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You could call this Thirsty Thursday.
The mouths of area basketball fans are watering over tonight’s matchups.
Two games that are in-county and in-tense.
West Rowan at North Rowan in high school action.
Catawba College at Livingstone College.
Of course, the premier game is on the high school level, as it usually is around here.
West Rowan’s vaunted 3A machine rolls into Spencer to face another machine, the undefeated Cavaliers of Kelly Everhart.
West’s boys, losers only to South Rowan, are 6-1. North’s record stands at 4-0.
The hoopla of three unbelievable games last year has only feuled tonight’s matchup. So why isn’t West coach Mike Gurley allowing himself to get overly-excited?
West has already started his conference play. And now, right in the middle of two South Piedmont Conference outings, here is a powerful 2A neighbor foaming at the mouth to knock off the Falcons in a game that was scheduled a month ago but postponed due to both schools being in the playoffs.
“I’m looking forward to playing them,” said Gurley after his Falcons whipped Kannapolis Tuesday night. “Great. Super. But I’m not going to lie. It’s hard to play such a big rivalry in the middle of two major conference games.
“Think about it. Scott (Young, West’s football coach) didn’t have to do that. He played his nonconference games and then got into conference
“ I wish we’d have played North back on Nov. 28. We’re focused on the SPC.”
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Everhart, meanwhile, wouldn’t comment on tonight’s game. He’s probably heard enough about it. But his star, Bryan McCullough, talked to the Post after the Cavs’ rousing victory over East Rowan Wednesday night.
This is the talk of the season — West and the playoffs,” the 6-6 scoring machine said.
But West rested last night. North played. Will that have an effect tonight?
“We wanted to get this game over with so we’d have enough of our legs left,” McCullough said after a 71-49 win over the Mustangs.
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I wonder what South Rowan boys coach John Davis is thinking about this overabundance of North-West hoopla.
Probably something like, “What about us?”
South (5-4) won its third straight game last night, ripping Northwest Cabarrus. It has beaten West Rowan.
And North comes into the Davis Dome Friday night. And as much as people talk about West being a difficult place to play, never count out South in that gym in Landis.
Don’t think so? The Raiders are 5-0 at home. 0-fer away.
McCullough was worrying about his team’s legs for Thursday but you can bet in the back of Everhart’s mind, he’s wondering how strong those legs will be Friday against a Raider team that shoots incredibly well at home.
The Davis Dome is a fun place. The P.A. announcer gives play-by-play and gives “big Raider welcomes” to practically everyone who enters the place. The coed cheerleaders get that packed house of Raider Rowdies barking at the opponents, the refs ... man, it’s an experience.
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Oh yeah, did I mention Catawba’s men play at Livingstone tonight.
On another night, it might mean something in this county. But with everyone in Spencer, will anybody care about this college game between Division IIteams located a mile apart?
Catawba (4-1) is coming off its first loss of the season but it strong. Very strong.
Despite limited experience, Livingstone (0-7) has been quite entertaining under first-year coach Buck Joyner. And he is feeling pretty good right now. Sheldon Payne, Shaun Wiseman and Willie Rouse, three starters, have become eligible and will play against the Indians.
It’s just too bad there won’t be anyone there to see it. The students are gone home for the holidays and every other basketball fan should be filling North Rowan’s gym.
I am a basketball fan. Therefore, my mouth is watering about tonight. Isn’t yours?
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Steve Hanf and Mike London contributed to this article.
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Ronnie