2011-12 BOYS' BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Hilliard reappears at the perfect times

By Justin Hite | April 14, 2012 - 7:32pm

More than the points, the rebounds or the assists, Rocky Mount High forward Terrill Hilliard’s season was defined by two noticeable absences.

2011-12 ALL-AREA GIRLS' BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR: The Reserved and the Ruthless

By Nick Piotrowicz | April 13, 2012 - 10:16pm

J’Kyra Brown isn’t always so shy. Sure, she’s usually reserved around people she doesn’t know well.

2011-12 ALL AREA WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Huff rises to state contender

By Justin Hite | April 12, 2012 - 11:12pm

Reggie Huff had a simple plan for this season: Improve. Huff was a decent wrestler last season.

2011-12 ALL-AREA BOYS' SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Nash Central's late-blooming star

By Nick Piotrowicz | April 11, 2012 - 10:39pm

Decisive conclusions don’t often come from such whimsical beginnings.

2011-12 ALL-AREA GIRLS' SWIMMER OF THE YEAR: Tarboro's Harris not satisfied, but still succeeds

By Justin Hite | April 10, 2012 - 5:30pm

Tarboro junior Chandler Harris knew long before the NCHSAA 2-A   state meet that she wasn’t going to meet expectations.

2011 ALL-AREA FOOTBALL: Gurley carries Tarboro to title

By Justin Hite | December 23, 2011 - 6:27pm

TARBORO - Vikings running back Todd Gurley has it all. He’s The Associated Press and ncpreps.com player of the year in North Carolina.

2011 ALL-AREA FOOTBALL: Hendricks dominates on both sides

By Nick Piotrowicz | December 23, 2011 - 6:27pm

In one game as a freshman, quarterback Jalen Hendricks snapped the ball on a triple option, faked to the fullback, ran wide of the tackle, then sprinted past the entire defense for a touchdown longer than 50 yards.

2011 ALL-AREA BOYS' SOCCER: Gonzalez thrives in soccer's open style

By Nick Piotrowicz | December 23, 2011 - 5:40pm

BAILEY - Soccer’s beauty lies in its simplicity.

2011 ALL-AREA VOLLEYBALL: Hudgins draws inspiration from her sister

By Nick Piotrowicz | December 22, 2011 - 11:35pm

The youngest of three, Tia is the baby of the Hudgins family, and being a Hudgins at Rocky Mount High means expectations.

2011 ALL-AREA GIRLS' TENNIS: Price sisters lead Bulldogs together

By Justin Hite | December 22, 2011 - 12:37am

The first question was an easy one. Who is better? “We go back and forth,” Kaley Price said.

2011 ALL-AREA GIRLS' GOLF: No team, no problem for Vikings' King

By Justin Hite | December 21, 2011 - 12:13am

The loneliness of golf reached Tarboro’s Katie King the deepest this season. The practices by herself. Relishing in victories on her own. Struggling on the course, alone.

2011 ALL-AREA BOYS' CROSS COUNTRY: Patel's new routine leads him to the front

By Jessie H. Nunery | December 20, 2011 - 12:13am

Southern Nash’s Nepolian Patel was a product of his school’s cross country environment two years ago. The Firebirds fielded a cross country team, but there were no exceptional peers to learn from or a solid offseason distance program to follow.

2011 ALL-AREA GIRLS' CROSS COUNTRY: Michae'la Williams kindly runs ahead of the pack

By Jessie H. Nunery | December 18, 2011 - 8:59pm

Michae’la Williams lets others know her personality with relative ease. The Nash Central sophomore usually is smiling, and her mood is as easy-going as the graceful strides she takes on the cross country course.

ALL-AREA BATTER OF THE YEAR: Berry is a pillar of the program

By Justin Hite | July 3, 2011 - 9:25pm

Two on, two out in the top of theseventh against Nash Central and Matthew Berry needed a hit.

ALL-AREA PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Moss is an ace of all trades

By Justin Hite | July 3, 2011 - 9:22pm

When Rocky Mount High pitcher Benton Moss goes to lunch with his friends, his 92-mile per hour fastball isn’t a topic of conversation.

ALL-AREA BATTER OF THE YEAR: Braswell is older, wiser

By Jessie H. Nunery | July 2, 2011 - 6:14pm

N orthern Nash’s Betsy Braswell clearly was fed up.

ALL-AREA SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Bass is under control

By Jessie H. Nunery | July 2, 2011 - 6:07pm

If Nash Central righthander Grayson Bass was ever concerned about replacing her school’s most decorated pitcher, she didn’t show it this season.

ALL-AREA GIRLS' SOCCER: Glover's change of voice

By Jessie H. Nunery | July 1, 2011 - 6:54pm

F rom a physical standpoint, Northern Nash goalkeeper Ally Glover is exactly what a girls’ soccer coach looks for in a player.

ALL-AREA BOYS' GOLF: Warren plays the mental game of golf

By Nick Piotrowicz | June 30, 2011 - 8:57pm

Rob Warren is particularly fond of a famous quote from golf legend Bobby Jones.

ALL-AREA BOYS' TENNIS: Just a friendly rivalry

By Nick Piotrowicz | June 29, 2011 - 10:57pm

Sports fan frenquently hear how friendship takes the true competitive spirit out of sports.

ALL-AREA BOYS' TRACK & FIELD: Gurley's perfect season

By Justin Hite | June 28, 2011 - 7:11pm

A few centimeters cost Tarboro High School’s Todd Gurley the 100-meter hurdles title last season.

ALL-AREA GIRLS' TRACK & FIELD: Bass’ mess of memories

By Nick Piotrowicz | June 27, 2011 - 7:08pm

Xaviera Bass can’t fight the smile when she cleans her room.

ALL-AREA BOYS' BASKETBALL: Harrell walks tall in Leggett

By Jessie H. Nunery | April 23, 2011 - 10:03pm

North Edgecombe’s Montrezl Harrell is not the average high school junior.

ALL-AREA GIRLS' BASKETBALL: Brown tears up the court

By Justin Hite | April 22, 2011 - 7:44pm

J’Kyra Brown didn’t think her ACL would ever tear.

ALL-AREA WRESTLING: Breakfast matters to Marshall

By Trevor Seibert | April 21, 2011 - 8:38pm

Northern Nash senior T.J. Marshall almost missed his chance to become one of the better wrestlers the Twin Counties ever had seen.