High school basketball on a Monday night at the Bob Sawyer Gymnasium. Monday seems to be a strange day for hoops but with Grimsley AD Lewis Newman anything is going to be possible and since Wayne Butler the Grimsley girls assistant coach had told me earlier that the Grimsley-Southeast Guilford game was a must-see, I had to check this one out.
Both Grimsley teams were winners over SEG for a Whirlie sweep and the girls game was actually closer most of the way than the boys contest because in the men’s matchup it was all Grimsley in a blowout over the Falcons. For the girls it was the Whirlies off and running and then Trumae Lucas got into foul trouble and the next thing you know we have the Falcons making this an 18-16 battle with the Whirlies up by only two.
The Grimsley girls got their act together and with Amber Cook, Krystin Fields, Jasmine Alston and Nicole Hargraves all pulling in the same the direction the Whirlies went on a 12-0 run to go up 30-16 and they had this game in hand. Amy Beasley, Haley Hackett, and Paris Alston looked solid for SEG, but they, like many other teams, will not have enough fire power to keep up with Grimsley this season. (Grimsley over SEG 55-34.)
The boys game was never in doubt as Grimsley came out and took over early and never had to look back. JB Beloved is setting the tone for the team at his point guard spot and Jonathan Leonard is playing great defense just like his brother Travis used to play for Greensboro Day. David Dupont is smooth as ever and the inside game looks to be in good shape with Christian Tonkins and Big Keith Manley. Southeast has Trey Artis, Ricky Ellison, James Pegues and few others but to be completely honest with you, Southeast is not hittng on much right now.(Grimsley over SEG 69-28.)
There was a good crowd at the Sawyer Gym and they saw two good games if they were Whirlie fans. I sat over there with Jim Gentry, Jim Brogdon, and Ron Davidson and we also saw Delaney Rudd, Clavon Ingram, Rex Tonkins, Marlin Smith Sr., David Dupont Sr., Mike Leonard, Tom Shalley, Carl the custodian, Moses the rod-bearer, and former Grimsley boys basketball coach Bill Walton was in the house.
Grimsley goes to Ragsdale tonight in what will be a huge test for the boys and remember WS Reynolds will be at Page on Wednesday. Also set for this evening December 4 in the County are SWG at NEG, WG at Southern Guilford, GW Danville at Smith, and HPC at Mt. Tabor.
Andy you should come to Jamestown tonight if you want to see a better game. Ragsdale is playing some exciting ball this season with the Canty brothers and Wally Jones lighting up the scoreboard. Should be a good game with Grimsley.
Mark, I may be heading that way.