last match.  This Saturday Rocky Mount will be hosting the conference championships. This past weekend was the team portion and next weekend the individual champs will be determined.

Don't forget the fund raiser tonight at the Pizza Inn on Hunter Hill Road for the Rocky Mount High baseball team.   It last from 5-8pm and a portion of the sales and all tips will go to the baseball team.  Gryphon baseball players will be the waiters.  I know it is cold outside but baseball is just around the corner.

Street Ball

I don't know about you but football and basketball are not the games any more that I grew up playing.  I was taught that as a safety in football defense you had to know where the ball was all the time.  Basketball was a game played by those who followed proper rules for boxing out and if you touched someone that was a foul.  I believe that is what Mr Naismith intended when he mounted that peach basket on the barn and started pitching balls into it.

It kills me to hear a defender in football say all the rules are made for offense.  In my day any one who was beyond the line of scrimmage had a few lane in which to run.  That is what I call rules made for the offense.  Today a pass receiver goes down field the field both the defender and receiver are pushing back and forth I just don't know who could possibly get a penalty when everyone is at fault.

You know I made the comment after the Rocky Mount-Hunt basketball game that it was the worse officiated  game that I had ever seen.  It is hard to call a foul on one side when both are chest to chest and contact every where.  One of the things I like about the new gym at Rocky  Mount High School is the Press gets to sit court side  near the scoring table.  Down there you get to hear what's going on.  Some times you get screened off and don't see who took a shot but when something big is going on  everything in basketball happens at the scoring table.

Friday night P J Proctor for Fike committed a foul with about four minutes left in the game.  The Rocky Mount score book showed that was her fifth foul while Fike's that was only her fourth.  Bad situation when the score books don't agree .  A very good group of officials asked those on press row what we had.  I don't keep up with the fouls but Justin Hite from the Telegram said that was only her fourth foul.  Proctor was allowed to stay in the game which was the right call but those who had heard the buzzer sound for her fifth foul thought the Gryphons were getting the shaft.  The officials sorted out a problem and came up with the correct answer.

You can go to just about any play ground where sports is played most of the time fouls are called by those playing.  You are sort of a baby if you call a foul on the other team when ever they block a shot.  That play ground mentality has come to TV  and if it makes good on TV then it filters all the was down to kindergarten.   If it is a high light on TV then it can't be a foul.  Whether it is football or basketball contact on both sides leads to calls made sometimes and then the same play let go.  What is an official to do. 

Both basketball and football are being played today in such a way that if you decide you want to be an official you are asking yourself never to be right.  Any one play is judged by one side as a good call and the other side what a bum you are.  Is that what we want officials to have to live with.  Please let's all start playing by the rules and when an infraction occurs we all can see and know what the official is going to call.

Another Who's Who List

One day last week we did our version of the all time best basketball players who played basketball in the State of North Carolina.  Today let's look at what I  consider the best all time players who grew up in North carolina but played college or pros some where else.  What you will see is we have an all pro team that grew up in North Carolina.  These are not in any order.

Buck Williams:  We don't have to go out of the city limits to find one of the best ever in Rocky Mount senior High's Buck Williams.  Lead the Gryphons to the 4-A basketball title in 1978 left Rocky Mount to play college basketball At Maryland.  Was voted one of the 50 best basketball players of all time in the ACC giving Rocky Mount High two players on that list.  He lead the ACC in rebounding twice.

His 17 year pro career has two main stops in New Jersey and Portland.  He is 13th best rebounder in NBA History.  He is still the all time scoring leader in New Jersey history.  He averaged for his entire NBA career a double-double 12.8 points and 10 rebounds.  Currently and asssitant coach at Portland.

Dominique Wilkins:  Washington High school  I actually did a high school basketball game in which Washington played Ahoskie a zillion years ago.  Broke the hearts of N C State fans when he chose Georgia over the Wolfpack.  Averaged 24.8 points a game  his entire 15 year pro career.

Pete Maravich:  Broughton High School  He is the all time leading scorer in NCAA history 44.2 points per game  playing for his father Press Maravich who had been an assistant coach for N C State and took over when Everett Case died..  Fired at State and become coach at LSU and so "Pistol Pete" followed his dad south.

Had a ten year pro career and averaged 24.2 points per game.  Had a movie made about his life growing up in Raleigh where he would ride his bicycle to school and dribble the ball as he rode.

Walt Bellemy:  J T Barber High school New Bern N C.  Averaged 20.08 points per game playing at the University of Indiana and when he finished up his playing career in the pros average 20.06 per game.  was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1993.

John Lucas:  Hillside High Durham NC  Starting point guard for the University of Maryland.  #1 Draft pick in 1977.  Played 14 years in the NBA.  Dabbled on the pro tennis circuit until going into coaching.

Other great names who either called North Carolina home or went to high school in North Carolina.  Lou Hudson Dudley High- Played University of Minnesota.  Jersey is retired by Atlanta Hawks  Henry Bibby Franklinton High- 3 time UCLA National Champion guard and Eric "Sleepy" Floyd Hunter Huss High school in Gastonia  played on 82' Georgtown Team that lost to Carolina.  Danny Manning Paige High Greensboro.  Lead Kansas to the 1988 National Championship.

