Saturday, December 20, 2008

Phil Ford may see another record fall this time next year!

- Tashawn Mabry

Former North Carolina All-American Phil Ford started his scoring parade right here on Nash St. in Rocky Mount's gym. But he took his talents to UNC and Carmichael Auditorium and the rest is history.

Thursday, he passed his Carolina scoring baton to Tyler Hansbrough. His 2,290 points, the UNC scoring record, stood for over 30 years.

But another Ford scoring record is in danger and it's been around for 35 seasons!

Ford is Rocky Mount's all-time leading scorer at 2,093 points. Current Gryphon junior forward Tashawn Mabry is on pace to break that record in about a year.

The talented 6-foot-5 southpaw took care of another All-American Thursday evening with his 35-point effort in an 89-87 loss to Goldsboro High.

Mabry passed former All-American center Buck Williams (1,402) to become the No. 2 scorer all-time in RMHS history. Mabry has now scored 1,407 points and needs 687 more to pass Ford.

Mabry is currently averaging a little over 26 points a game and the Gryphons have at least 17 more games this season. If he stays healthy and keeps up this same pace in his scoring, we might have Phil Ford in the house about this time next year to congratulate Mabry for getting his high school scoring mark, too!