Gryphons grab top spot in CarolinaPreps.com 3-A poll

SANFORD - Rocky Mount's boys basketball team was voted to the top 3-A team in the state in the latest CarolinaPreps.com poll released Sunday evening.

The Gryphons pulled off three victories last week (86-59 vs. Wilson Fike; 105-75 vs. Southern Nash; 76-45 vs. SouthWest Edgecombe).

CarolinaPreps.com Boys Basketball Poll

3A

1. Rocky Mount 13-1

2. Northern Guilford 14-2

3. South Central 15-1

4. North Forsyth 12-3

5. Hickory 15-2

6. Carson 15-2

7. Hunter Huss 13-2

8. CB Aycock 14-2

9. Concord 10-5

10. Northern Vance 13-2

Honorable Mention

DH Conley 11-5

Jacksonville 13-5

North Buncombe 11-4

Mabry goes for record Tuesday

It looks like Tashawn Mabry will have to have an above average night to become Rocky Mount's leading scorer.

The senior forward is averaging 21 points a game this season - almost five points under his average of a year ago - basically he's getting a lot more scoring help from his teammates this season.

He needs 23 points against Northern Nash at home Tuesday to past the immortal Rocky Mount and UNC great Phil Ford on the school's all-time scoring list. Mabry is at 2,071 and Ford stands at 2,093. So a mark that has stood for 36 years is about to come down. I was there in Greensboro when Ford scored that final point in the 1974 4-A playoffs.

But Ford got used to seeing his marks go down last season when his 2,290 points scored at UNC - the school record for 31 years, went down to Tyler Hansbrough.

But Ford will likely hold on to one other prep record which leads the state - career points per game at 27.7. Ford played in 75 games during his career (1971-74). Mabry has played in 87 going into Tuesday's contest - with at least eight more to play in.

Ironically, another area player is next on the state's all-time scoring list after Ford - former Elm City and UNC standout John Virgil at 2,100 points.

Gryphon alum entertains former teammates in China

- 2005 RMHS grad Adam Kluger playing club soccer in China

When former Gryphon soccer player Adam Kluger asked his friends and former RMHS soccer teammates to come visit him over Christmas and play a little soccer while they were in town, they went a little further than across the state, or even the country.

How about halfway across the world!

Kluger, who graduated from UNC in 2009, made his way to China and began teaching and tutoring English there.

And over Christmas, his brother Alex, along with brothers Andrew, Scott and Stephen Peacock, and brothers Dennis and Justin Adams made the trip to Shanghai to see their buddy ... and sibling.

Adam has recently taken a position in busines finance with an Italian company based in Shanghai. But he still tutors in his spare time.

The above picture is him playing for Team Azzurie. Adam arranged for all seven of them to practice together with the team. He was second in their league in scoring the season before, despite joining the team in mid-season.

Imagine - seven former Gryphons playing on a soccer field in China! How cool is that?

2010 Big East 3-A Conference Master Varsity Baseball Schedule

Big East Conference baseball fans - print this one out! Here is a master schedule for every game played by all six league members for the upcoming season - including the Easter Tourneys five of them will play in.

Enjoy!

(subject to change)

March 1

Southern Nash @ Beddingfield, 5:00

March 2

JH Rose @ Rocky Mount, 4:00
Fike @ North Johnston, 4:30
Roanoke Rapids @ Nash Central, 4:30
CB Aycock @ Hunt, 5:00

March 3

Southern Nash @ Bunn, 4:00
Eastern Wayne @ Northern Nash, 4:30

March 4

Southern Nash @ Bunn, 4:00
Nash Central @ Smithfield-Selma, 4:00
Northern Nash @ South Central, 4:30
Fike @ North Johnston, 4:30
Hunt @ Beddingfield, 5:00

March 5

Rocky Mount @ Durham Riverside, 4:00
Beddingfield @ Fike, 5:00
Southern Nash @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00
Bunn @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 6

Hunt @ South Central, 1:00
Rocky Mount vs. Ardrey Kell - Impact Classic, Cary, TBA

March 8

Louisburg @ Southern Nash, 4:30
Goldsboro @ Fike, 7:00

March 9

Rocky Mount @ JH Rose, 4:00
DH Conley @ Northern Nash, 4:30
Hunt @ CB Aycock, 5:00
Nash Central @ Tarboro, 7:00

March 10

Eastern Wayne @ Hunt, 5:00
Roanoke Rapids @ Southern Nash, 5:00
Fike @ Goldsboro, 7:00

March 11

Durham Riverside @ Rocky Mount, 4:00
Bunn @ Southern Nash, 4:00
Northern Nash @ DH Conley, 4:30
Fike @ Beddingfield, 5:00
Tarboro @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 12

