Gryphons, Firebirds to play for Big East boys' title

Telegram photo / Adam Jennings / Sports Writer
Rocky Mount guard Kyle Barnhill drives to the basket against Northern Nash on Thursday during the Big East Conference tournament semifinal game at Wilson Fike High School.

Telegram photo / Adam Jennings / Sports Writer
Northern Nash forward Devontae Wiggins, right, attempts a last-second shot as Rocky Mount High forward Sherrod Greene, left, reaches to defend Thursday during the Big East Conference tournament semifinal game at Wilson Fike High School.

WILSON – Rocky Mount High spent a generous portion of its season getting little to no contribution from its guards on offense.

The Gryphons’ interior players could only do so much to make up for their deficiencies on the perimeter.

That issue, by all indications, appears to be a thing of the past.

Gryphons guards Emmanuel Spruill and Kyle Barnhill carried Rocky Mount High to a 55-53 nail-biting win over Northern Nash on Thursday night at Wilson Fike in the semifinals of the Big East conference tournament.

Rocky Mount High (7-14 overall) never trailed on Thursday, and the game was tied only once – at 2-2 in the opening minutes – but Northern Nash (12-11) made them work until the final buzzer.

Spruill, who made just three of 12 attempts from behind the arc in Rocky Mount High’s win at Northern Nash in the regular season finale on Feb. 13, got back on track from deep, scoring his game-high 15 on five 3s.

Barnhill carried the Gryphons in the third quarter with eight of his 13 points, all on short- and mid-range jumpers.

Demonte Williams led Northern Nash with 14 (10 in the third quarter).

“Coach (Mike Gainey), he’s been on me and Spruill to look for our shots more and take what they give us,” Barnhill said.

“I really have been wanting them to look to score more often,” Gainey added. “Kyle finally got going a little bit (Thursday). That little 10-to-15-footer, that’s his shot and one he’s worked really hard to develop.”

Northern Nash’s long, athletic forwards – Undray Cherry, Raymond Bullock and Isaiah ***, namely – made life difficult for Gryphons forwards Artavious Richardson, Latrell Daniels and Sherrod Greene in the paint.

The Knights’ defenders were able to block shots around the rim in Rocky Mount High’s halfcourt sets, though the Gryphons kept looking to work the ball inside.

Richardson was held to four points, all inside the final 40 seconds on four clutch free throws.

“The play that I was able to score on mostly was called ‘Gryphon,’ which is supposed to get guys shots on the inside,” Barnhill said, describing a half-court set where he catches the ball going toward the rim while coming off a screen near the elbow or free throw line. “But they had (Artavious) and Latrell covered up, so I had to make shots.”

After Spruill had pushed Rocky Mount High to a 26-19 halftime lead on the strength of his four 3s, it was Barnhill who helped hold off the Knights for another eight minutes.

Williams pulled the Knights within six with a 3 at the 5:47 mark of the third, but Barnhill was on hand to answer with a short jumper. Just over 40 seconds later, Williams got Northern Nash within five at 36-31 with a 3 from the wing, but Barnhill scored near the rim.

Isaiah *** countered at the other end with a layup seconds later, but Barnhill scored on the Gryphons’ next possession to prevent Northern Nash from putting together any sort of prolonged run.

“He gave us some big points at a time when we needed them to come from somewhere,” Gainey said. “I think Kyle sensed that someone had to take ownership.”

Spruill pushed the Gryphons to a 47-39 lead with 4:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, but Williams began Northern Nash’s late charge with a 3 from the corner 14 seconds later.

Cherry then converted a 3-point play with 3:32 to go after Barnhill missed the front end of a one-and-one. Barnhill answered Cherry’s and-one by knocking down one of two free throws, but Bullock pulled the Knights to within one at 48-47 with three minutes left.

The Knights had several chances to take their first lead of the evening over the next minute-plus.

The Gryphons turned over the ball with 2:50 left, but Cherry missed a runner; Greene committed an offensive foul at the 2:14 mark, but Northern Nash’s next possession came up empty.

Bullock again had the Knights trailing by one with two free throws, and Gryphons point guard Michael Vick drew Gainey’s ire by giving the ball back to Northern Nash on a charging foul with 1:28 remaining.

“We were ahead the whole way, but when it started to get crazy at the end, we rushed and it looked like we were playing from behind,” Gainey said. “(Vick), how about that kid, though? He had a great night for us.”

Northern Nash had two chances to take the lead or tie in the final 30 seconds, but Williams and Damian Moore eached missed 3s, allowing second-seeded Rocky Mount High to advance to tonight’s championship game.

By FOSTER LANDER

Sports Writer for Rocky Mount Telegram

Thursday, February 18, 2016