JustInside the Lines
Sports Writer Justin Hite provides his insights and analysis of local sports.
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Starting 5 – Feb. 10 (The Finale)
By | Thursday, February 9, 2012 - 20:16
Boys
(+1)1. Terrill Hilliard, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High: Back to the top for Terrill. Hilliard has scored 46 points in the past two games as the Gryphons moved within a game of an undefeated conference season.
(+2)2. Lucas Bayless, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy: Bayless scored 21 points as the Eagles secured at least a share of the conference title and then rolled up 15 points, seven assists and eight rebounds as RMA clinched the EPIC.
(-2) 3. Jalen Hendricks, Sr., G, Nash Central: Hendricks had 18 points and five assists as Nash Central secured second place in the Big East conference with a win against Wilson Hunt.
(NR)4. Tevin Taylor, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High: Taylor dropped in six 3-pointers last Friday and five more on Tuesday. Add it all up, and he has 43 points in the past two games to help the Gryphons win the regular season Big East title.
(NR)5. Nathaniel Pittman, F, Nash Central: Pittman scored 29 points and pulled down seven rebounds as the Bulldogs outlasted Wilson Hunt in triple overtime to secure second place in the Big East Conference and a first-round bye in the tournament.
In consideration:
Jacob Barrett, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep; Dante Battle, F, Rocky Mount High; Adam Bayless, G, Rocky Mount Academy; Lavon Brutus, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High; James Bonds, F, Rocky Mount Prep; Deondre Dancy, F, Northern Nash; Keneen Deberry, G, Rocky Mount Prep; Marcus Hicks, F, Southern Nash; Phillip Jones, Nash Central; Donte Samuels, F, Rocky Mount Prep; Josh Sessoms, F, Southern Nash; Jaquan Wilkins, G, Nash Central.
Girls
(--) 1.J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G, Rocky Mount High:Brown had 44 points last week and has scored 18 points in every game since Dec. 19. Barring a huge setback, Brown should finish with 22 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals and one block per game this season.
(+1) 2. Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central:Staton was strong again. She recorded 26 points and 22 rebounds the past two games as the Bulldogs earned a tie for third place in the Big East
(NR) 3. Alexus Hill, So., G, Northern Nash: That knee injury sure seems behind her. Hill had 19 points last Friday despite still not seeming completely comfortable. She’ll need a big performance against Rocky Mount as the Knights eye a split conference title.
(NR) 4. Alexus Cooper, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High: Cooper had 28 points the past two games and was 7-for-7 from two-point range against Southern Nash. She was sharp the last time the Gryphons faced Northern Nash. She’ll have to be so again Friday.
(NR) 5. Jasmine Griffin, Jr., C, Northern Nash: Griffin had 22 points this week, which is high for her, but she is still doing everything the Knights need on the defensive end.
In consideration:
Rebekah Brown, C, Rocky Mount Academy; Miya Bryant, Sr., G, Southern Nash; Amanda Coats, G, Rocky Mount Academy;Alexus Hill, G, Northern Nash; Tia Hudgins, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High;Quinesha Lynch, G, Northern Nash;Khadijah Manning, F, Southern Nash; Khadijrah Richardson, G, Northern Nash; Niya Styles, G, Nash Central; Jalynn Westry, C, Nash Central.
*Parentheses signify a player’s movement from last week’s Starting 5
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Starting 5 - Feb. 3
By | Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 21:02
Boys
(+2) 1. Jalen Hendricks, Sr., G, Nash Central: After scoring a team-high 18 points in the Bulldogs’ second loss to Rocky Mount High, Hendricks dished out 10 assists and scored 12 points in a win against Wilson Fike.
(NR) 2. Terrill Hilliard, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High: Welcome back to the Starting 5, Mr. Hilliard. Forty-two points in two games will do that. Maybe the high-scoring forward has figured out how to beat all those doubles teams. Maybe they’ve just stopped.
(NR) 3. Jacob Barrett, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep: Somebody always seems to step up for the Jaguars. This time it’s Barrett with 40 points and 18 rebounds during the past two games.
(NR) 4. Lucas Bayless, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy: Consistency might help Bayless stay in the top 5 longer, but 28 points and six assists will help him make a quick appearance at the very least.
(-4) 5. Lavon Brutus, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High: Brutus managed 21 points the past two games. The only reason he hangs on after a four-point performance last Friday was the 17 he scored Tuesday.
In consideration:
Dante Battle, F, Rocky Mount High; Adam Bayless, G, Rocky Mount Academy; James Bonds, F, Rocky Mount Prep; Deondre Dancy, F, Northern Nash; Keneen Deberry, G, Rocky Mount Prep; Javin Hinton, G, SouthWest Edgecombe; Phillip Jones, Nash Central; Ernest McKinnon, C, SouthWest Edgecombe; Nathaniel Pittman, F, Nash Central; Donte Samuels, F, Rocky Mount Prep; Josh Sessoms, F, Southern Nash; Jaquan Wilkins, G, Nash Central.
Girls
(--) 1. J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G, Rocky Mount High: In two games this week, Brown totaled 43 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists. She has reached double digits every game this season.
(+2) 3. Tia Hudgins, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High: Hudgins averaged a double-double this week (37 points and 20 boards) but her most impressive stat might have been her seven offensive rebounds last Friday against Nash Central.
(-1) 3. Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central: Staton pulled down 11 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ one-point victory against Wilson Fike – the Bulldogs’ second conference win. She added 25 points this week.
(NR) 4. Miya Bryant, Sr., G, Southern Nash: Bryant scored a career-high 31 points last Friday but was slowed against Northern Nash (13 points).
(-2) 5. Niya Styles, Jr., G, Nash Central: Styles has scored in double figures the past four games, and she had 28 points in two games this week but shot 21 percent in both games.
In consideration:
Rebekah Brown, C, Rocky Mount Academy; Amanda Coats, G, Rocky Mount Academy; Alexus Cooper, G, Rocky Mount High; Jasmine Griffin, C, Northern Nash; Alexus Hill, G, Northern Nash; Khadijah Manning, F, Southern Nash; Khadijrah Richardson, G, Northern Nash; Megan Shearin, G, Rocky Mount Academy; Jalynn Westry, C, Nash Central.
*Parentheses signify a player’s movement from last week’s Starting 5
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Starting 5 - Jan. 27
By | Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 15:54
Boys
(+1) 1. Lavon Brutus, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High: Brutus not only saved the Gryphons on Tuesday night, but he also set a career-high in points in the process. No-brainer. He scored from everywhere Tuesday night.
(NR) 2. Ernest McKinnon, Sr., C, SouthWest Edgecombe: McKinnon is averaging 16.2 points and 12 rebounds this season. He’s one of the select few in the area averaging a double-double – and he might be the only one.
(NR) 3. Jalen Hendricks, Sr., G, Nash Central: The Bulldogs took sole possession of second place in the Big East with two wins this week. Hendricks had 32 points and took the lead of the team against Wilson Hunt.
