Gryphon News and Notes

Rocky Mount senor Tia Hudgins goes for career-point No. 1,200 Friday night in the showdown for the Big East Conference's No. 1 seed at Northern Nash.

After a 10-point night against Southern Nash, she needs six more to reach 1,200.

She has passed Latoya Armstrong and is No. 4 on the school's girls basketball scoring list.

Next on her move up the scoring ladder is No. 3 Dyonna Battle at 1,290 points.

Twins get off to good starts on diamond

Twins Thomas and Matthew Berry, who have played baseball together all their lives, are now playing apart at the college level - both at the Div. II level.

Thomas has a starting spot at Lander University (Greenwood, S. C,), while sibbling Matthew got a starting nob at Barton College as it opened its season last weekend.

Thomas batted in the No. 2 hole for the Bearcats who won their series with two wins over Newberry in their Lander's brand new stadium.

Matthew ended up notching Barton’s first three-hit game of the season. In his first career start, Berry rapped three hits in four trips. His collegiate debut actually came in Friday’s second game, but he did not have an official at-bat. 

Gryphons tossed from NCHSAA dual team playoffs

Rocky Mount's wrestling team has woeful time in its first-round matchup with Western Harnett in the NCHSAA dual team wrestling playoffs. It was played at Western and the Gryphons dropped the meeting by a 48-15 score.

They concluded their fine season with a 32-9 record.

Northern Nash, the Big East's No. 2 seed, also saw its season end with a 40-27 loss to Hillsborough Orange.

Last regular seasons game at gym

For those who were at Rocky Mount's gym last Tuesday night, they were witnessing some history. The contests with Southern Nash were the last regular season games ever played in the 59-year-old venue.

While sitting there watching games, I couldn't help but recall the two seasons when basketball was even played there.

During the 1967-68 season, a pipe under the floor burst. The end result had the floor warping. The then-Blackbirds ended up playing their season at N.C. Wesleyan's Everett Gymnasium.

You younger folk might remember the last time the Gryphons had to leave their home floor.

It was during the 1999-2000 season. Lingering water brought on by the rains of Hurricane Floyd warped the floor once again. 

The Gryphons were forced to play the whole season at Northern Nash's gym. 

Sounds great, doesn't it?

Big East Conference Basketball Scoreboard - Feb. 8

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

  

BOYS 

Rocky Mount 95, Southern Nash 68

Nash Central 82, Wilson Hunt 73, 3 OTs

Wilson Fike 46, Northern Nash 44

GIRLS

Rocky Mount 66, Southern Nash 31

Nash Central 53, Wilson Hunt 47

Northern Nash 68, Wilson Fike 39

TUESDAY'S TOP SCORERS 

Justin Jefferson, Wilson Hunt - 35 pts.

Nathaniel Pittman, Nash Central - 29 pts.

Terrill Hilliard, Rocky Mount - 23 pts.

Tevin Taylor, Rocky Mount - 20 pts.

Alexus Hill, Northern Nash - 19 pts.

J'Kyra Brown, Rocky Mount - 18 pts.

Jalen Hendricks, Nash Central - 18 pts.

Jaquan Wilkins, Nash Central - 16 pts.

Lavon Brutus, Rocky Mount - 16 pts.

Josh King, Wilson Fike - 15 pts.

Alexus Cooper, Rocky Mount - 15 pts.

Marcus Hicks, Southern Nash - 15 pts.

Sam Ellis, Wilson Fike - 14 pts.

Chi-Ali Bunn, Southern Nash - 13 pts.

Tony Willis, Southern Nash -13 pts. 

Darryl Prunty, Northern Nash - 13 pts.

STANDINGS

BOYS

School Conf.    Overall Rocky Mount  9-0 18-3 Nash Central  7-2 14-5 Wilson Hunt  4-5 11-11 Southern Nash  4-5 6-11 Wilson Fike  3-6 4-15 Northern Nash  0-9 1-17

GIRLS

School Conf.   Overall Rocky Mount 9-0 18-2 Northern Nash 8-1 17-1 Wilson Hunt 3-6 11-11 Nash Central 3-6 11-8 Wilson Fike 2-7 7-12 Southern Nash 2-7 3-14

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Rocky Mount @ Northern Nash - Senior Night

Wilson Fike @ Wilson Hunt - Senior Night

Nash Central @ Southern Nash - Senior Night 


Regular Season Complete 

Big East Tournament starts Monday, Feb. 13 at higher seeds boys (No. 6 @ No. 3; No. 5 @ No. 4)

Big East Tournament Finals @ Northern Nash 

Big East Conference Basketball Scoreboard - Feb. 4

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

  

BOYS

Rocky Mount 100, Wilson Fike 53

Southern Nash 60, Wilson Hunt 52

Nash Central 69, Northern Nash 41

GIRLS

Rocky Mount 47, Wilson Fike 28

Wilson Hunt 38, Southern Nash 34

Northern Nash 52, Nash Central 34

FRIDAY'S TOP SCORERS 

J'Kyra Brown, Rocky Mount - 26 pts.

