Friday, January 29, 2016

Clogged At The Top

Sometimes all it takes is one.  Tuesday night Rocky Mount got their first win of the season and tonight they got their second as they put the first conference loss of the season to Nash Central 71-61.  
After losing their first 13 games Rocky Mount now has won two in a row and at this point is right smack in the middle of the Big East race at 2-3.  The loss drops Nash Central to 3-1.

The bottom got closer to the top as Hunt who started out winning their first two conference games lost their third straight game at Northern Nash 56-49.   The Knights who had dropped to last after suffering a Tuesday night loss to Rocky Mount still remain in the bottom but are one and a half games out of second.

Fike boys hosted Southern Nash and when the dust had settled both teams leave the gym tied in Big East play after Fike's 49-45 victory over the Firebirds.  Southern was 3-1 heading into tonight and Fike was 2-2.  Now they both are 3-2.

Heading into tonight's action three girls team had one lost in Big East play and all three had a chance to add another notch to their victory records and all three did.

Northern Nash hosted Hunt and early on the Knights had a hard time finding the bottom of the net but even without much offense their defense carried them through.  The Knights win 54-32.  They have played the most games to date and now stand at 5-1.  Northern is right  on schedule and only needs to play a regular two weeks of two games a week.

Tonight at Rocky Mount the Lady Bulldogs beat Rocky Mount for the second time in conference play beating the Lady Gryphons 59-52.  The Lady Bulldogs rise to 3- 1while the lost drops Rocky Mount to 2-3.  The Lady Bulldogs have played the least conference games and in order to catch up must play the next two weeks three conference games per week.

The Lady Golden Demons of Fike shut out the Lady Birds of Southern Nash in the first quarter and had full control in running their conference record to 4-1 and 16-3 as they knock off  Southern 56-19.
Fike is one game behind as having played all conference games on schedule and will need a three game week to catch up.


Second Time Around

Weather has already played a factor but starting tonight most Big East basketball teams begin the cycle of playing their second conference game with each conference members.  If they played them home the first time they will be on the road the second time around.  So far on the boys side of the ledger Nash Central will be faced with making up more games than anyone else and will have to finish the next two weeks with three conference games per week.  For their sake hope we don't get more weather by regular seasons end.

Northern Nash, Fike and Nash Central girls are all three boasting overall great records and each one has only one conference loss heading to the second time around.  The Lady Bulldogs have the toughest road to hoe due to the fact they have more conference games left than anybody.

Boys tonight:

The headliner would have to be Nash Central 3-0 9-7 at Rocky Mount 1-3 1-13:  Having not lost so far makes this the headliner for Nash Central.  Will their first win bring new life to the Gryphons or will the Bulldogs let everyone know they are for real.

Southern Nash 3-1 10-5 at Fike 2-2 7-11:  Big game for both as they try to stay in the hunt for first.  Fike is more desperate than Southern but the Firebirds still think they can be champs and any loss would not help them do the championship thing.

Hunt 2-2 7-10 at Northern Nash 1-4 11-6:  Thinking ahead to the playoffs Northern has got to get going in conference first just to make the playoffs but secondly get a better seed than what they would be if they were in now.  Hunt can still take the title with a strong finish.

Girls:

None of the one loss teams play each other tonight so their is a chance for them to improve their records.  Not one of them can afford a loss.

Southern Nash 0-4 0-15 at Fike 3-1 15-3:  As far as Fike is concerned this had not better be a slip up game.  This one should not be close.

Hunt  1-3 3-13 at Northern Nash 4-1 14-3:  On the right night Hunt is capable but like Hunt the Lady knights cannot afford any let down to a team they should beat.

Nash Central 2-1 13-3 at Rocky Mount 2-2 9-5:  Rocky Mount is more than capable of beating anybody at any time but they need their defense and their shooting to be working in tandem.  The Bulldogs still remember the pasting they got in the Christmas Tournament from Rocky Mount.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Winless No More

Rocky Mount hosting Northern Nash on their home court looking to break an 0fer season of 13 losses in a row and  the last two last season of 15 straight losses.  The Gryphons came  out of the blocks as if this would be the night  to end the losing streak.  The entire first half the Gryphons maintained a double digit lead until a late Northern flurry cut the half time lead to seven.

The entire second half Northern stayed within striking distance but for the first time this year Rocky Mount made plays late and beat Northern Nash 62-54.  Their first win of the season gets them out of last place as they now stand at 1-3 while Northern drops to 1-4.

After winning 33 straight conference games  and having that steak broken last week Grover Battle had his Lady Knights ready to play defense as they hold The Lady Gryphons to three points in the first quarter And only three in the second.   The good news for the Lady Gryphons were playing defense too and Northern only had 17 themselves at the half.

The second  half the Gryphons found their shooting touch but by games end Northern kept their halftime margin as the Lady Knights are now 4-1 and Rocky Mount 2-2 as the Knights beat the Gryphons 48-37.