(NR) 4. DeShawn Freeman, Jr., C, Rocky Mount Prep: Arguably the most dominant player in the area returned with a vengeance. In his first full game in nearly a month, Freeman scored 24 points and hauled in nine rebounds. He followed that with a 13-8 night.
(-4) 5. Donte Samuels, Jr., F, Rocky Mount Prep: Freeman’s return hurts the Jaguars in only one way. Samuels gives back the star role and falls from the top despite 28 points and 14 rebounds in the past two games.
In consideration:
Detron Avent, F, North Edgecombe; Jacob Barrett, G, Rocky Mount Prep; Dante Battle, F, Rocky Mount High; Wesley Battle, C, Northern Nash; Adam Bayless, G, Rocky Mount Academy; Lucas Bayless, G, Rocky Mount Academy; Deondre Dancy, F, Northern Nash; Terrill Hilliard, F, Rocky Mount High; Javin Hinton, G, SouthWest Edgecombe; Phillip Jones, Nash Central; Devonte Lloyd, North Edgecombe; Nathaniel Pittman, F, Nash Central; Josh Sessoms, F, Southern Nash.
Girls
(--) 1. J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G, Rocky Mount High: In Rocky Mount’s biggest game of the year, Brown was the best player on the court. She scored a game-high 20 points against Northern Nash on Tuesday night with more than a few coast-to-coast buckets.
(+2) 2. Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central: Nash Central finally won a conference game. Staton scored a team-high 21 points against Southern Nash and scored 35 points the past week.
(NR) 3. Niya Styles, Jr., G, Nash Central: Styles matched Staton with 35 points in the past two games. She was just as important in the Bulldogs’ first win.
(+1) 4. Tia Hudgins, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High: Hudgins out-hustled Northern Nash inside Tuesday night as the Gryphons took over first place in the Big East. She also had 32 points in two games this past week.
(-3) 5. Alexus Hill, So., G, Northern Nash: Hill scored 11 points in the first half of the Knights’ first loss of the season, but she left the game with a hyper-extended knee, and her team seemed to lose a little energy.
In consideration:
Rebekah Brown, C, Rocky Mount Academy; Miya Bryant, G, Southern Nash; Amanda Coats, G, Rocky Mount Academy; Alexus Cooper, G, Rocky Mount High; Jasmine Griffin, C, Northern Nash; Khadijah Manning, F, Southern Nash; Khadijrah Richardson, G, Northern Nash; Megan Shearin, G, Rocky Mount Academy; Jalynn Westry, C, Nash Central.
*Parentheses signify a player’s movement from last week’s Starting 5
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Starting 5: Jan. 20
By | Friday, January 20, 2012 - 15:12
Boys
(--) 1. Donte Samuels, G, Rocky Mount Prep: Samuels has taken the ball and run with it. Since the Jaguars lost their star, DeShawn Freeman, three games ago, Samuels has a combined 83 points and 26 rebounds.
(NR) 2. Lavon Brutus, G, Rocky Mount High: Brutus has taken his benching to heart. His 19 points and seven rebounds helped extend the Gryphons’ four-game winning streak.
(NR) 3. Lucas Bayless, G, Rocky Mount Academy: Bayless shined on Monday to keep RMA undefeated in the EPIC. He scored 28 points in a victory against Raleigh St. David’s.
(NR) 4. Phillip Jones, Sr., Nash Central: Jones has been a double-double monster all season for the Bulldogs. He had another 11 points and 11 rebounds in a victory against Wilson Fike last week.
(-3) 5. Terrill Hilliard, F, Rocky Mount High: Lately, Hilliard hasn’t been the best statistical player on his team. His 15 points and six rebounds in a four-point win against Wilson Hunt will keep him on the list. For now.
In consideration:
Detron Avent, F, North Edgecombe; Jacob Barrett, G, Rocky Mount Prep; Dante Battle, F, Rocky Mount High; Deondre Dancy, F, Northern Nash; DeShawn Freeman, C, Rocky Mount Prep; Jalen Hendricks, Sr., Nash Central; Javin Hinton, G, SouthWest Edgecombe; Devonte Lloyd, Sr., North Edgecombe; Ernest McKinnon, C, SouthWest Edgecombe; Nathaniel Pittman, F, Nash Central; Josh Sessoms, F, Southern Nash.
Girls
(--) 1. J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G., Rocky Mount High: There aren’t many players in the Big East Conference who can stop Brown. She had another 29 points and five steals against Wilson Hunt last Friday.
(--) 2. Alexus Hill, So., G, Northern Nash: The Knights’ attack is balanced, there’s no question about that, but Hill is the best part of its balance. She scored 19 points in Northern Nash’s victory last Friday.
(--) 3. Jasmine Griffin, Sr., C, Northern Nash: Griffin is dominant inside – no surprise there – but she had four steals last week against Southern Nash. She also scored 13 points and blocked four shots.
(NR) 4. Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central: Staton was knocked off the scoring train for a while, but poured in 25 points in a losing effort last Friday.
(NR) 5. Tia Hudgins, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High: Hudgins has had at least nine points and six rebounds in each of the past seven games.
In consideration:
Rebekah Brown, Sr., C, Rocky Mount Academy; Miya Bryant, Sr., G, Southern Nash; Amanda Coats, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy; Alexus Cooper, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High; Quinesha Lynch, Jr., F, Northern Nash; Khadijah Manning, Jr., F, Southern Nash; Khadijrah Richardson, Jr., G, Northern Nash; Megan Shearin, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy; Niya Styles, So., G, Nash Central; Jalynn Westry, Jr., C, Nash Central.
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Starting 5 - Jan. 13
By | Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 21:22
Boys
(+2) 1. Donte Samuels, Jr., F, Rocky Mount Prep: Only one player in the Starting 5 played a game last week. Samuels shined in the absence of Freeman with 31 points and nine rebounds.
(-1)2. Terrill Hilliard, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High:NO GAMES.
(-1) 3.Josh Sessoms, Sr., F, Southern Nash:NO GAMES.
(--) 4.DeShawn Freeman, Jr., C, Rocky Mount Prep:Freeman missed the Eagles last game with an ankle injury but is expected to return to the lineup soon.
(--) 5.Nathaniel Pittman, Jr., F, Nash Central:NO GAMES.
In consideration:
Jacob Barrett, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep; Dante Battle, So. F, Rocky Mount High; Deondre Dancy, F, Sr., Northern Nash; Jalen Hendricks, Sr., G, Nash Central; Phillip Jones, Sr., C, Nash Central; Devonte Lloyd, Sr., C, North Edgecombe.
Girls
(--) 1.J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G., Rocky Mount High:NO GAMES.
(--) 2. Alexus Hill, So., G, Northern Nash:NO GAMES.
(--) 3. Jasmine Griffin, Sr., C, Northern Nash: NO GAMES.
(--) 4. Alexus Cooper, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High: NO GAMES.