Terrill Hilliard, Rocky Mount - 23 pts.

Tevin Taylor, Rocky Mount - 22 pts.

Marcus Hicks, Southern Nash - 22 pts. 

Parker Lamm, Wilson Hunt - 18 pts.

Jaquan Wilkins, Nash Central - 17 pts.

Qiunesha Lynch, Northern Nash - 16 pts.

Timyra Staton, Nash Central - 16 pts.

Justin Jefferson, Wilson Hunt - 15 pts.

Josh Sessoms, Southern Nash - 15 pts.

Miya Bryant, Southern Nash - 15 pts.

Jalen Hendricks, Nash Central - 13 pts.

Patrick Goliday, Wilson Fike - 13 pts.

Josh King, Wilson Fike - 13 pts.

Alexus Cooper, Rocky Mount - 13 pts.

Khadijah Manning, Southern Nash - 13 pts.


STANDINGS

BOYS

School Conf.    Overall Rocky Mount  8-0 17-3 Nash Central  6-2 13-5 Wilson Hunt  4-4 11-10 Southern Nash  4-4 6-10 Wilson Fike  2-6 3-15 Northern Nash  0-8 1-16

GIRLS

School Conf.   Overall Rocky Mount 8-0 18-2 Northern Nash 7-1 16-1 Wilson Hunt 3-5 11-10 Nash Central 2-6 10-8 Wilson Fike 2-6 7-11 Southern Nash 2-6 3-13

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 

Southern Nash @ Rocky Mount - Senior Night
Nash Central @ Wilson Hunt
Wilson Fike @ Northern Nash

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

Rocky Mount @ Northern Nash - Senior Night

Wilson Fike @ Wilson Hunt - Senior Night

Nash Central @ Southern Nash - Senior Night 

Regular Season Complete 

Big East Conference Basketball Scoreboard - Feb. 3

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

  

BOYS

 

Wilson Beddingfield 48, Wilson Hunt 38

GIRLS

Wilson Hunt 56, Wilson Beddingfield 49

THURSDAY'S TOP SCORERS 

Quanisha Brown, Wilson Hunt - 17 pts.

Shan Jenkins, Wilson Hunt - 14 pts.

Justin Jefferson, Wilson Hunt - 11 pts.

 

STANDINGS

BOYS

School Conf.    Overall Rocky Mount  7-0 16-3 Nash Central  5-2 12-5 Wilson Hunt  4-3 11-9 Southern Nash  3-4 5-10 Wilson Fike  2-5 3-14 Northern Nash  0-7 1-15

GIRLS

School Conf.   Overall Rocky Mount 7-0 17-2 Northern Nash 6-1 15-1 Nash Central 2-5 10-7 Wilson Hunt 2-5 10-10 Wilson Fike 2-5 7-9 Southern Nash 2-5 3-12

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Rocky Mount @ Wilson Fike
Northern Nash @ Nash Central
Southern Nash @ Wilson Hunt

 

 

NEXT WEEK'S SCHEDULE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7

Southern Nash @ Rocky Mount
Nash Central @ Wilson Hunt
Wilson Fike @ Northern Nash

 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

 

Rocky Mount @ Northern Nash

Wilson Fike @ Wilson Hunt

Nash Central @ Southern Nash

 

Regular Season Complete 

Big East Conference Basketball Scoreboard - Feb. 1

TUESDAY, JANUARY 31

  

BOYS

Rocky Mount 85, Wilson Hunt 58

Nash Central 83, Wilson Fike 53

Southern Nash 50, Northern Nash 36

GIRLS

Rocky Mount 75, Wilson Hunt 28

Nash Central 48, Wilson Fike  47

Northern Nash 57, Southern Nash 34

TUESDAY'S TOP SCORERS 

Terrill Hilliard, Rocky Mount - 22 pts.

J'Kyra Brown, Rocky Mount - 20 pts.

Daniel Westbrook, Wilson Hunt - 19 pts.

Tia Hudgins, Rocky Mount - 18 pts.

Lavon Brutus, Rocky Mount - 17 pts.
Jaquan Wilkins, Nash Central - 16 pts.
Josh Sessoms, Southern Nash - 16 pts.
Jalen Hendricks, Nash Central - 14 pts.
Miya Bryant. Southern Nash - 13 pts.

Kenneth Peoples, Rocky Mount - 13 pts.
Khadijrah Richardson, Northern Nash - 12 pts.
Carmen Richardson, Rocky Mount - 12 pts.
Christian Jones, Nash Central - 12 pts.
Nathaniel Pittman, Nash Central - 12 pts.

