It’s only natural to think about pressing the West Rowan boys basketball team. You don’t notice a Scooter Dalton or a Scooter Sherrill to bring the ball up. Just a bunch of big guys.
So, coaches with any quickness at all watch the pregame warmups and muse, “Yeah, let’s press ‘em.”
Yeah, go ahead.
What Kannapolis coach Shelwyn Klutz found out Tuesday night in Bullock Gym was that West Rowan’s big guys are deceiving. They can handle the rock. They can beat the press. They can play unselfish basketball.
And in the process, they can beat the tar out of you. Ask the Wonders, who were thrashed, 63-41 in a clash of unbeaten South Piedmont Conference teams.
In dominating fashion, West (6-1, 4-0) used its height to perfection. The Falcons, led by 6-7 Donte Minter, 6-6 Phillip Williams and 6-6 Junior Hairston, threw over the Wonder pressure. They shot over the Wonder pressure. They played like there was no pressure at all.
“They’re a good basketball team,” whewed Klutz, whose Wonders (3-3, 2-1) lost its first South Piedmont Conference game of the year. “We tried to press them and they threw over it. Every time we tried to make a run, they’d hit some fastbreak layups. And when I saw Minter step out and hit a 3, I knew it was going to be a long night.”
Ah yes, Minter.
The junior monster mashed Kannapolis from every angle. He finished with 23 points. He was 10-of-13 from the field. He grabbed 14 rebounds. He blocked three shots.
Ho-hum.
“He’s just a good ballplayer, isn’t he? asked West coach Mike Gurley, who asks that practically every game.
Minter’s 3-pointer came late in the first quarter, giving West a 9-0 lead. It was 11-0 after eight minutes.
And according to Gurley, who is without his injured star defender Terris Sifford, West held the Wonders scoreless in a complete team effort.
“We’re real young,” he said. “Everything we do, we’re doing for the first time. And we’re shorthanded. We’d love to have T Sifford and what he brings to the table. So our five guys have to focus on defending together.”
The Falcons harassed Aundrae Allison into several missed shots and the first quarter woes had Klutz shaking his head.
“Our guys knew we had our hands full,” the dapper Wonder coach said. “We got confused and didn’t run our offense. And those guys are so big that, if you’re not shooting the ball well, you’re not going to get many second shots.”
Gurley realized early that his big people were clicking. If Minter wasn’t hitting Williams for layups, Williams was hitting him. When Hairston was streaking in for dunks, he was assisting the other two. Timmy Mauldin, who isn’t little at 6-3, was also stealing and feeding.
“It’s a funny team in the respect that our post men may be our best ballhandlers,” Gurley said. “But don’t disrespect Timmy or T.J. Gaither.”
Kannapolis did cut the early deficit to 13-6. But Vicco Barringer hit two baskets, Mauldin scored on a drive and Minter, Hairston and Horatio Everhart all scored for a 26-12 lead at halftime.
It was 44-28 after three quarters with Williams and Minter playing starring roles. A good pass from Williams to Minter gave West a 31-17 advantage. When Minter paid Williams back moments later with his own assist, West led 35-19. Williams then went in for a big slam and a layup.
No one doubted the outcome at this point. The only question was whether Minter would score his 1,000th point in the same gym that Sherrill did three seasons ago.
When he hit back-to-back baskets, West led 61-37 and he was four points away. He missed one easy shot opportunity by passing inside to a teammate and went to the bench to a loud ovation moments later.
Again, West’s trees had proven their all-around game.
“I’ve been around basketball a long time,” said Gurley, “and I see in college, guys 6-6, 6-7, 6-8 handling the ball. So my philosophy is, why relegate my height to the blocks? Bring it on down and play basketball.”
And if any other coaches out there feel they can press West Rowan’s trees? Those trees have a message for you.
Yeah, go ahead.
n
NOTES: Williams, a sophomore, had 12 points and five assists. ... Klutz was without 6-7 Gerrell McCrae, out for disciplinary reasons, and Jason Brown, out with a strained ligament. Brown is expected back at week’s end. ... West now goes to county rival North Thursday and meets Concord Friday.
WEST (63) — Minter 23, P. Williams 12, Hairston 9, Mauldin 6, Barringer 4, Gaither 4, Everhart 2, J. Williams 2, Diggs 1, Avery, Johnson, Pritchard, Goodnight, Trosper.
KANNAPOLIS (41)— Thomas 9, Allison 9, Caldwell 7, Collins 6, Barrier 2, Furr 2, Robinson 2, Blakeney 2, Miller 2.
West Rowan 11 15 18 19 — 63
Kannapolis 0 12 16 13 — 41
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