(NR) 5. Amanda Coats, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy: Coats scored 13 points, as Rocky Mount Academy remained unbeaten in conference play after a rout of Halifax Academy.
In consideration:
Rebekah Brown, Sr., C, Rocky Mount Academy; Miya Bryant, Sr., G, Southern Nash; Tia Hudgins, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High; Kelisia Jones, So., C, Tarboro; Quinesha Lynch, Jr., F, Northern Nash; Khadijah Manning, Jr., F, Southern Nash; Karlil Perry, Jr., G, Tarboro; Khadijrah Richardson, Jr., G, Northern Nash; Megan Shearin, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy; Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central; Niya Styles, So., G, Nash Central; Jalynn Westry, Jr., C, Nash Central.
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Starting 5: Jan. 6
By Justin Hite | Thursday, January 5, 2012 - 18:59
BOYS
(+2) 1. Terrill Hilliard, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High: Rocky Mount lost back-to-back games before opening the Big East Conference with a win. Hilliard scored 25 points in both losses and 19 against Wilson Fike, and he shot 59 percent or better from the field in all of those games. Then he came up one assist shy of a triple double against Hertford County.
(+3) 2. Josh Sessoms, Sr., F, Southern Nash: Despite not shooting well against Wilson Hunt to open the conference season, Sessoms finished with 20 points and 17 rebounds – nine offensive boards. Keep in mind, he fouled out.
(NR) 3. Donte Samuels, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep: In the past two games, Samuels has pulled down seven rebounds twice and scored a combined 33 points. He might need to carry an even bigger load in the near future.
(-2) 4. DeShawn Freeman, Jr., C, Rocky Mount Prep: Freeman scored 23 points on Dec. 28, but managed only two points in the Jaguars’ loss to Martinsburg (WV) to end the calendar year. He left that game with a knee injury, but coach Eddie Knudsen expects him to return at full strength within a week.
(-4) 5. Nathaniel Pittman, Jr., F, Nash Central: Pittman was held to eight points in the Bulldogs’ latest victory. Nash Central is tied for the conference lead early, but Pittman was locked down against Northern Nash.
In consideration:
Jacob Barrett, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep; Dante Battle, So. F, Rocky Mount High; Deondre Dancy, F, Sr., Northern Nash; Jalen Hendricks, Sr., G, Nash Central; Phillip Jones, Sr., C, Nash Central; Devonte Lloyd, Sr., C, North Edgecombe.
GIRLS
(+1) 1. J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G., Rocky Mount High: Back to the top. In the Gryphons’ three wins since the Nash County Christmas Tournament, Brown has scored 30, 24 and a career-high 35 points, respectively. As the conference schedule begins, Brown is at her best.
(-1) 2. Alexus Hill, So., G, Northern Nash: On a team of talented players, Hill still remains one of the better scorers. She totaled a team-high 13 points in the Knights’ first game in nearly three weeks.
(NR) 3. Jasmine Griffin, Sr., C, Northern Nash: The Knights are a team of big guards, but Griffin remains stout inside. In the Knights’ conference opener she pulled down 12 rebounds and blocked five shots. Add in a near team-high 11 points, and Griffin made a loud statement Tuesday: She’s a force inside.
(NR) 4. Alexus Cooper, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High: After a slow start, Cooper is finding her place in the Gryphons’ offense. She has scored in double digits four of the past five games including 28 points in her highest back-to-back output this season.
(-2) 5. Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central: Staton’s scoring output has slowed drastically, but the undersized forward has pulled down double-digit rebounds in three of the past four games.
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Starting 5: Dec. 22
By | Thursday, December 22, 2011 - 18:23
BOYS
(+3) 1. Nathaniel
Pittman, Jr., F, Nash Central: Pittman was the best player on the floor during the Nash County Christmas Tournament. His 27-point performance nearly kept the Bulldogs in the title game single-handedly.
(--) 2. DeShawn
Freeman, Jr., C, Rocky Mount Prep: Appalachian State wants him, and we’ll take him, too. Freeman scored 29 points then 27 points to win the MVP at the Princeton Holiday Classic. He’s nearing the 20-10 mark. Right now, he’s at 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds per game.
(--) 3. Terrill Hilliard, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High:
Hilliard wasn’t great this week – he scored 30 points in two games – but most of the defenses keyed on him. Is that a preview of what the Big East Conference
schedule could be like?
(NR) 4. Lavon
Brutus, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High: Brutus won the MVP of the Christmas Tournament by making big buckets and playing really good defense. When Rocky Mount needed a spurt to win the title, Brutus scored 19 points in the second half.
(-4) 5. Josh Sessoms, Sr., F, Southern Nash: The sharp-shooting guard wasn’t on point this week. Sessoms scored 11 points and 13 points in back-to-back games and missed a last-second shot that could have put the Firebirds in the championship.
In consideration:
Jacob Barrett, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep; Dante Battle, So. F, Rocky Mount High; Deondre Dancy, F, Sr., Northern Nash; Jalen Hendricks, Sr., G, Nash Central; Marcus Hicks, Sr., F, Southern Nash; Mason Hines, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High; Phillip Jones, Sr., C, Nash Central; Devonte Lloyd, Sr., C, North Edgecombe; Donte Samuels, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep.
GIRLS
(+3) 1. Alexus Hill, So., F, Northern Nash: Hill already was in the top five and then won MVP of the Nash County Christmas Tournament. No brainer here. Hill scored only 16 points in the tournament but was flawless in the rest of her game.
(-1) 2. J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G., Rocky Mount High: Brown might have stayed atop the rankings had she led the Gryphons to a championship title. Her numbers were great: 41 total points. The
result wasn’t.
(--) 3. Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central: Staton shined in the semifinal with 17 points and 16 rebounds, but struggled against
Northern Nash’s pressure defense – as most players do. Staton made only two buckets in the championship game.
(+1) 4. Niya Styles, So., G, Nash Central: Styles caught fire late in the
championship to make up for an otherwise average tournament. She got hot in the semifinal, too.
(NR) 5. Khadijrah
Richardson, Jr., G, Northern Nash: What a spark off the bench Richardson was this week. She led the team with 10 points in the championship and 14 in the
semifinal.
In consideration:
Rebekah Brown, Sr., C, Rocky Mount Academy; Miya Bryant, Sr., G, Southern Nash; Amanda Coats, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy; Alexus Cooper, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High; Jasmine Griffin, Sr., C, Northern Nash; Tia Hudgins, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High; Kelisia Jones, So., C, Tarboro; Quinesha Lynch, Jr., F, Northern Nash; Khadijah Manning, Jr., F, Southern Nash; Karlil Perry, Jr., G, Tarboro; Megan Shearin, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy.
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Starting 5: Dec. 16
By | Thursday, December 15, 2011 - 18:49
Boys
(+3) 1. Josh Sessoms, Sr., F, Southern Nash: Sessoms is the highest-scoring player in the area and has 59 points in the past two games, including the Firebirds’ first win.
