WHAT A GAME. Northern Nash High School alum Isaiah Gay (right) competed in the longest college football game ever this season as the Illini won in nine overtimes at Penn State.

NASH COUNTY -- During the off-season, Isaiah Gay was given the option to return to the University of Illinois football program for one more campaign as a fifth-year senior due to COVID-19 rules put into place by the National Collegiate Athletic Association.
Gay, a Northern Nash High School alum, accepted the chance -- not knowing he would become part of history.

SURVEYING THE SCENE. Northern Nash\'s Roncellis Marshall (right) looks for an open teammate during last Friday\'s road league contest at Bunn.

BUNN -- Northern Nash and Bunn have been facing off on the basketball court for years, but last Friday night marked the inaugural meeting between the two schools as conference foes.
In what was an ugly game riddled with turnovers and shooting woes, it was the Northern Nash Knights who emerged victorious, squeaking out a 53-49 win over the Wildcats in Big East Conference action at the Bunn Dome.

NN\'S SHAVASHTI MERCER LOOKS TO PASS THE BALL INTO THE PAINT

BUNN -- Not since the Whitney Bunn-Alexus Hill days of over one decade ago had Bunn and Northern Nash met in girls basketball action.
But judging by the intensity of last Friday's showdown between the schools, this rivalry might be heating up again -- now in the ultra-competitive Big East Conference.

STANHOPE -- Southern Nash won't be traveling too far to take part in a holiday basketball tournament this year.
The Firebirds' boys and girls will both be making the quick journey to Wilson County for the annual Wilson Christmas Tournament at Hunt High School.
Action will begin on December 28 and run through the championship contests on December 30.

ROCKY MOUNT -- The North Carolina Wesleyan College men's basketball team won a thriller against rival Averett University by a score of 66-61 last Saturday afternoon in the Bishops' Conference USA South opener on the NCWC campus.
Senior wing Damon McDowell led all scorers with 26 points on 9 of 15 shooting overall with 4 three-pointers while also grabbing 6 rebounds, with one assist and one steal.

NORTHERN NASH HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMER ANDREW ZIPKO

ROCKY MOUNT -- The Big East Conference swim scene will be a bit different this winter as Nash Central has moved into the competitive league, while usually-tough Wilson Fike and Wilson Hunt have moved on.
Roanoke Rapids, another school with a solid pool pedigree, will also join the Big East, but the eight-team conference will convene just one time during the regular season to go with a campaign-ending league championship.

WILSON -- The Wilson Tubs are currently offering a 'Miracle on Stadium Street' package for the 2022 Coastal Plain Baseball League season.
The package includes 14 game tickets, a $10 Fleming Stadium gift card and a mystery Tobs item.
Cost is $75 per package.

Northern Nash's Indiya Spooner (with ball) makes her way to the basket.

University of Illinois standout Isaiah Gay from Northern Nash celebrates after making a big play during the Illini's nine-overtime win at Penn State.

Northern Nash High School's Amaya Davis dribbles away from the Bunn defense during last Friday night's Big East Conference girls basketball matchup in Franklin County.

Illinois' Isaiah Gay from Northern Nash rushes the passer during a victory this season against the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.

Northern Nash's Sean Phillilps (right) elevates for a basket during last Friday night's road victory at Bunn High School in Big East Conference boys basketball action.