After loss, Minter not overjoyed with milestone

SPENCER — Donte Minter joined Rowan County’s 1,000-point club Thursday night, but the West Rowan basketball star was low-key about his accomplishment.

“It’s pretty good,” said West’s 6-foot-7 junior center, who scored four points in the opening quarter to reach the 1,000 mark. He had 22 for the night, giving him 1,018 for his three-year varsity career.

Minter wasn’t overly excited partly because his team had just lost a 60-56 thriller at North Rowan. Not many players in county history have reached 1,000 as juniors, but he said it wasn’t a goal when the season started.

“It was just something that was going to happen any way it goes. I just try to come out and play every night,” said the soft-spoken big man.

Minter, hampered by foul trouble, played the equivalent of three quarters and rallied the Falcons to within two points after going back into the game with 6:30 to play. He had two first-quarter fouls, another in the second period and a fourth in the opening seconds of the third quarter.

“I know I will never get in foul trouble like that any more,” he said.

Coach Mike Gurley of West praised Minter for reaching 1,000.

“I’m very happy for Donte. He can play. He’s the best player in this county.He may be the best player in a 20-county region. He’s a Division I basketball player. He made about five or six DivisionI moves tonight, getting fouled at the same time. He’s a ballplayer,” said the West coach.

Coach Kelly Everhart of North said, “He’s a talented young man. There’s not too many people that have that luxury inside.”

North point guard Dre Byrd was elated with his team’s victory, but also praised Minter.

“He’s a great basketball player. I think he’s probably going to be the next person to score 2,000 points. He’s not going to do anything but get better. I figured he would get 1,000, but I didn’t mind, because we got the win,” said the North senior.

Minter’s former teammate, Scooter Sherrill, now a freshman on the N.C. State team, holds the West and Rowan County records with 2,469 career points.

Other West Rowan players who have made the elite 1,000 list include former Falcon stars Joel Fleming (1,357), Alphonso Keaton (1,251), Roger McSwain (1,138), Chavis Cowan (1,026), Paul Cuthbertson (1,009) and Toby Brown (1,008).