(-1) 2. DeShawn Freeman, Jr., C, Rocky Mount Prep: After a hot start, Freeman has cooled. The Jaguars have lost two straight, and Freeman has 26 total points in the pair of losses.
(--) 3. Terrill Hilliard, Sr., C, Rocky Mount High: Hilliard is as advertised for the Gryphons. A 18.7-point, 7.7-rebound per game leads Rocky Mount.
(-2) 4. Nathaniel Pittman, Jr., F, Nash Central: Pittman has been a major reason the Bulldogs are off to a 4-1 start and nipping at Rocky Mount’s.
(NR) 5. Marcus Hicks, Sr., F, Southern Nash: Hicks’ strength inside and a hot start helped him grab this spot, but he’ll need to increase his 14-point average to stay here.
In consideration:
Jacob Barrett, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep; Dante Battle, So. F, Rocky Mount High; Todd Gurley, Sr., G, Tarboro; Jalen Hendricks, Sr., G, Nash Central; Phillip Jones, Sr., C, Nash Central; Devonte Lloyd, Sr., C, North Edgecombe; Donte Samuels, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep; Tevin Taylor, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High.
Girls
(--) 1. J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G., Rocky Mount High: Brown is back. 22.7 points, 4.5 assists, 1 block, 6 rebounds and 5.2 steals per game to start the year.
(+1) 2. Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central: Staton has topped 20 points in each of the Bulldogs’ past two games and in three of the first five games of the season.
(NR) 3. Tia Hudgins, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High: Hudgins is nine points from becoming only the fifth player in Rocky Mount girls’ history to top 1,000-career points. 15.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game so far this season.
(NR) 4. Alexus Hill, So., F, Northern Nash: Hill has scored 33 points in the past two games as Northern Nash has raced out to an undefeated record through four games.
(NR) 5. Niya Styles, So., G, Nash Central: Combine Styles’ 13.3 points per game with her running mate Staton, it’s easy to see why the Bulldogs are this good.
In consideration:
Rebekah Brown, Sr., C, Rocky Mount Academy; Miya Bryant, Sr., G, Southern Nash; Amanda Coats, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy; Alexus Cooper, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High; Jasmine Griffin, Sr., C, Northern Nash; Kelisia Jones, So., C, Tarboro; Quineshia Lynch, Jr., F, Northern Nash; Khadijah Manning, Jr., F, Southern Nash; Karlil Perry, Jr., G, Tarboro; Khadyrah Richardson, Jr., G, Northern Nash; Megan Shearin, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy.
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Starting 5 - Dec. 11
By | Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 22:20
Boys
1. DeShawn Freeman, Jr., C, Rocky Mount Prep:The Jaguars snagged one of the bigger prizes of the offseason. So far this year, Freeman averages 19 points and nine rebounds per game.
2. Nathaniel Pittman, Jr., F, Nash Central:The Bulldogs like to push the ball and play pressure defense, and it helps to have an athletic 6-foot-8 wing player to do so.
3. Terrill Hilliard, Sr., C, Rocky Mount High:One of the few Gryphons with state championship experience will try to lead Rocky Mount back to the title game. He’s athletic inside and has the ability to knock down a shot outside.
4. Josh Sessoms, Sr., F, Southern Nash:When Sessoms gets hot, he’s one of the better shooters in the area. Despite good size for a post player, Sessoms tends to play on the outside, where he causes mismatches.
5. Jalen Hendricks, Sr., G, Nash Central: Hendricks brings tons of athleticism to the Bulldogs up-tempo offense. He doesn’t lead the attack directly, but he plays a major role in it.
In consideration:
Jacob Barrett, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep; Tevin Boykin, Sr., G, Southern Nash; Todd Gurley, Sr., G, Tarboro; Marcus Hicks, Sr., F, Southern Nash; Phillip Jones, Sr., C, Nash Central; Devonte Lloyd, Sr., C, North Edgecombe; Donte Samuels, Jr., G, Rocky Mount Prep; Tevin Taylor, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High; Tony Wills, Sr., F, Southern Nash.
Girls
1. J’Kyra Brown, Jr., G., Rocky Mount High:The reigning All-Area player of the year can do it all. So far this season, she has shown that she is fully recovered from her ACL tear.
2. Khadijah Manning, Jr., F, Southern Nash:Manning has helped the Firebirds this season and returns after being named to the All-Area team last season.
3. Timyra Staton, Jr., F, Nash Central:Staton isn’t surprisingly large, but still plays big inside for the Bulldogs. She has the speed to run as well, making her a tough matchup.
4. Quanisha Lynch, Jr., F, Northern Nash:Lynch was a major part of the Knights’ surprise run to the 3-A semifinals. The Knights won’t be a surprise this year, and neither will Lynch.
5. Alexus Cooper, Sr., G, Rocky Mount High:Cooper was the All-Area player of the year as a sophomore and has now teamed up with Brown. The Gryphons have one of the better backcourts in the state.
In consideration:
Rebekah Brown, Sr., C, Rocky Mount Academy; Miya Bryant, Sr., G, Southern Nash; Amanda Coats, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy; Jasmine Griffin, Sr., C, Northern Nash; Alexus Hill, So., F, Northern Nash; Tia Hudgins, Sr., F, Rocky Mount High; Kelisia Jones, So., C, Tarboro; Jessica Lyons, Sr., G, Northern Nash; Karlil Perry, Jr., G, Tarboro; Khadyrah Richardson, Jr., G, Northern Nash; Megan Shearin, Sr., G, Rocky Mount Academy; Niya Styles, So., G, Nash Central.
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TAG: Nash Central vs. North Johnston (Basketball)
By | Wednesday, November 23, 2011 - 17:10
Nash Central 59, 66----North Johnston 29, 66
What happened: The Bulldogs opened the season the right way for both squads Tuesday night. Neither team was really challenged, which allowed Terri Cash and Renny Taylor to work deep in their respective benches.
Nine different players scored for Taylor’s boys’ team, while eight scored for Cash and the Lady Bulldogs. Only eight players failed to score for the two teams, which have 25 players on their combined varsity rosters.
Why it happened: While both teams cruised to easy victories, they did so in different fashions. For the boys, defense led to offense and transition points were aplenty. The girls utilized second-chance opportunities.
But both keyed on one player.
Timyra Staton was strong inside and should be for the rest of the season. It’s only one game, but she could be an early All-Area candidate. Meanwhile, Nathaniel Pittman shined above all the other Bulldogs. Pittman was key in Nash Central’s zone defense, and his size and speed will make him a tough assignment with the ball in his hands.
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TAG: North Edgecombe vs. Trenton Jones
By Justin Hite | Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 14:44
Trenton Jones 22, North Edgecombe 12
What happened: North Edgecombe’s season and Danny Ward’s career as head coach of the Warriors both officially ended Friday night but not without a valiant effort. Facing a defense that hadn’t allowed a point in the first two rounds of the playoffs, North Edgecombe scored twice in the second quarter. They seemed poised to take an even bigger lead as the third quarter began.