Over at North Carolina Wesleyan the Lady Battling Bishops found themselves down 14 at the end of the first quarter to Averett.  Just a couple of minutes left in the third quarter the Bishops took their first lead at 43-42 but the Cougars finished the third on a six point run to lead 48-43 and the Bishops never got closer again.

Only two Bishops hit double figures Kenyatta Harris Hit for 15 and Nash Central's Timyra  Staton had  10 on the inside.  The Bishops shot just 29 per cent for the game and only 17 per cent from the three line.  The loss drops the Bishops to 4-4 in the USAS.

Former Gryphon J'Kyra Brown and her UVA women's basketball team played tonight in Raleigh which is as close as she will play near home this year.  The Pack playing this season at Broughton's gym with Reynolds Coliseum being remodeled  lost to the Pack 63-52.  Brown scored 9 points on 3of eight shots from the the 3 point line.  She had five rebounds and 2 steals. The Cavs will be right back in the triangle next Thursday when they play Duke at 7pm.




Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Mullins Named NCHSAA Performer Of The Week

Josh Mullins who poured in 39 points in Nash Central's conference victory last week has been named the Male NCHSAA Performer of the week.  The weekly award is presented by Time Warner Cable.  So far this season Mullins is averaging 23.5 points per game and at this point in the season is in line to be named the player of the year.

The Northern Nash at Rocky Mount Tuesday night action has been moved to Wednesday starting at 6pm for the girls game. The JV games will be played in the Auxiliary gym so the girls varsity game will start at 6pm.

The Nash Central at Southern Nash Games scheduled for tonight has been moved to February 3rd.

The only Big East action played  was in Wilson County as bitter rivals Hunt and Fike took to the floor and heading into tonight Hunt boys were 2-1 while Fike was 1-2.  Fike edges Hunt 54-49.  Sitting idle tonight Nash Central  3-0 only has only one team Southern Nash 3-1  with one loss  Fike 2-2, Hunt 2-2 Northern Nash 1-3 and Rocky Mount 0-3  are all at least two losses behind or more.

Fike girls moved to 3-1 in conference playing beating their top rival Hunt. 55-37.  The Lady Demons are now 15-3 on the season.  Hunt falls to 1-3 and overall 3-13.

This Saturday I will be heading back to my old stomping grounds and in this Case Chowan University where Saturday Afternoon the floor of the Jesse Helms Center will be named for legendary coach Bob Burke.  Bob called me before Christmas to invite me to the Saturday naming.

Burke came to Chowan in the summer of 1980.  At that time I was a salesman working at the radio station in Ahoskie and one morning I was in Murfreesboro making sales calls when I entered the Hardee's and as I stood at the counter placing an order I heard my name called from someone seated.

I had never met Bob Burke at this time but as I turned I recognized him from his picture being in the paper.  He told me to come sit with him as we had something to talk about.  That day Burke told me he wanted Chowan basketball on the radio and what had to happen for it to happen.

Basketball season was all ready on going so I devised a plan  to carry five away games that first season.  I traveled to each with the team  on the van and we went to Randolph Macon, ECU, Louisburg, Lenoir CC and Craven CC.  By year two we made five road games each season but added all the home games.

During the 1981-1993 seasons  I was privileged to be part of Chowan making three trips to the Juco final 16.  I broadcast 169 victories and only 23 losses.  I interviewed on the radio Roy Williams who was the Carolina JV coach then,  Bobby Cremmins of Georgia Tech and  Carl Tacy of Wake Forest and so many more.  They all came calling on the likes of Nate McMillan and so many more that came through Chowan during the Burke era.

I have been very lucky in my life to have been able to follow teams that always seemed to be very good when I'm calling their games.  While talking on the phone with Bob in December and he was naming the people who would be there he said this. " You were there from the beginning and it was your words spreading the word about Chowan basketball.  You were there during the Juco days and I want you there with me."  How could I refuse.


The Halfway Point

Tuesday night marks the halfway point at least on the calendar of the Big East basketball.  The boys find Nash Central in the lead at 3-0,Southern Nash has three also but have a loss hung on them that the Bulldogs don't have.  Hunt has won twice with one loss.  Fike with a single win have collected two losses.  Two teams have three losses Northern Nash and Rocky Mount.  The Knights have the only single win among them.

Come Wednesday morning the win total will double to two between them as Northern visits Rocky Mount.  What does a rivalry really mean?  It doesn't always happen when both teams are winning.  Tonight the loser is in last place.  Can a game be any more important tonight than tonight.  Northern Nash 1-3 11-5 @ Rocky Mount 0-3 0-13.  Overall this record favors a Northern win but this is at Rocky Mount.

Southern Nash 3-1 10-5 @ Nash Central 3-0 9-7.  The battle for the halfway point lead.  The Bulldogs over all record is deceiving.  Their unbeaten conference record is not.  I think by years end these two will sit a top the standings.  In which order is the question.

Fike 1-2 6-11 @ Hunt 2-1 7-9.  The Wilson County version of NN/RM.