In their prime the all star team from North Carolina that played college ball in North Carolina could really have a ball game if they played the best  from North Carolina that left the state.

J'Kyra's BAAAAK And On Top

Having to sit out seven quarters of basketball this week due to an injury Tuesday night at Hunt J'Kyra Brown took to the court at Rocky Mount High School with a standing ovation from the Gryphon faithful with 6:32 to play in the second quarter and within a couple of minutes score on a driving layup and three pointer.  Brown had to play tonight wearing a full knee brace on her left knee and a wrap brace on her right lugged those braces around for four minutes and seemed to tire as I would imagine about all she has done since Tuesday is sit in a whirlpool. 

She played the entire second half and at the  6:57 mark of the fourth quarter Brown got a rebound put back for her 11th point of the game at which time the scoring operator Donald Farmer stopped play as J'Kyra Brown had become the leading scorer in Lady Gryphon history.  That was point 1601 in her Career breaking the record of the late Kim Taylor 1600 in 1983.  She would finish the night with 24 and the Gryphons needed every one of them as a hungry Fike who came into tonight's game at 3-4 in conference play could have tied the Gryphons with a win but the Gryphons win a big one 53-47  The Lady Gryphons trailed by as many as six in the fourth quarter. They are now 5-3 in the Big East

Carmen Richardson tossed in 15 to aid Brown and E J Proctor did all she could for Fike getting 21.  Kelsey Daniels was a monster under the boards for the Gryphons securing 14. The Lady Gryphons committed 30 turnover but survive.

Rocky Mount boys Dominated two portions of their game with Fike. They out rebounded Fike 38-21 and forced 29 turnovers while only having 17 themselves.  I can tell you right now if you win that battle in rebounding and turnovers by those margins you win an easy one and the Gryphons did 74-40.

Donte Battle lead the way with 14 points but Immanuel King had 10  and was the leading rebounder with 7.  Rocky Mount stays even with Hunt in securing their their seventh conference win in eight tries.

Northern Nash Girls won the Big East regular season title with a 49-29 win over Nash Central  The Lady Knights remain unbeaten on the season.  Nash Central falls to 4-4 in league play.  Northern Nash boys beat Nash Central 65-50  the wins puts the Knights in a real good position to make the playoffs now.  Those in attendance tonight at Northern were able to see a new look inside of the gym.  The gym is full of all new banners through displaying  the Knight's past glories on  the basketball court.

Saturday afternoon at the old Rocky Mount High gym the Envy-US Step team will be holding their annual dance show.  Tickets are $8 at the door.

Monday night the Rocky Mount High School baseball team will be holding a fund raiser at the Pizza Inn on Hunter Hill Road.  It will get started at 5pm and last until 8pm with the baseball players serving as waiters and a portion of the proceeds will go to the baseball team and all tips.  Please when you enter tell them you are there for the Gryphon Baseball team fund raiser.


Saturday the Rocky Mount Gryphon wrestling team has a match with Southern Nash at Southern..  If the Gryphons win they will clinch the conference regular season  and will head to the conference tournament next week.

Rained Three's and Slam Dunks

Tonight I was at Rocky Mount Prep doing a TV game for the "All New Sports Show" with camera man Edward Green and did the Prepsters put on a show or what.  3-A Southern Vance was in town and at 6-8 are not one of the top teams in 3-A basketball but average at best.  This was an opportunity for Prep to see how they would stand up should they make the 1-A playoffs.

The Jags shot three's and slammed dunks all night long in taking out the Raiders 105-61.  Do the Jaguars of Don Reams have a really good squad?  They sure do and  were lead by Jacob Barrett who on the night had 22 points.  He was not alone how ever as DeShaun Freeman added 17 most of his points were on dunks.  Gary Smith tossed in 14 along with another 13 from  007 James Bond.  We are not through yet as Donte Samuels garnered another 10 Keneen DeBerry 9, Trilnyal Sumler8, Aaron Oats 6, Mark Pittman 6.  That's a total of 9 players who had at least 6 points.

Rocky Mount High school has gotten great news on the condition of J'Kyra Brown injured knee.  There is no tear so for the protection of her future endeavors on the basketball court at ECU and beyond J'Kyra Brown sat out tonight as Rocky traveled to Nash Central  in the make up game of the makeup game.  The makeup game is from last Friday's game moved to Wednesday  because of the ice and last night moved  because of the weather warnings postponed to tonight and Nash Central took advantage of a Brown less Gryphon team and beat the Lady Gryphons 67-53.  Niya Styles lead the way for the Lady Bulldogs.

Rocky Mount boys stayed even with Hunt as they took care of business beating Nash Central for the third time this year by a 73-53 score.  Rocky Mount is home Friday night as they host Fike High.

I hope you have seen the Thursday addition of the Rocky Mount Telegram as there is a story on former Gryphon football player Brandon Jones who once he graduated from Rocky Mount found his way to Santa Rosa Junior College and this week Brandon has signed  to play division one football at Texas State University in San Marcos Texas.  You say you have never heard of Texas State.  They have 34,000 students which is about the size of N C State University which is the largest school in North Carolina .  Their football stadium where Brandon will be playing is also where the TV show Friday Night lights was filmed.  I work with his proud Mama Fredonna at GSM/Celadon and we are all proud of Brandon!