FRANKLINTON, N.C. – It wasn’t pretty, but Rocky Mount did what good teams do. Found a way to win.

The No. 23 ranked Gryphons led by a point after the first and second quarters, saw its three-point advantage through three evaporate, then downed late free throws to secure victory.

They failed to record a field goal in the fourth quarter but still escaped 34-33 winners at Franklinton, avenging a handful of losses to the Red Rams from a year ago.

Kira Jones and Keysha Mizzell hit three shots from the foul line in the final 40 seconds of regulation to break a 31-31 tie. Rocky Mount led by as many as seven in the period but Meredith Wilkins and Franklinton stormed back to pull even with 1:43 left on the clock.

The defensive struggle started with a 3-2 Red Ram lead for most of the opening quarter. Rocky Mount turned its defense into enough offense to jump ahead 9-8 after one. The two sides struggled to sink shots and played even into the halftime break at 16-15.

Late in the third, Wilkins dialed up a three to give the Red Rams a 22-21 lead. The Gryphons answered right back with a 6-2 run of their own to go ahead 27-24 at the end of three.

Free throws were the name of the game in the fourth quarter. With the foul count piling up, Rocky Mount attacked the basket relentlessly and opened up a lead as large as 31-24 moments into the fourth.

Wilkins got a tear drop to fall capping off the 7-0 run that would even the score at 31-31. Jones and Mizzell worked their way to the line to put the game on ice.

Rocky Mount is now 11-1 overall and 4-0 in the 2A/3A Big East Conference. The Gryphons travel to Northern Nash on Tuesday night. Franklinton is 6-6 (3-1) and has a quick turnaround on Saturday when it plays in an MLK showcase event.

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