It would be easy to blame Morris Armstrong for his fumble in the second half that led to the eventual game-winning touchdown, but it wouldn’t be accurate. Yes, Armstrong’s fumble was a huge reason for the loss, but it wasn’t for anything Armstrong did incorrectly. He had the ball properly secured and was fighting for a very important first down.
With the way the Warriors defense was playing, a touchdown on that drive would have won the game for North Edgecombe. Instead, it went horribly wrong.
Why it happened: Dumb luck? Revenge? Effort? There isn’t really a reason why it happened. Some could point to a lack of a whistle that allowed Trenton Jones to strip the ball late, and others might look to a North Edgecombe offense that could break through an incredibly stout Jones defense.
The real reason, Jones wanted the victory just a little bit more. That’s the way Ward put it to his players afterward. No matter the reason, the end result won’t change.
Up next: Basketball season.
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Power 10 - Postseason
By Justin Hite | Thursday, November 3, 2011 - 15:14
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1. (--) Todd Gurley, Sr., RB, Tarboro: Gurley added another 148 yards and two touchdowns to his season total last week. He’s getting better as the playoffs begin.
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2. (--) Jalen Hendricks, Sr., QB, Nash Central:The stats don’t show it – 54 total yards and two touchdowns – but Hendricks made two plays late that secured the Bulldogs’ win.
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3. (--) Terron Huffman, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Huffman found the end zone again this week but only once. He rushed for 53 yards and finished with four catches for 73 yards. He closes the regular season with more than 1,300 yards.
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4. (+3) Gerald Hinton, Jr., RB, SouthWest Edgecombe: SouthWest Edgecombe clinched a playoffs spot last week behind Hinton. He scored in the first two minutes, and the Cougars rolled from there.
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5. (+5) Greg Arrington, Sr., RB, Nash Central: Arrington pounded out 142 yards on 19 carries. He also scored once. Looks like coach Kevin Crudup is handing it more and more to his senior.
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6. (-2) Josh Sessoms, Sr., S, Southern Nash: When he doesn’t force turnovers, Sessoms has to be a tackling machine. He hasn’t been one lately.
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7. (-1) Tracey Coppedge, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Coppedge led the team with 87 yards, but failed to find the end zone. He fell just short of the 1,000-yard mark for the regular season.
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8. (NR) Marquez Farmer, Jr., QB, Northern Nash: Farmer has taken the veer offense and run with it. He had 157 rushing yards, one passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown last week.
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9. (NR) Tyquan Lewis, DE, Jr., Tarboro: Lewis might be the most athletic defensive lineman in the area. He returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown last week and has been a menace all season.
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10. (-5) Mason Hines, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount High: Hines is one of the better backs in Rocky Mount High’s recent history, but the past two games have hurt his standing here – only 12 yards on 12 carries last week.
Others in consideration
Marcus Hicks, DE, Southern Nash; Chris Jenkins, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Devonte Lloyd, RB, North Edgecombe; Khalil Macklin, RB, Nash Central; DeQuavais Mann, CB, Northern Nash; Tevin Marshall,LB/RB, Northern Nash; Travonne Marshall, DB, Northern Nash Sextus Vane, RB, Southern Nash.
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Power 10 - Week 10
By | Thursday, October 27, 2011 - 15:56
1. (--) Todd Gurley, Sr., RB, Tarboro: Gurley is making his closing argument with purpose. 10 carries, 187 yards and four touchdowns in the first half of Tarboro’s victory could win the case.
2. (+1) Jalen Hendricks, Sr., QB, Nash Central:Hendricks was the only reason the Bulldogs were in the game last week. He had one big fourth-down completion as well as 146 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
3. (+7) Terron Huffman, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Please forgive us, Mr. Terror. Huffman had 209 on the ground and four touchdowns – all second half. He now has 10 yards per carry, 15 touchdowns and 1,240 yards for the season.
4. (--) Josh Sessoms, Sr., S, Southern Nash: Seven tackles is Sessoms’ second-lowest total of the season, but the Firebirds did hold Rocky Mount to only one touchdown.
5. (-3) Mason Hines, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount High: The Gryphons go-to back had one of his worst games of the season – 61 yards and a touchdown. We’ll see how he bounces back.
6. (+1) Tracey Coppedge, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Overshadowed by his backfield mate, Coppedge had a solid 93 yards. He also scored Southern Nash’s lone first-half touchdown.
7. (-2) Gerald Hinton, Jr., RB, SouthWest Edgecombe: Hinton has been running his best when the Cougars need it the most. SouthWest Edgecombe won its conference finale last week.
8. (-2) Marcus Hicks, Sr., DL, Southern Nash: Hicks continues to fall after just one sack last week. It’s hard to make the grade in the Big East Conference as a defensive lineman, but Hicks’ name is out there.
9. (NR) Devonte Lloyd, Sr., RB, North Edgecombe: Lloyd is the biggest threat in the Warriors offense. He leads the team with 10 touchdowns and 9.1 yards per carry this season.
10. (NR) Greg Arrington, Sr., RB, Nash Central: Arrington ran for a hard 76 yards last week. He also scored once in the Bulldogs’ loss. He makes his much-awaited return to the Power 10.
Others in consideration
Morris Armstrong, RB, North Edgecombe; Ricky Dozier, RB, Tarboro; Nah’Jerrelle Graves, LB, Rocky Mount High; Reggie Huff, LB, Southern Nash; Chris Jenkins, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Kwami Jones, LB, Southern Nash; Khalil Macklin, RB, Nash Central; DeQuavais Mann, CB, Northern Nash; Tevin Marshall, LB, Northern Nash; Travonne Marshall, DB, Northern Nash; Denzel Perry, DL, Northern Nash; Kasey Royster, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Sextus Vane, RB, Southern Nash.
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Power 10 - Week 9
By Justin Hite | Thursday, October 20, 2011 - 14:58
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(--) Todd Gurley, Sr., RB, Tarboro: Another day, another two touchdowns for Gurley. He managed only 97 yards on the ground, but broke big runs when he needed to.
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(+2) Mason Hines, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount High: The Gryphons suffered their worst loss in school history to Wilson Fike, but not because of Hines. The junior rushed for 210 yards and two touchdowns.
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(+2) Jalen Hendricks, Sr., QB, Nash Central:Hendricks led the Bulldogs comeback last week with his legs and on defense. He ran for two touchdowns, returned an interception for six points, and finished with 280 yards of offense.
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(-1) Josh Sessoms, Sr., S, Southern Nash: If it seems like Sessoms has at least 10 tackles every game, that’s because it’s true. He has four double-digit tackle performances in the past five games.
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(+1) Gerald Hinton, Jr., RB, SouthWest Edgecombe: The Cougars are on the ropes, and Hinton is running like a man possessed. 18 carries, 106 yards and one touchdown. He also is one of the better cornerbacks in the area.
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(-4) Marcus Hicks, Sr., DL, Southern Nash: Hicks was neutralized against Wilson Hunt. He finished with only three tackles.
