Time is running out for the Rocky Mount High boys’ basketball team, and their schedule is of little help.

There’s no reason to hit the panic button — the Gryphons are leading the Big East Conference standings — but coach Mike Gainey wanted to have a stable rotation in place by now.

It is, after all, the last week of the regular season, and the Gryphons are playing three games in a four-day span.

“We’re still trying to put the puzzle together,” Gainey said after his squad defeated Southern Nash, 79-59, on Tuesday night. “The bench is giving me what I need. Trying to find a combination this late in the season ... I’m very uncomfortable with that.”

Rocky Mount bounced back from its first conference loss Friday at Wilson Fike, but it will face another big game tonight when third-place Wilson Hunt visits town in a makeup game from last week. The Gryphons (16-2, 7-1 Big East) will try to clinch at least a share of the regular-season title.

Tashawn Mabry (24 points) and William Young (16 points) led the way against Southern Nash, despite Gainey tinkering with his starting lineup again. Injuries and players moving in and out of the lineup have forced Gainey to make changes even in the final days of the regular season.

Southern Nash’s Josh Sessoms (24 points) and Kadeem Williams (23 points) kept Southern Nash close, but the Firebirds (3-14, 1-7 Big East) could not overcome small pockets of poor play.

The Gryphons scored 10 of the final 12 points of the first half to gain a 36-27 halftime lead. The home squad also opened the start of the fourth quarter with a run that put the game out of reach.

“They are hard to guard,” said Firebirds coach Robbie Kennedy, whose team gave up 109 points to Rocky Mount on Jan. 22. “Last time we didn’t play any defense. If they shoot the ball like that, they’re going to be real hard to beat.”

No matter the starting lineup.

GIRLS

Rocky Mount High 52Southern Nash 36

Much like their male peers, Rocky Mount’s girls’ squad needed to pick up its spirits after a loss Friday at Wilson Fike.

The Gryphons rebounded from their first conference loss in more than two seasons with a 52-36 victory over Southern Nash.

“It shows us we are vulnerable,” Rocky Mount coach Pam Gainey said of Friday’s defeat. “We have to go out every night and execute.”

Gainey said her players need to perform better in the opening minutes of games. Tuesday night’s contest highlighted that point.

The visiting Ladybirds, winless in Big East action, led by a point after the first eight minutes.

Southern Nash’s Shaleea Burns scored all nine of her points in the first quarter, but the Ladybirds (3-14, 0-8 Big East) did not keep pace with Rocky Mount.

The Gryphons began to score points off turnovers in the second quarter, and they did not trail the rest of the way.

Danita Whitaker led the Gryphons (15-3, 7-1 Big East ) with 16 points to help the squad remain atop the Big East Conference standings after Northern Nash’s upset of Wilson Fike.

Rocky Mount High 79

Southern Nash 59

SN 12 15 19 13 — 59

RMH 12 24 22 21 — 79

SN: Josh Sessoms (24 points); Kadeem Williams (23 points); Tony Willis (4 points); Andrew Gehring (4 points); Tevin Boykin (2 points); Charles Hill (2 points)

RMH: Tashawn Mabry (24 points); William Young (16 points); Detrail Jenkins (12 points); Vadall Bailey (7 points); Terrill Hilliard (6 points); Tevin Taylor (5 points); Darius McKnight (3 points); Kenyatta Bullock (3 points); Marcus Jones (2 points); Tacoby Hines (1 point)

GIRLS

Rocky Mount High 52

Southern Nash 36

SN 12 4 9 11 — 36

RMH 11 12 14 15 — 52

SN: Khadidjah Manning (11 points); Devonnie Hester (2 points); Logan McNinch (3 points); Valesha Brown (2 points); Shakira Burgess (2 points); Desiree Perry (2 points); Shaleea Burns (9 points); Amber Canady (5 points).

RMH: Latoya Applewhite (10 points); Marquita Hines (4 points); Amani Kipp (2 points); Tia Hudgins (11 points); Sharmeka Henderson (3 points); Kushunn Seabreeze (2 points); Timishia Walker (4 points); Danita Whitaker (16 points).

Jessie H. Nunery can be reached at 407-9959 or jhnunery@rmtelegram.com