FYiday, March 5, 1971
THE GRYPHON
Page 7
Tourney Efforts Fall Short
Cougars Smother Gryphs Hopes
Dan Speight (1) and Cleveland Howard are the two “Super
Sophs**, who have given the Gryphon cagers a great boast.
The 1970-71 basketball sea
son has come to an end for
the mighty Gryphon cagers.
However, the Gryphs refused to
give up until the last buzzard
had sounded.
The Gryphons captured un-
desputed third place in the final
regular season standings, with
an impressive victory over Wil
son. This is a distinct improve
ment over last year.
In the game against Wilson,
the lead changed hands several
Supersophs-Speight And Howard
At the beginning of this bas
ketball season, Coach Hicks was
concerned about his lost of last
year’s stars in George Hamm
and Mitchell Wiggins. With this
thought in mind, he was forced
to look with great expectations
to whom was returning from last
year and who would be coming
new; The optimistic coach
knew that he had some good of
fensive threats coming back,
but he also knew that he need
ed more offense. There was
much room for improvement in
rebounding and defense if the
mighty Gryphons were to com
pete in the Eastern 4A confer
ence.
Well, the regular season has
ended and the Gryphons have
earned third place in their di
vision. This is a distinct im
provement over last year.
But this year, the hardwood
has not been occupied by only
veterans. Danny Speight and
Cleveland Howard, two “Super
Sophs,*’ have been fascinating
over this past season. Speight,
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at 6*3*’ was the teams top per
centage shooter from the floor
and produced the teams highest
single game output with 31
points against rival Goldsboro.
He also boosted the team’s re
bounding and was deadly from
the charity mark. Howard,
at 6’4” was the teams best
leaper. He was magnificent
on the boards and was a ter
rorizing menace to whomever
tried to shoot over him. Both
of these “Super Sophs” av
eraged in double figures, which
was a carryover from last
year's junior high school aver
age of over 18 pts. each.
Many say that experience is
the best teacher. If this state
ment is really true, I can only
say that next year will be the
“Year of the 24” for the Gry
phon cagers.
Coach Ramey’s Hopes Up
As Tennis Season Starts
RMSH’s tennis team is look
ing forward to having a good
season this year with veterans
Woody Riddick, Reid Rhodes,
and Frank Avent —to name a
few—and newcoming netters
Stephen Bennet and John Wors-
ley. They are hoping to top last
year’s record of 3-7.
“I plan to work them hard,”
said tennis coach George
Ramey.
Scrimmages have been ar
ranged against Wesleyan, At
lantic Christian, and Loulsburg
colleges. In conference play,
Raleigh Broughton, Wilmington,
and Goldsboro high schools are
expected to be the toughest con
tenders. However, Coach Ram
ey feels that we will be able
to contend with the best of them.
He realizes, too, that there is a
lot of room for improvement.
“Tradition is the one thing
that is hurting tennis,” he said.
By this, he is implying that there
is a lack of interest inthecom^
munity and In the system of the
game is diminishing. He also
explained that “lessons and
clinics for young kids, and a
junior high program are just a
couple of things that would
greatly improve the high school
tennis program.”
Also, In the past, attendance
at tennis matches has usually
been low. Coach Ramey point
ed out that having an audience
always gives good moral sup
port for a team.
Another problem plaguing
tennis has been a lack of fin
ances. The coach indicated that
since the Atheletic Department
only provides money for tennis
Ijalls for our home games, we
have had to seek help from the
individual players and others.
Coach Ramey has a good
background of experience in
both playing and coaching ten
nis. He has played with many
different teams and, before re
turning to Rocky Mount, coached
in Asheboro, N. C.
Tennis is a sport which needs
your support and interest as
spectators. As the spring
sports begin, we are asking you
to go out and back your tennis
team. The GRYPHON Staff
would like to express a pre
liminary Good Luck to the dif
ferent teams participating in
spring sports.
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times before the Gryphs could
pull it out. The Gryphs put
on a display of sharp shooting
as Mike Long and Lewis Hardy
each poured in 20 points. Pete
Thompson produced his best of
fensive show of the season as he
rocketed five field goals from
down-town. Roscoe Batts put
on a show of good ball handling.
In the first round of the
tournament, the Gryphons had
the home court advantage
against Greenville Rose.
Greenville, with a 1-9 record in
the conference was the confer
ence’s last place team, how
ever, they had forced Rocky
Mount Into overtime during the
regular season. The Gryphs
came through the first tourna
ment game with a 72-59 romp
ing over Greenville. Long, with
21 points, and Hardy, with 19
points led the attack.
The real test was to come
against the Goldsboro Cougars
who were defending their di
vision title from last year.
Great suspense filled the Cou
gars gym as the Gryphons con
trolled the first tap. It looked
as though the Gryphs were on
their way' asT they jumped to an
eleven point lead at 12-1. From
that point on Goldsboro was on
an upward sur^e. High scor
ing Ricky Holmes and Horace
Thompson started holding the
Gryphs to but one shot. The
Cougars fought back to tie the
game at 13-13. The Gryphons
led at the half by a score of
35-31.
Coach Hicks’ five, who led
throughout most of the game,
opened the second half with a
similar spurt that opened the
game. However, Thompson with
27 points and Holmes with 21
points, gave brilliant all-around
performances.
With a loss by onlytwopolnts
to Goldsboro, the Gryphs can
only look forward to next year,
which with the fine returning
talent, should be a truly great
one.
Gryphs’ Stats
Player
G
Avg
Rb
Hardy
20
17.2
231
Speight
19
14.3
149
Howard
19
12.5
128
Bynum
20
8.1
91
Batts
20
8.0
68
Long
18
7.4
85
Thompson
19
4.5'
23
Raynor
17
2.5
71
Bulluck
17
1.8
12
Marshall
14
1.4
16
Sparrow
10
. 1.2
9
Dozier
6
0.5
4
%
Pete Thompson (no. 14) attempts to block shot against Green
ville in first game of tournament.
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