Gainey signs with Fayetteville State, Spivey picks Belmont Abbey

Rocky Mount High’s Michelle Gainey, left, and Keyanna Spivey on Wednesday at Rocky Mount High School. Gainey committed to play basketball at Fayetteville State University on Wednesday and Spivey committed to play basketball at Belmont Abbey College.

When it came to basketball, Michelle Gainey and Keyanna Spivey could always find each other.

It didn’t matter what age, it didn’t matter who had the ball, and it didn’t matter what part of the court they were on. They never had to look around.

“Michelle always knew where I was going to be, and I always knew where she was going to be,” Spivey said. “I don’t remember a point of us not being on the same page.

“We just always knew what we were going to do and what we were trying to do.”

The two paired as a dominant combination for Rocky Mount High, leading the Gryphons to a 22-4 record and a trip to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 3-A tournament. Now, they move on to the next step of their careers.

Both seniors signed to play college basketball on Wednesday. Gainey will join Fayetteville State, and Spivey is heading to Belmont Abbey.

Pam Gainey, Michelle’s mom and the Rocky Mount High girls’ coach for 20-plus season, has witnessed plenty of players move on to college programs. Emotions caught her as she watched her daughter and Spivey go through the signing celebration.

“It is definitely different,” Gainey said while fighting tears. “Watching them grow from the beginning, and they (former players) are all important. When all of them get to go, it is really why I got into coaching.

“. . . It is extremely important, but it is different because it is mine. Just having really watched the entire process, when she and Keyanna were really young.”

Michelle Gainey made the transition from the wing to the point this season. A naturally gifted passer, she paired her facilitator role with a nice mid-range game and provided speed at the head of Rocky Mount High’s fastbreak. She averaged 10 points, five rebounds and three assists per game.

The point guard hoped to play in college somewhere, just like her mother and father, Mike, did at East Carolina. In truth, she didn’t really think about Fayetteville State at first. Once she visited the school and attended a basketball game, her mind changed.

“The game had a lot of energy,” Michelle Gainey said. “The atmosphere persuaded me to go there.”

The Broncos (8-18, 6-10 CIAA) finished fourth in the Southern Division of the conference last season under first-year coach Serena King-Coleman.

Spivey powered around in the post this season, averaging 20 points and nine rebounds. She will join a Belmont Abbey program that reached an 11-17 record last season and finished seventh in Conference Carolinas. Spivey looked for a smaller setting to play in, and much like Michelle, got a good feeling from the school.

“They had the perfect setting and everything,” Spivey said. “Then, working out and everything, I love the coaches and the staff and players, and they just gave off good vibes.”

Pam Gainey said the girls understand the reality that they will no longer play together. And fortunately, they most likely won’t play each other unless it’s in a preseason or postseason tournament. The two enjoyed sharing the day together as the embark on their own journey.

“It is a really nice way to end it because we’ve been together since we were like 12,” Michelle Gainey said. “We’ve played together for a real long time.”

By ETHAN JOYCE
Sports Writer for Rocky Mount Telegram

Thursday, April 13, 2017