Thursday, February 10,1977 — THE GRYPHON — Page Nine
Sporting
Views
By Clifton Barnes
First of all I predict Oakland over Minnesota in the
Super Bowl by the score of 32-14.
Girls’ basketball might be beginning to get the
recognition it deserves. Many Gryphoniollowers saw the
Lady Gryphs at West Edgecombe either to support them
or because they thought the varsity action began at 7:30.
But for whatever reason the Gryph fans were great
backing their girls. The excitement was such that I felt I
was watching the Big Four (that’s not Churchill,
Roosevelt, etc). The play was fierce and fantastic. Too
bad we lost.
The Gryphon basketball team has good, young talent in
two sophs and nine juniors. But... it will take the senior
leadership of Dennis Coit and Ricky (Blue) Mercer down
the stretch for the Gryphs to have a shot at the cham
pionship. I hope that is “Blue” Mercer. If not he’s getting
booed after dunk shots.
Some basketball fans were wondering why Hyman
Hunter wasn’t playing more. Hyman is a great shooter; I
believe he was out because his defense was lacking. It is
known that Coach Henderson stresses defense. Radio DJ
Paul Wagner asked Hyman “Why haven’t you been in the
line-up?” Hyman who had been sick stated “I’ve had the
flu.” All one can ask is “For a month?”
Injuries on the wrestling team have forced them to
f(H^eit in some weight classes. The two injuries (Ricky
White and Tony Barnes) are to the knee. Two glimmers in
a falling star are Ricky Sharpe in the 147 pound class and
Jeff Jones in the 140 class who, at this writing, were un
defeated.
Tennis and baseball teams are beginning practice. Both
squads lost a few seniors, but many experienced players
are coming back also. Each team should be competitive in
the conference. Thank goodness Goldsboro is not in the
division. We’ve lot to them so many times lately it’s un
believable. Maybe spring sports will break the Cougar
whammy. Gol^boro and Wilson are usuaUy hard to
handle in all sports. I understand that Wilson County is
conglomto into one big school. That would mean
more good athletes on one team. Is there no good news
anymore?
“Whiskey” Bill Kilmer said this past football season
“I’m throwing a harder wobble this year.” Well his passes
weren’t the only things “wobbling” as he lived up to his
nickname “whiskey” several weeks ago when he was
picked up for drunk driving. Recently Kilmer agreed to go
to a clinic in New Orleans (of all places) dealing with
alcohol.
In the “I told you so department,” Dave Cowens is in
deed back with the Celtics. Nine teams of my Top Ten
Basketball Poll are still in contention for #1. Avoiding my
bowl predictions, if you did not agree with my basketball
poll, send me your Top Ten and if I receive enough I will
compUe yours against mine (look in last issue fw CB
poU.)
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Where Feminine Loveliness Begins
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BATTLE SHOOTS A JUMPER — Jeffery Battle, junior forward, lets go an arching jumper,
while Buck Williams and Dennis Coit move for position underneath against conference foe
Bertie.
Gryphs Win 8 Straight
Coach Henderson’s Gryphons
played mediocre basketball in
the beginning of the season, but
with the start of the Holiday
tournament in Wilson the young
cagers began jell as a fine team.
The team was aided with two
young sharpe shooters Darlye
Lewis and Mike Lewis who have
blended in with the other
members of the squad.
The Gryphons began their
eight game winning streak in
the Holiday Tournament with a
victory over tough Elm City who
forced the game into overtime.
The following night the Gryp
hons faced Saratoga in tlie
finals. Saratoga kept up with the
Gryps the major part of the
game, but Henderson’s players
were just too much and
outlasted them 64 to 58.
The Wildcats were the next
Gryphon victim as the small 2-A
school could not keep up with
the running Gryphons. Willie
Tyson of the Wildcats attempted
to keep the Wildcats in the
game, but not even his hot hand
could save them.
The Gryphons came back
from 11 points in the third
quarter against Hillside to
insure their fourth straight win.
Trailing by 8 points at half the
Gryphs unleashed an aggressive
defense that contained the
Hornets. Lead by Buck Wil
liams’ 19 points and 23
rebounds the Gryphons out
battled the Hornets and
Anthony Myles’ 20 points by a
score of 73 to 70.
Against Durham Senior it
took Mike Lewis’ clutch free
throw with two seconds to go to
seek the victory for the
Gryphons. With Buck Williams
and Jeffery Battle on the bench
with five fouls apiece, the game
looked in doubt, but once again
the bench, Mike Lewis and
Dennis Coit came through to
lead the Gryphons to an exciting
The Gryphons opened their
conference schedule with an
away game at Greenville. They
came away with an 83-69
victory.
On January 15, the Gryphons
travelled to West Edgecombe
for a triple-header. Here they
came away with a 72-58 victory.
After the victory at West
Edgecombe, the Gryphs re
turned home to face conference
foe Northeastern. This was an
exciting game characterized by
dunks. "Buck” had six dunks as
the Gryphs waltzed away with
an 89-74 defeat.
The next game on the
schedule for the Gryphs was a
home game against Bertie. The
Gryphons could find no way to
stop the sharp-shooting of a
Bertie guard and were stung in
a 68-59 defeat.
The game between the
Gryphons and Northern Nash
was a typical contest between
two arch rivals. Northern
quickly jumped to an early lead,
and at one point led by 10
points. As the second half
opened. Northern continued to
stretch their leads, and the
Gryphs could find no way to stop
the sharpshooting Battle of
Northern. Midway through the
third period Northern held a 13
point lead, and the Gryphs
began their move. By the end of
that period, the lead had been
cut to five points. As the fourth
period began, the Gryphs
opened with a zone defense and
reeled off six points to take the
lead. From then on the game
seesawed back and forth until
“Buck” hit two free-throws with
only seconds remaining. High
point man for the “Gryphs” was
Battle with 17 points. The
victory placed Senior High in a
tie with Northern for first place
in Division I.
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