Girls Action:

The domination of 33 straight wins is over.  Many times when a long streaks ends teams lose twice before they recover.  Northern Nash 3-1 13-3 visits Rocky Mount 2-1 9-4.  They have already met once in the Christmas tournament with RM winning.  Four teams are at least 2-1 in conference play so a win could bounce you upwards and a loss tumble you down

Southern Nash 0-4 0-14 visits Nash Central 2-1 13-3.  Should be no problem for Nash Central.

Fike 2-1 14-3 visits Hunt 1-2 3-12.  Like the guys four teams are 2-1 and needing victory to stay near the top.

Last night NC Wesleyan took a double dip win over William Peace.  The girls won at home 65-55 over former Northern Nash Knight Susannah Sykes who scored 7 points.  Kenyatta Harris led the way scoring 22 for the Battling Bishops.  Up in Raleigh the men were at William Peace and hit triple digits winning 100-90.  DJ  Weaver lead the Battling Bishops with 23.

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Joe Buck "All Carolina"

Twenty one years now the Carolina Panthers has been the pro football team of the Carolina's .  They have won 166 regular season games while losing 169.  They have won the NFL South division three straight years and for the second time in their history they are the champions of the NFC.  This was their ninth all time playoff win while losing only only six.  The  Panthers are heading to their second Super Bowl after a   49-15 Victory over The Arizona Cardinals.

The game started as if the Panthers were going to repeat last Sunday's 31-0 halftime lead as they had a 17-0 lead at the end of the first.  The Cardinals cut the lead to ten before Cam and  Company took a 24-7 halftime lead.  The Panther D forced four first half turnovers.

However the Panthers were determined that this would not be a last Sunday repeat getting shutout in the second half.  The Panthers put ten more on the board and shutout the Cardinals.  First minute of fourth quarter the Cards scored and that was enough motivation to spark Carolina to score again.  Then the defense put the final touches on this Carolina stomping.

Cam was 19-28 for 335 yards and enjoyed the last five minutes celebrating on the sidelines.    The Panthers rushed for an additional 157 yards

Waiting in two weeks in the Super Bowl  is Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos who survive a two point conversion and beat the the New England Patiots 20-18.  The Denver D all season long carried the offense.

Tom Brady passed for 310 yards but it took 56 tosses to get that on only 27 completions.  Brady' s only touchdown pass came on their final drive to get them to 18 while he was picked twice in the second quarter.  The Pats ran for only 44 yards.

Manning threw for only 172 yards but two were for touchdowns on 17-32 passing.  Denver rushed for 99 yards for the game.  The Pats out gained the Bronc's 354 to 271 but lose.

The Tar Heels were in Blacksburg this afternoon playing in the daylight in order For  fans who filled  Cassell Coliseum be on the highway before dark and refreezing  roads.  Tech has proven to be better than anyone thought in preseason and had the Heels sweating but in the end the Tar Heels go to 7-0 with 75-70 win over Virginia Tech.

The NC Wesleyan women play Monday night tonight at 5:30.  This is the game that was scheduled Saturday against William Peace  but was moved because of the weather.

Hunkered Down

I have reached the age that I no longer cheer when the first flake falls with the anticipation that there will be no school.  Many of us punch a clock where we work and once we go home early the pay Check will be smaller the next time pay day arrives.

Having worked a half a day Friday like many I made a last minute run to the grocery store for the third time since Wednesday.  Once home I found my recliner where I have been since.  Whenever we have special weather Like a hurricane or in this case ice and snow I enjoy perched in my recliner to watch how life is all around us.

I am thankful that part of the modern world we can sit in one spot and have communications that can let me see what is happening all over the state.  If it is snowing in Durham  the storm is heading east then it is not stopping here anytime soon.  Have you ever looked at a map and realized that even though Highway 64 heads to Raleigh, Raleigh is southeast of Rocky Mount Durham is due west of Rocky Mount.

Around eight pm Friday night we were shook when one of the big limbs from the tree in our front yard came crashing down on our stoop and a few feet of our roof.  It is a rather large limb  but it snapped off from the base of the tree and split which it did not break Cleanly off.  We could not however go out our front door.We are thankful for neighbors who helped me drag it off the house Saturday.  We will be needing a chain saw on Monday to cut the limb down and get it cut up to find out if we have roof damage still cover with ice/snow.

Thank goodness for a good supply of movies once you tire of seeing the same scene for a break.  We either watched Chanel five or Say yes to the dress.  I can only take so much of that.  Funny thing about snow coverage.  Basketball and football coverage seem to be the biggest questions when people call their favorite station.  Is the Duke/State game still on?

Today we have Carolina basketball and two football games to watch and church is cancelled due to icy parking lots and sidewalks.  Even though I no longer like having to get out in ice or drive on the slick roads I do enjoy the change.  We get up go to work, when we get home most nights  have some place to be until bedtime.  I love the change of the routine.  About two days is all I can stand of this  sit around look out the window.  Sure will be glad to get back in the routine!