Mabry tallies 36 in win over Wilson Fike

February 12, 2009

Rocky Mount High School


 - Rocky Mount's Tashawn Mabry

By Paul Durham
Wilson Daily Times

ROCKY MOUNT -- Jeremy Atkinson and Tashawn Mabry put on quite a show for their respective Fike and Rocky Mount varsity boys basketball teams Tuesday night on the Gryphons' floor.

However, it was Mabry's supporting cast that proved to be the difference in the second half as Rocky Mount overcame a 10-point halftime deficit to win going away 94-83 and split the NEW 6 season series.

The friends, who played on the same Wilson-based AAU team a few years ago, each notched 36 points in a display of one-upsmanship on the Gryphons' Senior Night.

"I think the people who paid got their money's worth tonight seeing Jeremy and Tashawn go at it," Fike head coach George Drawhorn said. "They're two great kids."

Atkinson, a 6-foot-4 senior, added seven rebounds and five steals to his totals as scouts from Winston-Salem State University and Elon University watched.

Mabry, a 6-5 junior, added eight rebounds and five blocks despite battling a cold.

"He was sick. I was trying to get everybody to push the ball but we started slowing it down and that didn't work," said Atkinson, who added: "I love playing in Rocky Mount. My dad's from here and we have lots of friends and family here."

But the Gryphons benefited mightily from the contributions of Nick Hahula, Philip Wilkins and Alonzo Sharpe as they ended the Golden Demons' hopes of a share of the 3-A NEW 6 Conference regular-season crown.

Hahula drilled three 3-pointers in the second quarter to keep Rocky Mount (12-10 overall, 5-4 NEW 6) close when Fike threatened to run the Gryphons off their floor. Wilkins grabbed 14 rebounds, part of the Gryphons' 41, while Sharpe iced the Demons by hitting 8 of 11 free throws in the fourth quarter.

Fike, which shot 51 percent (21 of 41) in the first half, rang up 30 points in the second quarter but needed the whole second half to match that sum.

"Well, I think we got out of our game plan because we shot our way out of it the second half," Drawhorn surmised. "If we'd been able to get the ball inside, it probably would have been a different story tonight."

Conversely, it was the Gryphons who found their defensive footing and offensive rebounding after intermission.

"That's one thing we're trying to get our kids to understand that we need to allow them one shot at the basket and I think in the second half, that was the key," Rocky Mount head coach Mike Gainey said.

Gainey also pointed to his players' tendency to move out of position playing help defense as the reason for Fike's many forays into the lane in the first half.

"We told the guys to stop helping and just stay in front of your guy," Gainey said. "They were playing that "matador defense," we call in. You look like you're playing but you ain't doing nothing!"

Rocky Mount slowly sliced into Fike's 53-43 halftime lead in the third quarter. The Gryphons drew within 62-60 at the 3:20 mark but a pair of Atkinson layup gave the Demons a 68-63 cushion by the end of the quarter.

But Rocky Mount would open the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run behind Wilkins and Mabry to lead 74-70. Fike trailed 74-73 when Atkinson canned 1 of 2 foul shots with 4:38 to play.
Mabry then sandwiched a dunk and a layup around a Fike missed 3-pointer before converting a three-point lead for an 81-73 cushion with 3:08 to go. The Demons would get no closer than six points as Rocky Mount sank 11 of 12 free throws to seal the victory.

The Gryphons had seven offensive rebounds and nine second-chance points in the final quarter while Fike managed just one offensive rebound and finished with 31 total caroms.

Sharpe had 18 points while Hahula added 11. Senior Darrus Parker tallied 14 points for Fike, all in the first half, while sophomore Mike Davender netted 13.

The Demons finish the regular season at Southern Nash on Friday assured of the No. 2 spot.

"One good thing about it, we still have second secured," Drawhorn reminded. "I'm glad we're that far out in the league."


BOYS  

Rocky Mount 94, Wilson Fike 83  

WF  23 - 30 - 15 - 15 - 83
RM  23 - 20 - 20 - 31 - 94  

Wilson Fike (14-5, 6-3) - Jeremy Atkinson (36 points), Michael Davender (13 points), Darrius Parker (12 points), A.J. Hines (11 points), Lewis (4 points), Davis (3 points), Jones (2 points), Jeannition (2 points).  

Rocky Mount (12-10, 5-4) - Tashawn Mabry (36 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 blocks), Alonzo Sharpe (18 points, 7 assists), Nick Hahula (11 points), Williams (9 points), Wilkins (8 points, 14 rebounds), T. Jones (2 points, 8 assists), Bullock (3 points), Parker (2 points), M.Jones (2 points), Brown (1 point)  

GIRLS  

Rocky Mount 52, Wilson Fike 47  

WF   6 - 14 - 15 - 12 - 47
RM   5 - 10 - 17 - 20 - 52  

Wilson Fike (12-7, 4-5) - Tramicka Jones (10 points), Jameka Thompson (10 points), Pruden (7 points), Perry (6 points), Hall (6 points), Finch (3 points), Langley (2 points), Turnage (2 points), Sigmon (1 point).  

Rocky Mount (17-4, 9-0) - Dyonna Battle (18 points), Lakia Bynum (13 points), Arkeneshia Melton (13 points), Whitaker (4 points), Farmer (4 points), Hudgins (3 points).