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(+2) Tracey Coppedge, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: All Cris Carter did was catch touchdown passes for the Vikings, and he should make the hall of fame. Coppedge scored three times and finished with 97 yards last week.
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(--) Khalil Macklin, So., RB, Nash Central: Macklin continues to be Nash Central’s No. 2 option. But as a No. 2 option, he rushed for 67 yards and a touchdown.
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(NR) Marquez Farmer, Jr., QB, Northern Nash: Farmer changed positions this week as the Knights switched to a veer. He went 5-for-10 for 55 yards passing and rushed for 41 yards and a score. Not great stats, but props for the switch.
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(NR) Terron Huffman, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Every time he falls out of the top-10, Huffman does something to climb back up. 191 yards and touchdown accomplishes that pretty nicely.
Others in consideration
Greg Arrington, RB, Nash Central; Ricky Dozier, RB, Tarboro; Nah’Jerrelle Graves, LB, Rocky Mount High; Reggie Huff, LB, Southern Nash; Chris Jenkins, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Kwami Jones, LB, Southern Nash; DevonteLloyd, RB, North Edgecombe; DeQuavais Mann, CB, Northern Nash; Tevin Marshall,LB, Northern Nash; Travonne Marshall, DB, Northern Nash; Denzel Perry, DL, Northern Nash; Darius Phillips, RB, North Edgecombe; Justin Pittman, LB, Tarboro; Kasey Royster, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Collin Staton, LB, Nash Central; Sextus Vane, RB, Southern Nash.
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Power 10 - Week 8
By Justin Hite | Thursday, October 13, 2011 - 15:19
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(--) Todd Gurley, Sr., RB, Tarboro: Leave no doubt. That’s Gurley’s mantra here. Count up 363 yards and four touchdowns, that’s the end of this discussion.
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(--) Marcus Hicks, Sr., DL, Southern Nash: Two more sacks for Hicks and another double-digit tackle performance against Northern Nash. He’s the most dominant defensive lineman in the area –without question.
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(+1) Josh Sessoms, Sr., S, Southern Nash: Sessoms again led his team in total tackles and picked off his second pass of the season. More importantly, the Firebirds allowed only 13 points.
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(+2) Mason Hines, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount High: Hines continues to be the Gryphons’ best threat – if not their only threat. After a pretty 89-yard kick return and 132 yards, he was the first area back to surpass the 1,000-yard mark.
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(-2) Jalen Hendricks, Sr., QB, Nash Central:After a touchdown on the ground and through the air, Hendricks is nearing the 500-yard mark in passing and rushing.
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(+2) Gerald Hinton, Jr., RB, SouthWest Edgecombe: Hinton went over the 750-yard mark during last week’s loss to North Pitt. He averages 9.2 yards per carry and continues to improve.
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(NR) Sextus Vane, Jr., RB, Southern Nash: Another running back for the Firebirds? Vane is more than that though. He scored three times last week and had two kick returns for 123 yards.
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(-2) Khalil Macklin, So., RB, Nash Central: Macklin finished the Bulldogs’ victory against Wilson Fike with 95 yards and one touchdown. Not a great day, but that’s 15 fantasy points.
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(-4) Tracey Coppedge, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: The emergence of a running quarterback and Vane hurts Coppedge, who ran the ball a season-low eight times for 44 yards.
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(NR) Tyquan Lewis, JR., DE, Tarboro: Lewis had two sacks and a big fumble recovery in the Vikings’ loss to Kinston.
Others in consideration
Greg Arrington, RB, Nash Central; Ricky Dozier, RB, Tarboro; Nah’Jerrelle Graves, LB, Rocky Mount High; Reggie Huff, LB, Southern Nash; Terron Huffman, RB, Southern Nash; Chris Jenkins, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Kwami Jones, LB, Southern Nash; Devonte Lloyd, RB, North Edgecombe; DeQuavais Mann, CB, Northern Nash; Tevin Marshall,LB, Northern Nash; Travonne Marshall, DB, Northern Nash; Denzel Perry, DL, Northern Nash; Darius Phillips, RB, North Edgecombe; Justin Pittman, LB, Tarboro; Kasey Royster, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Collin Staton, LB, Nash Central.
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TAG: Rocky Mount High vs. Northern Nash
By Justin Hite | Friday, October 7, 2011 - 14:54
Taking another glance
Northern Nash 3 (12-5, 8-2 Big East), Rocky Mount 1 (9-8, 7-3)
What happened: No matter the reasoning, the end result is the same. Northern Nash enacted some revenge on its rival and won the regular season conference title. After a short battle – the first two sets – Northern Nash dominated the second half of the third set and the entire fourth set. The Knights turned what was a hard-fought match into a cakewalk.
Northern Nash showed the energy that coach Patricia Haggerty said was missing in the Knights’ first game against Rocky Mount, but it also dominated in every facet.
The Knights service was better than Rocky Mount’s and put them in position to score. Deja Lewis and Camille Branch dominated at the net – the Gryphons had no one to compete with them. And after a rough second game, Northern Nash’s communication was superb. Rocky Mount’s communication went down hill from that point.
Why it happened: Home-court advantage. It’s plain and simple. It’s so much easier for a high school team to play at home than on the road. Anyone in the gym last night would know: For a regular season volleyball match, the crowd was big and it was loud. That made the difference, I mean other than Northern Nash outplaying Rocky Mount.
Northern Nash was better, but the crowd made the Knights that much better.
Up next: Both teams begin play in the Big East Conference tournament on Monday. Seedings and times have yet to be determined, but the tournament will be played at Rocky Mount High.
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Power 10 - Week 7
By Justin Hite | Thursday, October 6, 2011 - 19:44
Power 10
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(--) Todd Gurley, Sr., RB, Tarboro: Gurley topped the century mark again in the Vikings’ victory against Greene Central. He also scored a touchdown.
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(+1) Marcus Hicks, Sr., DL, Southern Nash: Defensive touchdowns are huge in this ranking system. Hicks had a 54-yard fumble return to save the Firebirds and force overtime.
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(+2) Jalen Hendricks, Sr., QB, Nash Central:Hendricks was slow and a little hesitant on his feet, but picked apart Rocky Mount High with his arm. He’s becoming a complete quarterback.
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(-2) Josh Sessoms, Sr., S, Southern Nash: Wilson Fike threw for three touchdowns in the Golden Demons upset of Southern Nash. That doesn’t bode well for Sessoms, the secondary’s leader.
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(+2) Tracey Coppedge, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Coppedge scored twice and was the Firebirds’ only form of offense in the first half. He finished with 84 yards.
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(+3) Mason Hines, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount High: The Gryphons didn’t do much on offense before halftime. But in the second half, they gave the ball to Hines, who finished with 170 yards and two touchdowns. He’s 41 yards from 1,000 for the season.
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(+1) Khalil Macklin, So., RB, Nash Central: The sophomore has become the Bulldogs go-to man on the ground. He had 95 yards and one touchdown against Rocky Mount High.
