Northern Nash boys, Rocky Mount High girls still undefeated in the Big East

Rocky Mount High School’s Detrell Revis, left, jumps up to stop Northern Nash’s Darius Spragley’s layup at Northern Nash High School on Tuesday.
©TELEGRAM PHOTO / SARAH LOUYA

Rocky Mount High’s Spencer Ramsey, left, pushes past Northern Nash’s Raymond Bullock III at Northern Nash High School on Tuesday.
©TELEGRAM PHOTO / SARAH LOUYA

Northern Nash’s Tyra Cuthchin, left, Rocky Mount High’s Keyanna Spivey and Northen Nash’s Markela Avent reach for the ball at Northern Nash High School on Tuesday.
©TELEGRAM PHOTO / SARAH LOUYA

Henry Drake tells his players to take a jumper if they feel confident about it. Devontae Wiggins did just that on Tuesday.

Wiggins scored eight points in the fourth quarter for Northern Nash to keep breaking up ties with Rocky Mount High, drilling two key 3-pointers that sent Knights fans into hysterics. The sophomore found the ball in his hand often in the closing moments of the 72-71 Knights win.

“I just wanted to help the team out as much as I can,” Wiggins said. “We knew we had to finish strong.”

Northern Nash (17-2, 5-0 Big East) watched a lead that reached 15 points slowly wither. Rocky Mount clinched down the Knights’ attack down with a full-court press. The Gryphons also began shredding through Northern Nash’s zone. Rocky Mount tied the game at 47 just before the third quarter ended. The back-and-forth battle took off from there.

Artavious Richardson started the fourth quarter with two free throws to level the contest before Wiggins took off. First, he worked around for a layup to put Northern Nash ahead. Then he drew a foul and hit two free throws. He blocked a shot the following possession that spawned a Darius Spragley jumper. Northern Nash appeared to be pulling away.

But Rocky Mount’s Joseph Blue nailed two consecutive jumpers to tie it again. Wiggins responded with a 3 right in front of Drake, who began pumping his fists. The Gryphons’ forced a turnover and found Spencer Ramsey for a corner 3 to tie it. Wiggins pulled up from the top of the key and hit another. The crowd went berserk. Northern Nash never relinquished the game from there despite Rocky Mount’s last push.

“For a sophomore, and to hit those two big 3s,” Drake said, “It was just rhythm. He had the touch.

“Everybody on the team knows if they have a good look, take it. He had two good looks, and he took them.”

Northern Nash rushed out to an early lead through its transition game. Rocky Mount eventually found a way to slow it down. Drake said you also saw the Gryphons attacking the basket more in the second quarter. That was personified by Blue, who rattled off 8 points that quarter and finished the game with 20. He bullied his way around and created havoc for the Knights’ lengthy frontcourt.

Rocky Mount coach Mike Gainey said he thought his team had been fighting to find its identity. Even though Tuesday resulted in a loss, he thinks the Gryphons (6-7, 2-3 Big East) came out with good results.

“This is going to sound crazy, but it is a proud loss,” Gainey said. “I am so proud of how the guys played because we’ve been trying to find ourselves all season. And to come off against a great team like this and we’re right there in it and we are one shot away and played together as a team? I am so happy right now.”

Northern Nash has made it through the first leg of Big East play undefeated, holding a one-game advantage over second-place Nash Central. He thinks things can still improve, but Drake is content with where his team is right now.

“I am glad I am part of this, especially at this part of the season,” Drake said. “. . . This is a darn good basketball team.

“They played their heart out. Our fans kept us in there even when we felt like we didn’t have any legs. What an atmosphere tonight.”

GIRLS

Rocky Mount 46

Northern Nash 21

After Tuesday night’s 46-21 victory against Northern Nash, Rocky Mount High (12-2, 5-0 Big East) sat in control of its conference.

But an undefeated start does nothing for them if the Gryphons settle. That is what head coach Pam Gainey stresses to her team every day.

“We’ve got to buckle down and play twice as hard now,” Gainey said. “Or it could mean absolutely nothing. We will take whatever we can get, but we’ve got to go twice as hard now.”

The dedication Gainey wants to see from her team poured out of senior post players Keyanna Spivey against Northern Nash. She rattled off 23 points and dug into the paint all game. She had 11 in the first quarter on 4-of-5 shooting, and she helped closed down the game with 8 in the fourth.

“The example she sets on that floor is tremendous,” Gainey said. “She is not a loud person, and she doesn’t say much, but she doesn’t have to with that effort.”

Gainey filtered in players all game. Eleven Gryphons saw playing time. The coach hopes it builds confidence and creates continuity within her squad.

“In this atmosphere, hopefully it will help us,” Gainey said. “I still told the girls today the way we run our system, no matter who is in, we’ve got to get the mindset that it still could go smoothly and it should.

“I need some other players to step up and be confident, and that will make the whole system work.”