 

STANDINGS

BOYS

School Conf.    Overall Rocky Mount  7-0 16-3 Nash Central  5-2 12-5 Wilson Hunt  4-3 11-8 Southern Nash  3-4 5-10 Wilson Fike  2-5 3-14 Northern Nash  0-7 1-15

GIRLS

School Conf.   Overall Rocky Mount 7-0 17-2 Northern Nash 6-1 15-1 Nash Central 2-5 10-7 Wilson Hunt 2-5 9-10 Wilson Fike 2-5 7-9 Southern Nash 2-5 3-12

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

Wilson Hunt @ Wilson Beddingfield 

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

Rocky Mount @ Wilson Fike
Northern Nash @ Nash Central
Southern Nash @ Wilson Hunt

Rocky Mount High School releases its 2012 varsity baseball schedule

Gryphon Stadium

Here is the 2012 Rocky Mount varsity baseball schedule and it will be the last season the Gryphons will play its home games at Gryphon Stadium.

On the slate is the return of the Big East (last called NEW 6) Baseball Tournament - back for the first time since 2006 - where Southern Nash won the title played at SouthWest Edgecombe.

For the third straight season, the Gryphons will participate in the South Johnston Easter Tournament (March 31, April 2-3).

Rocky Mount will open the season with four straight home games, including its traditional season-opener with J.H. Rose on Tuesday, Feb. 28.


2012 ROCKY MOUNT VARSITY BASEBALL SCHEDULE

Feb. 21     @ Roanoke Rapids (Scrimmage), 5 p.m.

Feb. 24     BUNN (Scrimmage), 4 p.m.

_________________________________________________________________________

Feb. 28     J.H. ROSE, 4 p.m.

Feb. 29     SOUTHERN WAYNE, 4 p.m.

Mar. 1       DURHAM RIVERSIDE, 4 p.m.

Mar. 6       SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE, 4 p.m.

Mar. 7       @ East Wake, 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 9       @ J.H. Rose (Guy Smith Stadium), 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 13     @ SouthWest Edgecombe, 4:30 p.m.

Mar. 15     @ Nash Central, 7 p.m.

Mar. 17     TARBORO, 1 p.m. (Endowment)

Mar. 20     @ Wilson Hunt, 7 p.m.

Mar. 22     WILSON FIKE, 7 p.m.

Mar. 27     @ Southern Nash, 7 p.m.

Mar. 29     NORTHERN NASH, 7 p.m.

Mar. 31     @ South Johnston Easter Tournament, Four Oaks, TBA

Apr. 2       @ South Johnston Easter Tournament, Four Oaks, TBA

Apr. 3       @ South Johnston Easter Tournament, Four Oaks, TBA

Apr. 12     @ Northern Nash, 7 p.m.

Apr. 17     NASH CENTRAL, 7 p.m.
Apr. 19     WILSON HUNT, 7 p.m.

Apr. 24     @ Wilson Fike, 7 p.m.

Apr. 26     SOUTHERN NASH, 7 p.m.

Apr. 31-May 3  Big East Conference Tournament, TBA

May 11     NCHSAA 3-A State Playoffs - First Round

 

Rocky Mount trio headed to All-Star Games

Over the last decade, Rocky Mount's basketball programs have been well represented at postseason all-star games.

This year will be no different.

It was announced at last night's Nash Central-Rocky Mount varsity games that three more Gryphons will be playing after their senior varsity seasons are over.

Senior Terrill Hilliard, Tia Hudgins and Alexus Cooper will be headed to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the annual Carolinas All-Star Basketball Classic All-Star Games to be played on Saturday, March 18 at Socastee High School. Since the inception of the Classic, RMHS has never had more than one player attend in one season.

The Classic, co-sponsored by the N.C. Coaches Association, will also have Rocky Mount boys head coach Mike Gainey on the N.C. boys coaching staff as an assistant. Gainey's appointment was announced last summer. 

He led Rocky Mount to a NCHSAA 3-A state title in 2010 and is working his way to his 300th career win. In his 15th season as head coach, he is 268-117 (.696 winning percentage) with five conference titles, seven conference tournament crowns, four 20-win seasons and has had the Gryphons in the playoffs each of his previous 14 seasons.

Hilliard, a 6-foot-6 forward, has helped guide the Gryphons to a 15-3 record and first place in the Big East Conference (6-0). Hilliard leads the team in scoring (18.8 ppg.) and rebounding (8.7 reb.). He also dishes out 1.9 assists a game and records 1.4 steals a contest.

Hudgins, who topped the 1,000-point scoring mark for her career earlier this season, is second on the RM girls team with 14.7 points a game in helping RMHS to a 16-2 record and also a first-place slot in the Big East. She leads the Gryphons in rebounding (8.4) and steals (2.9).

Cooper, a guard who transfered from Nash Central two seasons ago, has gotten into the groove of things after missing last season with a knee injury. She is third on the team in scoring (10.7) and is grabbing 4 rebounds a game. She's second on the team in assists (2.6) and steals (2.8) a contest.

Don't be surprised if two or all three of these players also gets an invite to the NCCA's East-West All-Star Basketball Games in Greensboro this July.