On Thursday night, South Rowan, crawling along at 4-11 and seemingly down for the count just a week ago, stunned Davie County, the SamMoir Christmas Classic champion and arguably one of the better teams in the state.

Two things keyed South’s 65-60 4A CentralPiedmont Conference victory.

First, South played with pride and passion and perseverance.

Second, Davie, which hadn’t practiced the last five days because of the snow, didn’t look anything at all like the scary machine that dismantled North Rowan in the Moir finals.

Davie coach Jim Young, who has been on both sides of this type of shocker during his distinguished career, absorbed the setback graciously, if not gratefully.

“No excuses,” said Young. “Whether we’ve been able to practice or not, we should still be able to rebound and play defense. South just outhustled us. They deserved to win this one by 20.”

An underdog South team also managed to beat the War Eagles each of the past two seasons, a fact not lost on Young.

“Once a year, they get us,” said Young. “I guess that’s written into my contract. Seriously, I’ve said all along that South’s a team that works hard. And I’ve said all along they were going to beat some people in this league.”

But neither Young, who searched unsuccessfully all night for scoring help for his star Duane Phillips, nor anyone in the smallish crowd that gathered at the South gym fearing a frightful blowout, could have possibly believed that the league team South would beat would be mighty Davie (16-2, 1-2).

Fans first sensed that something out of the ordinary might be afoot when South weathered Davie’s first patented blast of fastbreak basketball. Down 14-9, South (7-11, 1-2) responded with the last six points of the first quarter on a jumper by Drew King and two drives by Doug Daugherty, who would lead South with 20 points, for a 15-14 lead.

South pushed ahead 28-23 midway through the second quarter on King’s 3-pointer, but then Phillips, who would score 29 points, went on a frightening tear. With its senior star making silky fallaways from every angle, the War Eagles turned a 30-27 deficit into a 34-30 lead in a matter of 54 seconds.

“Phillips is one heck of a player,” said South coach John Davis. “But we did a pretty good job on him, made him work hard.”

South finished the first half strong, closing to within 35-34 when Daugherty tossed in a last-second jumper.

Davis believed all week that his team could win this game. Somewhere in that first half, as their shots kept rolling in and Davie’s kept rolling out, his players began to believe it, too.

“There’s just something special for all of us about playing in this gym,” said King. “Our ninth-grade coach (Russell Swilley) used to call this place the Raider Dome. We just believe that we can get it rolling here and keep it rolling.

“Against anyone.”

The third quarter was frantic. Davis was a juggler, tossing rugged stopper Darryl Childers into the game on the defensive end to bang Phillips, then running in unconscious, instant-offense man Daugherty to keep the scoreboard moving.

Davie’s intensified pressure defense put it on top again by four. But with Tore’ Girty controlling the tempo, Scott Beck getting the loose balls and King scoring eight clutch points, the Raiders were still even at 47-47 after three quarters.

Daugherty tied the game for the last time at 58-58 with a pair of free throws, but immediately Phillips rose high over Beck to nail a jumper with 55 seconds left to put Davie ahead 60-58.

With 40 seconds left, King spotted Daugherty coming off a screen in his sweet spot in the deep corner. King delivered the ball and Daugherty delivered an ice-water 3-pointer. South led 61-60.

“I saw him coming around and made sure he got it,” said King. “Doug’s got the shot.”

“Doug had walked the last time he got the ball over there, because he hesitated,” added Davis. “I told him to quit playing around. Just pull the trigger. He’s just an ungodly shooter when he’s on.”

There was still plenty of time for Davie to respond, but a foray down the lane by Graham resulted in a loose ball that was grabbed by Beck. With 28 seconds left, Beck shook off an awful night at the line to make a huge free throw, giving South a 62-60 lead.

Phillips then lost the ball to Beck on a drive and Davie was forced to foul King with 11 seconds left. King made his first free throw, then after a timeout, made another for a 64-60 lead.

Graham misfired on a 3 with six seconds left and South’s Damien Argrett, who held his own inside all night — often against two Davie big men — soared to the rafters to claim the rebound and seal the unlikely win.

Argrett, who quietly contributed his customary 17 points and 14 rebounds, made one final free throw, then hugged King. Then the Raiders — even those who hadn’t played — literally danced from the court as one.

“Coach Davis was really choked up in the locker room after the game,” said King, who scored 15. “It about got to me too when he was talking about this senior class setting an example for the teams that will follow us. It was definitely emotional. I mean, tonight, we went out there and beat a team that’s as good as there is.”

“That was a good win,” understated Davis, trying hard not to let his emotions show through.

But his voice and his eyes wouldn’t let him. Eighteen games into his varsity coaching career, he’d just won a game that some coaches have to wait a lifetime for.

DAVIECOUNTY (60) — Lukic 6, Phillips 29, Orsillo, Graham 9, Lassiter 6, Umberger 6, R.Tenor 4, Stevens, Peacock.

SOUTHROWAN (65) — King 15, Argrett 17, Torrence 2, Beck 7, Cook, Daugherty 20, Kennedy, Girty 4, Childers.