Nash Central @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00

March 13

Oxford Webb @ Rocky Mount, 1:00
Bunn @ Fike, 1:00

March 15

Southern Nash @ Southern Vance, 4:00

March 16

Nash Central @ Bunn, 7:00

March 17

Smithfield-Selma @ Nash Central, 4:00
Rocky Mount @ Roanoke Rapids, 5:00
Fike @ Bunn, 6:00
Holly Springs @ Hunt, 6:30

March 18

Northern Nash @ CB Aycock, 5:00
Beddingfield @ Southern Nash, 5:00

March 19

Princeton @ Fike, 4:00
Beddingfield @ Hunt, 5:00

March 20

Tarboro @ Rocky Mount, 1:00
Hunt @ Eastern Wayne, 1:00

March 22

Southern Vance @ Southern Nash, 4:00
Hertford County @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 23

Rocky Mount @ Oxford Webb, 4:00
Farmville Central @ Hunt, 5:00

March 24

Roanoke Rapids @ Rocky Mount, 4:30
Rosewood @ Fike, 5:00
Northern Nash @ Eastern Wayne, 5:00

March 25

Nash Central @ Hertford County, 7:00

March 26

Southern Nash @ Louisburg, 4:30

March 27

Northern Nash @ East Wake, 2:00

March 30

Fike @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Northern Nash @ Hunt, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Nash Central, 7:00

March 31

Nash Central @ Fike, 7:00

April 1

Southern Nash @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Hunt, 7:00

April 3

Rocky Mount vs. Smithfield-Selma - Johnston Co. Easter Invitational, 11:00
Fike - Louisburg Easter Tournament, TBA
Northern Nash - George Whitfield Invitational, Kinston, TBA

April 5

Fike - Louisburg Tourney, TBA
Rocky Mount - Johnston Co. Tourney, TBA
Northern Nash - Whitfield Tourney, TBA

April 6

Hunt vs.Champmanville (WVa.) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 11:00
Fike - Louisburg Tourney, TBA
Rocky Mount - Johnston Co. Tourney, TBA
Northern Nash - Whitfield Tourney, TBA

April 7

Nash Central vs. Jefferson Forest (Va.) - Tarboro Classic, 1:30
Hunt vs. Sumter (SC) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 2:00

April 8

Hunt vs. Westminister (Miami,Fl.) - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), 2:00
Nash Central - Tarboro Classic, TBA

April 9

Nash Central - Tarboro Classic, TBA
Hunt vs. TBA - Forest Acres Classic (A.C. Flora HS, Columbia, S,C.), TBA

April 13

Nash Central @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Fike @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Hunt @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 15

Fike @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Hunt, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 20

Northern Nash @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Nash Central @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Fike @ Hunt, 7:00

April 22

Southern Nash @ Fike, 7:00
Hunt @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Rocky Mount, 7:00

April 26

Rocky Mount @ Louisburg, 6:00

April 27

Nash Central @ Fike, 7:00
Hunt @ Rocky Mount, 7:00
Northern Nash @ Southern Nash, 7:00

April 29

Northern Nash @ Nash Central, 7:00
Rocky Mount @ Fike, 7:00
Southern Nash @ Hunt, 7:00

May 4

Fike @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Hunt, 7:00
Southern Nash @ Rocky Mount, 7:00

May 6

Rocky Mount @ Northern Nash, 7:00
Nash Central @ Southern Nash, 7:00
Hunt @ Fike, 7:00

May 10

South Central @ Northern Nash, 7:00

May 14

NCHSAA Baseball State Playoffs - First Round, TBA

Gryphons to play in the Johnston Co. Easter Invitational

- Gryphon senior lefty Hobbs Johnson

For the first time since 1976, Rocky Mount's baseball team will being playing in someone else's Easter tournament.

Rocky Mount will join Smithfield-Selma, Cardinal Gibbons, West Johnston, Fayetteville Academy, Clayton, Harnett Central and host South Johnston in the 2010 Johnston County Easter Invitational April 3, 5-6.

The Gryphons will open the event on Day 1 (Saturday) at 11 a.m. against Smithfield-Selma.

The event, which was started in 1991 by former South Johnston and Rocky Mount head coach Pat Smith, will also have a Home Run Derby on Day 1 at 3 p.m. - between Game 2 and Game 3.

Smith, who led not only led the Gryphons to a state title, but the Trojans also in 1990, has an event award named for him - the Pat Smith Most Outstanding Defensive Award. An Outstanding Hitter (Andy Pleasant) Award along with the (John Stott Memorial) MVP will be given out after the championship game.

A 17-member All-Tournament team will be selected with four going to the first place team.

Here is Day 1's schedule:

2010 Johnston County Easter Invitiational
@South Johnston HS

SATURDAY, APRIL 3

Game 1 - Rocky Mount vs. Smithfield-Selma, 11 a.m.
Game 2 - Cardinal Gibbons vs. West Johnston, 1 p.m.
Home Run Derby, 3 p.m.
Game 3 - Fayetteville Academy vs. Clayton, 5 p.m.
Game 4 - Harnett Central vs. South Johnston, 7:30 p.m.