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(NR) Gerald Hinton, Jr., RB, SouthWest Edgecombe: Another young back breaks into the rankings. Hinton finished the Cougars’ 20-point victory with 240 yards and two touchdowns.
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(-5) Terron Huffman, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Huffman didn’t find the end zone until the second half of the Firebirds’ loss, but finished with 106 yards on 13 carries.
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(NR) Kasey Royster, So., RB, Rocky Mount Academy: Despite the Eagles’ record, Royster has shined. In his first game back from a concussion, Royster led the team in tackles, receptions and rushing yards. He also scored one of the Eagles’ two touchdowns.
Others in consideration
Greg Arrington, RB, Nash Central; Ricky Dozier, RB, Tarboro; Nah’Jerrelle Graves, LB, Rocky Mount High; Reggie Huff, LB, Southern Nash; Chris Jenkins, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Kwami Jones, LB, Southern Nash; Tyquan Lewis,DE, Tarboro; DevonteLloyd, RB, North Edgecombe; DeQuavis Mann, CB, Northern Nash; Tevin Marshall,LB, Northern Nash; Travonne Marshall, DB, Northern Nash; Denzel Perry, DL, Northern Nash; Darius Phillips, RB, North Edgecombe; Justin Pittman, LB, Tarboro; Collin Staton, LB, Nash Central.
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Oct. 4, GotD: Southern Nash vs. Rocky Mount
By Justin Hite | Monday, October 3, 2011 - 15:34
Southern Nash vs. Rocky Mount High
Sport: Girls’ tennis
Date: Oct. 4
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Rocky Mount
Southern Nash (6-6, 4-4 Big East) … Southern Nash just lost a heartbreaking match to Wilson Hunt, 5-4, and only a victory here could move the Ladybirds up from the No. 4 seed. Karla Flores leads the Ladybirds with a 66.7 winning percentage.
Rocky Mount High (8-5, 5-3) … The Gryphons are coming off a demolishing victory against Wilson Fike after back-to-back losses. If the Gryphons are going to finish second in the conference, they’ll need to win out.
Key matchup … Rocky Mount won the last match between these two teams handily. If Southern Nash wants to pull out this semi-upset, it will need more than straight-set losses from the bottom half of its lineup.
The rest…
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Faith Christian at Greenville Oakwood, 3:30 p.m.
Wilson Fike at Northern Nash, 4 p.m.
Nash Central at Wilson Hunt, 4 p.m.
Tarboro vs. SouthWest Edgecombe, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Nash Central at Wilson Hunt, 5:30 p.m.
Southern Nash at Rocky Mount High, 5:30 p.m.
Wilson Fike at Northern Nash, 5:30 p.m.
Farmville Central at Tarboro, 6 p.m.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Faith Christian at Wayne Country Day, 4:45 p.m.
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Power 10 - Week 6
By Justin Hite | Thursday, September 29, 2011 - 14:20
No video again this week. There were no technical difficulties, just plenty of bye weeks.
Power 10
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(--) Todd Gurley, Sr., RB, Tarboro: The Vikings struggled to put points on the board, but Gurley still managed to find the end zone. He added 106 yards on the ground, too.
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(--) Josh Sessoms, Sr., S, Southern Nash: Bye.
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(--) Marcus Hicks, Sr., DL, Southern Nash: Bye.
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(--) Terron Huffman, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Bye.
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(--) Jalen Hendricks, Sr., QB, Nash Central:Bye.
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(--) Matt Boswell, Sr., LT, Southern Nash:Bye.
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(--) Tracey Coppedge, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Bye.
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(--) Khalil Macklin, So., RB, Nash Central: Bye.
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(--) Mason Hines, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount High: Bye.
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(NR) Ricky Dozier, Sr., RB, Tarboro: Dozier had played second fiddle to Todd Gurley for long enough. Well, at least for now. Dozier had 89 yards on four carries and a touchdown against Northern Nash – that’s a better yard per carry average than Gurley.
Others in consideration
Greg Arrington, RB, Nash Central; Nah’Jerrelle Graves, LB, Rocky Mount High; Gerald Hinton, RB/CB, SouthWest Edgecombe; Reggie Huff, LB, Southern Nash; Chris Jenkins, RB, Rocky Mount Academy; Kwami Jones, LB, Southern Nash; Tyquan Lewis,DE, Tarboro; DevonteLloyd, RB, North Edgecombe; Tevin Marshall,LB, Northern Nash; Travonne Marshall, DB, Northern Nash; Denzel Perry, DL, Northern Nash; Darius Phillips, RB, North Edgecombe; Justin Pittman, LB, Tarboro; Kasey Royster, RB/LB, Rocky Mount Academy; Collin Staton, LB, Nash Central.
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GotD: Southern Nash vs. Rocky Mount High
By Justin Hite | Tuesday, September 27, 2011 - 14:26
Rocky Mount vs. Southern Nash
Sport: Boys’ soccer
Date: Sept. 28
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Bailey
Rocky Mount High (3-5-3, 1-1-1 Big East) … The young Gryphons continue their trek through the Big East Conference. They are nearly as banged up as their female counterparts were last season. They’ve lost players to broken arms and serious knee injuries. Rocky Mount is still young, but coach Drew Nick said the team is improving.
Southern Nash (3-4, 1-1) …The Firebirds have taken a while to get in rhythm, but are hitting their stride now. Southern Nash lost in overtime to Wilson Hunt, one of the best teams in the state, and has the speed up front to finally beat Rocky Mount – the Firebirds haven’t done that the past seven years.
Key matchup … Southern Nash will need to control explosive Gryphons striker Lee McAvoy. If they can, and that’s a tall task, Rocky Mount could have trouble generating offense.
Quotable … “We’ve got a pretty good team. They’ve waited a while to play up to the level they can play.” – Southern Nash coach John Mathews.
CROSS COUNTRY
Nash Central, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount High, Southern Nash at Northern Nash, 5 p.m.
Wilson Beddingfield, Farmville Central at SouthWest Edgecombe, 4 p.m.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Wilson Hunt at Nash Central, 5 p.m.
Northern Nash at Wilson Fike, 7 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Tarboro vs. Riverside-Martin, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Rocky Mount Academy at Sallie B. Howard, 5:15 p.m.
Northern Nash at Tarboro, 5:30 p.m.
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Power 10 - Week 5
By Justin Hite | Thursday, September 22, 2011 - 15:41
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(--) Todd Gurley, Sr., RB, Tarboro: Gurley needed only 12 carries to rack up 215 yards and three touchdowns. His explosiveness is unmatched in the area, but he came up big when the Vikings needed him last Friday.
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(--) Josh Sessoms, Sr., S, Southern Nash: A team-high 12 tackles and one interception against South Granville – one of the better safeties in the state is in a groove.
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(+4) Marcus Hicks, Sr., DL, Southern Nash: Hicks had two more sacks this week to make his total six in the past three games. He also recovered a fumble and had seven tackles.
