West Rowan’s Falcons, who had earlier wrapped up the South Piedmont Conference boys basketball title, downed second-place Central Cabarrus 71-60 here Friday for a 16-0 league mark.

West’s 1973 North Piedmont Conference champions also went 16-0, while the 1994 club posted a 14-0 mark in the Yadkin Valley Conference.

“We had to take care of some unfinished business,” said senior forward Frankie Williams, who matched his career high with 17 points.

West had defeated Central Cabarrus in the season’s first meeting at West on Jan. 11 by 66-58 in overtime, and the Falcons knew coach Scott Brewer’s Vikings were gunning for an upset again this time.

“There was an attitude brought from that last game that they were going to give us their shot on their home court,” said coach Mike Gurley of West. “Our kids responded well.”

The Falcons, 22-1 overall, had to respond in a packed gym in a contest that had a tournament championship atmosphere. It was extremely warm, players sweated profusely and damp spots had to be dried up often. Topping it off, it was an extremely physical game.

West’s star guard, Scooter Sherrill, was exhausted after scoring 18 points — none in the opening quarter.

“Once we got up by a lot of points, we knew it was going to be real physical, because they came out real intense,” Sherrill said of the Vikings (13-3, 18-5). “They wanted this game bad. They’re a good team. It was a good game.”

Center Donte Minter (16) and forward Terris Sifford (15) were other West scoring leaders.

The final 11-point margin of victory was a little misleading. The Falcons led by 23 several times in the final quarter.

Central guard Jeremiah Buck hit three late 3-pointers, and the Vikings cut the deficit to 10 in the closing seconds.

“We were up 20 at Sun Valley the other night (Tuesday’s 77-62 win), and we were up three with three and a half to go,” pointed out Gurley. “Knowing how good Central Cabarrus is, we had to make sure we had the runs. I think they had the run one time where they scored four or six, then, boom, I think we came back and made a 6-0 or 8-0 run. When you get up on somebody, you don’t play to maintain that lead. You’ve got to play to try to continue to win. Tonight, with the pressure off for already having the conference championship, we said, ‘Play to win, and make some runs.’ We had great focus.”

Both teams struggled early with a combined 15 first-quarter turnovers, and West trailed 11-10. The 6-7 Minter had been most of West’s offense with six points. Sherrill had taken only one shot.

Sherrill picked up the pace in the second period with five points plus four big rebounds, and the slender 6-6 Williams — usually not a double-figure scorer — had seven points. He made back-to-back baskets for an 11-point lead, and the Falcons were up 28-17 at halftime.

Then Sherrill and Sifford, the team’s defensive ace, broke it open in the third period with eight points apiece. West was in complete command with a 51-31 lead.

“They were really good and active defensively early,” said Central’s Brewer. “They really hurt us on the boards, and they got every loose ball. The referees let them play a little bit more here than they did at their place too, which was fine. ... It was real physical under the basket.”

Gurley said, “Two things really motivated us. One was this crowd. Boy, that was awesome! Central Cabarrus brought a great crowd. As always, the Falcons came and represented. ... Secondly, I don’t think we gave them our best shot at our place.”

The West coach said of the Vikings, “Obviously, Scott will tell you they didn’t give us their best shot, because they’re a good basketball team. But David Hardy can play. He was everywhere.”

Hardy, a 6-8 small forward, scored 12 points with three 3-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds. Teammate Buck finished with 13 points.

Brewer said, “We shot it poorly early and did not make them play at the halfcourt level as much as I wanted to. If we can make them play at the halfcourt level a little bit, then we can beat them.”

“If we play next Friday (SPC Tournament finals), who knows what’s going to happen?” said Gurley. “It’s two good basketball teams. It’s going to be fun.”

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NOTES: West, going inside most of the night, shot 60.7 percent on field goals in the second half and 53.7 (29-for-54) for the game. The Vikings were 21-for-51 (40.4 percent). ... West hosts eighth-seeded Kannapolis, while the Vikings host No. 7 East Rowan in the first round of the tourney Tuesday.

WEST ROWAN (71) — F. Williams 17, Sifford 15, Minter 16, Sherrill 18, Everhart 2, White, Mauldin, Barringer, Dalton 1, P. Williams 2, Mattox, Diggs.

CENTRAL CABARRUS (60) — Russell 2, Mickens 9, Naumann 4, Hardy 12, Cranford 4, Knorr 7, Buck 13, Stafford 9, Wright.

West Rowan 10 18 23 20 — 71