We won't have a long wait for the next 1,000-point scorer

As most of you know, Rocky Mount sophomore Tashawn Mabry topped the 1,000-point scoring mark last week. Gryphon fans had to wait 26 years to see a boys basketball player reach that feat.

And the last female to reach that milestone was guard Latoya Armstrong back in 2003. Armstrong is No. 3 on the girls all-time scoring list with 1,127 points.

It won't be another 26 to see a male hit that mark, and it won't be long before Kim Taylor, Danielle Powell and Armstrong will have company in the 1,000-point club.

For the boys, current Rocky Mount point guard Alonzo Sharpe could quite possibly make it by the end of next season. Sharpe, coming off a career-high 28 points Friday against SouthWest Edgecombe, topped the 700-point level and is at 703 - with the rest of this season and all of the 2008-09 campaign ahead of him.

Also, should junior forward Montrell Battle be eligible to play next season and remains so for the whole season, he could reached the mark, too. At this juncture, he has 718 points as a Gryphon.

Now for the girls.

Junior forward Dyonna Battle may be the first of the bunch to get there, however.

Battle, brother of former RMHS sports standout Jemonte Battle (Class of 2000), has scored 758 points. She should top 800 before the season ends, so she should hit the 1,000-point mark near or just after Christmas next season.

The reason all these players are making a bid for 1,000 points is that all three had productive scoring seasons as freshmen, and they have steadily built on their point production each of the ensuing seasons.

So it's very conceivable that three RMHS hoopsters could well join the 1,000-point club in the same season.