West boys claim SPC crown

BY RONNIE GALLAGHER
SALISBURY POST

The Falcons avoided a second-half ambush by Sun Valley and won going away 77-62, clinching the South Piedmont Conference title for the third time in Mike Gurley’s three years as coach.

West was practically flawless in the first half, running out to a 20-point halftime lead before allowing the Spartans to creep within three in the fourth period.

And that’s where all of those championships and all of that West Rowan basketball tradition took over. The Falcons finished the game on a 19-7 run that gave them their 21st victory in 22 games.

More importantly, the win upped West’s SPC mark to 15-0, two games ahead of second place Central Cabarrus (12-2, 17-4) with one game remaining — at Central Friday night.

“I love it,” beamed 6-7 sophomore Donte Minter, who finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. “This is my second year in a row winning it. This just shows we’re a strong team — as strong as last year.”

Sun Valley was coming off an upset win over Central Cabarrus last week and wanted to play giant-killer again Tuesday. But early on, Minter and Scooter Sherrill made sure that wouldn’t happen.

Sherrill, who scored 23 of his 33 points in the first half, converted twice on fastbreak layups immediately following a snuff from long-armed, wide-body Minter. A Terris Sifford steal led to Sherrill’s fourth straight basket and when Frankie Williams scored on a rebound basket at the first quarter buzzer, the Falcons were up 19-12.

Defense was the key as Gurley’s aggressive press worked time and again. It neutralized guard Richard Barrett and center Kenny Hammond, who combined for just three points in the first eight minutes.

“That’s our team defense,” said Gurley, who admitted he wanted a helter-skelter game. “We had five guys running around fighting and scrapping.”

It turned into a laugher as soon as the second quarter began.

Before the teams even took the floor, Sun Valley coach Quinton Toxey charged the refs and was tagged with a technical foul. Sherrill hit both free throws and then bombed a 3-pointer and just like that, West had doubled the score, leading 24-12.

It got worse.

Sherrill and Minter took turns scoring and Tim Mauldin got in on the act with a long 3-pointer. When Sherrill converted a three-point play, it was 41-17 and West eventually carried a 43-23 lead into the locker room at halftime.

“We were down 20 but I didn’t feel like we were down that much,” said Toxey, who planned his ambush on Indian Trail. “We had a lot of open shots but we just didn’t finish. We couldn’t remember hitting an outside shot in the first half.”

Jonathan Knick, Will Winchester and Jason Orbison began popping three-pointers once the second half started and Sun Valley outscored West 22-8 in the third period. It was suddenly a game again going into the fourth, 51-45.

“We came out flat and that’s probably due to being up 20,” Gurley said. “There’s no mystery to that. But we have to put people away. How many times do you have Sun Valley in that position? I’ve never had them in that spot here.”

The West faithful were holding their breath when Sun Valley crept within 58-55 with 3:52 left in the game.

It had been a 32-12 Spartan rally.

“Sun Valley had just beaten Central and we expected them to be hyped,” said Sherrill. “We knew they were going to make a run. We didn’t know they were going to make a run like that, though.”

“Ican’t explain it,” shrugged Dalton. “We lost our focus and they took advantage of it.”

“Defense is what got us in that position and our defense went away from us in the third quarter,” said Gurley. “I felt like N.C. State against Maryland last Sunday afternoon. We missed shots we normally make and let them make one or two open shots. That’s all it takes. It was the snowball effect.”

But championship teams play like champions. Sun Valley would not score another basket until 29 seconds were left in the game. By that time, West led 75-56 on an impressive 17-1 surge.

“That’s a credit to these kids,” said Gurley. “They stood up and defended the last three minutes.”

Especially Sifford, who kept the explosive Barrett under wraps during that time.

“(Knick) and (Orbison) were shooting well but for them to win, they had to go through (Barrett),” Gurley said. “T Sifford face-guarded him and kept the ball out of his hands. I thought he did a wonderful job.”

The Scooters combined for 15 fourth-period points, eight by Sherrill, who went 6-for-6 from the stripe.

“We knew the conference championship was on the line,” Sherrill said. “We just tried to stay focused. West has always had great athletes and we have a great coach.”

And a third straight title in one of the state’s best 3A leagues is pretty great too.

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NOTES: Sun Valley fell to 7-6 and 9-9. ... Sherrill was a perfect 11-for-11 from the foul line. ... In his last three games, Sherrill is averaging 37 points. ... Dalton scored all 11 points in the second half. ... Sun Valley was just six of 14 from the line in the final quarter. Hammond was 1-for-8. He missed 10 of 16 for the game. ... West will be the top seed going into next week’s league tourney.

WESTROWAN (77) — Sherrill 33, Minter 15, Dalton 11, Sifford 6, F. Williams 4, White 3, Mauldin 3, Everhart 2, Trosper, Goodnight, P. Williams, Mattox, Barringer, Diggs, Hyde.

SUNVALLEY (62) — Barrett 15, Hammond 14, Knick 13, Winchester 7, Orbison 7, Alexander 6.

West Rowan 19 24 8 26 — 77

Sun Valley 12 11 22 17 — 62