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(-1) Terron Huffman, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: Huffman scored twice against South Granville, but rushed for only 86 yards. It’s the first time in four weeks he hasn’t rushed for 100 yards. He had a season-low seven carries.
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(-1) Jalen Hendricks, Sr., QB, Nash Central:Hendricks missed the Bulldogs’ loss to New Bern. Coach Kevin Crudup expects him back after Nash Central’s bye week.
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(+3) Matt Boswell, Sr., LT, Southern Nash:The Firebirds returned to their running ways, and Boswell played a big role. As a team, Southern Nash rushed for a season-high 11.76 yards per carry.
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(NR) Tracey Coppedge, Sr., RB, Southern Nash: What goes down, usually bounces back up. Coppedge returns to the top 10 after gaining 206 total yards and three touchdowns on only eight touches.
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(-2) Khalil Macklin, So., RB, Nash Central: Macklin received a season-high 15 carries against New Bern, averaging 10 yards per carry, but failed to score. The highlight was his 61-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Jones.
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(-4) Mason Hines, Jr., RB, Rocky Mount High: After struggling for three quarters, Hines finally punched in a touchdown in the fourth. He finished with 71 yards in the Gryphons loss.
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(-2) Denzel Perry, Sr., DL, Northern Nash: The Knights gave up season-highs in points (42) and yards (397). Perry couldn’t find his way to the quarterback either.
Others in consideration
Greg Arrington, RB, Nash Central; Nah’Jerrelle Graves, LB, Rocky Mount High; Gerald Hinton, RB/CB, SouthWest Edgecombe; Reggie Huff, LB, Southern Nash; Kwami Jones, LB, Southern Nash; Tyquan Lewis,DE, Tarboro; DevonteLloyd, RB, North Edgecombe; Travonne Marshall, DB, Northern Nash; Darius Phillips, RB, North Edgecombe; Justin Pittman, LB, Tarboro; Kasey Royster, RB/LB, Rocky Mount Academy; Collin Staton, LB, Nash Central.
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GotD: Southern Nash vs. Northern Nash
By Justin Hite | Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 16:02
Southern Nash vs. Northern Nash
Sport: Boys’ soccer
Date: Sept. 23
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Northern Nash High School
Southern Nash (3-3, 1-0 Big East) … After a slow start to the season, the Firebirds won their first conference game in overtime – 3-2 against Wilson Fike. After this game, the Firebirds face Wilson Hunt and Rocky Mount.
Northern Nash … The Knights are having a down year, by comparison, but likely will contend for a conference title. Knocking off Southern Nash early in the conference season would be a step in the right direction.
Key matchup … Southern Nash will need to rely on its possession to keep the ball away from the Knights’ talented front line. But the Firebirds’ speed up front is a wicked temptation.
Quotable … “We want to keep the momentum going and hope to contend for the conference this year.” – coach Southern Nash John Matthews
The rest…
CROSS COUNTRY
Nash Central, Northern Nash, Rocky Mount High, Southern Nash at Nash Central, 5 p.m.
SouthWest Edgecombe at Wilson Beddingfield, 4 p.m.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Rocky Mount High at Wilson Hunt, 7 p.m.
Nash Central at Wilson Fike, 7 p.m.
Tarboro at Kinston, 7 p.m.
Wilson Beddingfield at SouthWest Edgecombe, 7 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Tarboro vs. Northern Nash, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Southern Nash at Bunn, 6 p.m.
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GotD: Northern Nash vs. Rocky Mount
By Justin Hite | Monday, September 19, 2011 - 18:13
Northern Nash vs. Rocky Mount High
Sport: Volleyball
Date: Sept. 20
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Rocky Mount High School
Northern Nash (6-4, 3-1 Big East) … It wouldn’t be out of the question to think the Knights would still be reeling after an epic five-set loss to Nash Central. The Knights led in all five sets and lost by only two points in each set. Coach Patricia Haggerty saw what the Knights were capable of last Tuesday.
Rocky Mount High … Led by a pair of middle hitters – Sakeya Battle and Tia Hudgins – the Gryphons are trying to forget about a sluggish week that also was the most difficult of the season, coach Tabitha Wilcox said. After some rest this past weekend, Rocky Mount expects a very intense match against its biggest rival.
Key matchup … The Gryphons weakness is their serve receive, and against Northern Nash’s strong front line, Rocky Mount will need sharp, crisp initial passes.
Quotable … “We’ve become a tougher team together, instead of just as individuals.” – Rocky Mount coach Tabitha Wilcox
The rest…
GIRLS’ GOLF
Northern Nash, Nash Central, Wilson Hunt, Rocky Mount High, Southern Nash at Wilson Fike (Willow Springs CC), 2 p.m.
BOYS’ SOCCER
Rocky Mount Academy at St. David’s, 5:15 p.m.
GIRLS’ TENNIS
Rocky Mount Academy at St. David’s, 3:30 p.m.
Southern Nash at Nash Central, 4 p.m.
Northern Nash at Rocky Mount High, 4 p.m.
Tarboro vs. Green Central, 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL
Rocky Mount Academy at St. David’s, 5:15 p.m.
Southern Nash at Nash Central, 5:30 p.m.
North Pitt at Tarboro, 6 p.m.
Kinston at SouthWest Edgecombe, 6:30 p.m.
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TAG: Rocky Mount vs. Rose
By Justin Hite | Saturday, September 17, 2011 - 11:27
Taking another glance
Greenville Rose 49 (3-2), Rocky Mount High 20 (3-1-1)
What happened: The Gryphons lost their first game. Period.
That’s the strongest fact coming out of Friday night. And if it wasn’t obvious from the game story in Saturday’s edition, the loss was sparked, fueled and engulfed by Marquis Gorham. He turned the Gryphons’ undefeated record to ashes with five touchdowns. But enough about Gorham, this is to explain what happened to Rocky Mount.
The Gryphons couldn’t do much in the first half, and those struggles extended through the third quarter. Everything finally improved for Rocky Mount in the fourth quarter. After recording only 71 yards of offense through three quarters, the Gryphons doubled that in the fourth quarter. It didn’t help Friday night, but it could help going forward.
What it means: The first thing Rocky Mount Dickie Schock said to me was that, ‘If it could go wrong, it did.’ But the longer he spoke, the more upbeat he grew about the loss – as he should.
There weren’t many highlights in the first half. Nah’Jerrelle Graves and the defense scored on a fumble in the end zone. The Gryphons didn’t score again until the fourth quarter and record negative yards of offense in the third quarter.
But the fourth quarter was a different story. Rocky Mount scored twice, and Rose hadn’t pulled its starters. Both touchdowns were scored with JT Smith, who is one of two quarterbacks Schock utilizes, behind center. Smith is by far the best passer on Rocky Mount’s roster and might have earned some more playing time.
Up next: Rocky Mount has a bye week next week before its first conference game of the season. The Gryphons will play host to Nash Central on Sept. 30.
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