Clayton is the defending champion.

JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONS

2009 - Clayton
2008 - Middle Creek
2007 - South Johnston
2006 - Jack Britt
2005 - Jack Britt
2004 - South Johnston
2003 - Smithfield-Selma
2002 - South Johnston
2001 - Cape Fear
2000 - South Johnston
1999 - Clayton
1998 - Clayton
1997 - Fuquay-Varina
1996 - Fuquay-Varina
1995 - Clayton
1994 - South Johnston
1993 - South Johnston
1992 - Princeton
1991 - Rosewood

JOHNSTON COUNTY EASTER INVITAIONAL
HOME RUN DERBY CHAMPION

2009 - Josh Elmore, Fayetteville Academy
2008 - Kris Richards, West Johnston
2007 - Quincy Lattimore - Middle Creek
2006 - Trenton Lansgton - Smithfield-Selma



- Photo, Baseball America

Jenkins win ECU Football Award

East Carolina redshirt freshman Jacobi Jenkins was honored with an award on Saturday, Jan. 9 as the Pirate football program closed the 2009 season with the team, parents, coaches, athletic staff and Pirate Club members gathering for the annual awards banquet held at the Greenville Convention Center.

Jenkins, a standout defensive back for the Gryphons, received the Special Teams Crunch Award.

As a receiver, Jenkins played in 11 games and caught two passes for 11 yards during the season.

ECU, which claimed claiming back-to-back Conference USA Championships and subsequent AutoZone Liberty Bowl appearances, closed the season with a 9-5 record.

Deloach helps end NSU's losing streak

TALLAHASSEE, Fl. - Former Northern Nash star guard Michael Deloach scored a game-high 25 points to help Norfolk State snap its school-record 11-game losing streak with a 78-65 win over Florida A&M Monday night at the Alfred Lawson Center.

Deloach, a senior, scored 14 points in the second half as the Spartans (2-12, 1-2 MEAC) outscored the Rattlers (3-12, 1-2) 49-36. NSU got its first win since a 72-71 decision over Maine on Nov. 16.

The win also snapped the Spartans’ 11-game road losing streak but was their fifth win in a row over FAMU. NSU’s last victory away from Echols Hall was a 68-62 triumph at Hampton on Jan. 31, 2009.

Deloach is averaging 21 points a game and 4.7 rebounds per contest.

Though Deloatch was a Knight, his dad Michael and uncle Steve were both Gryphons!

Gainey nearing 300 wins

Rocky Mount head girls basketball coach Pam Gainey is nearing 300 wins for her career.

With the Lady Gryphons' 51-30 victory over Nash Central last Friday, Gainey picked up win No. 286 for her career. She's in her 17th season as RMHS' head coach.

With a little luck and possibly her ninth regular season conference title along the way, Gainey could pick up that coveted victory sometime late this season.

Only two other current area coaches have that many wins - SouthWest Edgecombe's girls coach Sandra Langley and Northern Nash's girls coach Grover Battle. Those two combined have also claimed five state titles.

PAM GAINEY

2009-10 - 8-2 (through 1/08/10)
2008-09 - 22-5, NEW 6 3-A champ, tourney champ, playoffs
2007-08 - 23-2, NEW 6 3-A champ, tourney champ, playoffs
2006-07 - 16-11, playoffs
2005-06 - 8-18, playoffs
2004-05 - 17-8, Big East 4-A champs, playoffs
2003-04 - 23-5, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2002-03 - 22-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2001-02 - 20-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
2000-01 - 24-3, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1999-00 - 20-5, Big East 4-A champs, tourney champs, playoffs
1998-99 - 20-6, playoffs
1997-98 - 12-12, playoffs
1996-97 - 12-13, playoffs
1995-96 - 14-10, playoffs
1994-95 - 15-10, playoffs
1993-94 - 10-14

Career - 286-130, .688 winning percentage (17th season)

(Eight conference titles, seven conference tournament crowns, eight 20-win seasons, one sectional title, 15 straight playoff appearances)

Ginn passed over for Grand Valley head job

The new head coach at Grand Valley State is not Jack Ginn.

The former N.C. Wesleyan head coach was passed over for the position by the team's defensive coordinator Matt Mitchell. Mitchell is a six-year veterean of GVSU's staff and is the school's seventh head coach.

Ginn, I know, will get his chance to be a head coach once again. Ginn is expected to stay on as wide receivers coach at the school.

In other NCWC football-related news, former Battling Bishop linebqacker and Northern Nash Knight Bo Brown is now a graduate assistant at Mississippi State. Brown, who also served as an assistant coach at NCWC last season, will also be working as a strength and conditioning coach for the MSU program.

He and his wife Brittany relocated to Starkville over the Christmas holidays.