West Rowan boys basketball coach Mike Gurley never lost faith that somehow his team was going to win at Salisbury on Wednesday night. Even when the Hornets led by eight in the second half with West star Donte Minter seated next to Gurley because of three personal fouls.
Gurley was ultimately proven right as the Falcons stormed back to win 78-67 in the season opener for both teams.
“I wasn’t sure how we were going to win this game, but I never stopped believing we were going to win it,” said an elated Gurley. “Inever doubted my guys.”
West won mostly because Minter broke the school scoring record with 44 points, one more than Scooter Sherrill poured in against Piedmont last season.
“Our kids played very hard,” said Salisbury coach Drew Mathews. “But then, West’s 6-foot-8 All-American just took the game over.”
It was one of the most gratifying wins in Gurley’s tenure at West. He was missing four players still involved with Falcon football, including veteran starters Horatio Everhart and Terris Sifford. He was also on the road in a gym that was filled to fire-code capacity and was up against a veteran team that was shooting straight and getting on the floor.
Much of the night had to remind Gurley of the first game he ever coached at West — a 58-56 last-second loss to the Hornets in 1997. But the Falcons, as they almost always do — they are 80-10 under Gurley — found a way to get the “W.”
“West doesn’t lose many,” said Mathews. “We had an opportunity to get them tonight. But in the end, we had no answer for Donte.”
Guard Randall Jones, hitting four 3s and mixing in acrobatic drives, led the Hornets’ charge with 26 points. Football hero Ken Drye added 16 points and seven boards.
West led 13-10 after a see-saw first quarter. It was 30-30 at the half after Drye’s lofting, one-handed runner at the buzzer, which nearly nicked the top of the Hornets’ historic gym. But the best news for the Hornets was that Minter had to sit after picking up his third personal foul when he barged into Stephen Blanton with nearly three minutes left in the half.
Minter was still seated when the second half started. West soph Jason Williams scored the first hoop of the half, but then, with Drye and Jones nailing 3s, the Hornets scored 10 unanswered points for a 40-32 lead. The crowd was buzzing.
Minter looked at Gurley. Gurley looked back, but made no move.
“I was getting a little nervous,” said Minter. “They had a pretty good lead.”
Gurley, of course, wasn’t just anxious, he was beside himself — stomping and steaming and screaming. But he resisted the temptation to employ Minter prematurely.
Then, with 4:52 showing on the third-quarter clock, Minter finally returned to the floor. History was about to be made. In the final 12 minutes, 52 seconds of the contest, Minter would score an amazing 31 points.
Minter scored 12 of West’s last 19 points in the third quarter. He scored in the lane to cut the Falcons’ deficit to 51-49 at quarter’s end. Several times, the Hornets worked the ball to the post, but Minter ignored pump fakes and avoided his fourth foul. Once, Hornet reserve Taylor Knauf went to the floor, hoping for a charge on the big guy. But the whistle was on Knauf.
The play that told the story of the game came in the first few seconds of the fourth quarter. West launched a long pass against the Hornet press. Two Hornets — Boo Blount and Drye — drew a bead on an easy steal. But both arrived at exactly the same time from opposite directions and the ball caromed off them out of bounds. Then West got the ball low to Minter, who was fouled and made both shots. Now, it was 51-51 with 7:39 left.
And 20 seconds later, West went up to stay on Jason Williams’ putback.
After that it was a steady diet of Minter. He scored 19 in the fourth quarter, while missing just two field-goal attempts.
“Just doing what I could to pull this one out,” said a modest Minter.
Gurley employed an unusual lineup that mirrored Minter. Huge. At times, he played both Williams twins, Jason and Phillip, with Minter, Tim Mauldin and soph Junior Hairston. No one on the floor was under 6-4.
“They were trees,” said Mathews. “Our big guys (Salisbury’s tallest regular is the 6-4 Blanton) — would be guards at West.”
And when Drye was called for his fifth foul at the 3:08 mark, a West victory was assured.
It was an emotional win for Gurley who had praise for everyone. From the Williams boys — sophs who combined for 23 points and 13 rebounds — to young point guard J.J. Gaither, who played major second-half minutes and refused to turn the ball over.
Then there was Mauldin, who made two 3s when West was struggling for points and Josh Goodnight, who came up with two big blocks. Gurley even praised the five jayvee kids who were dressed and ready if needed.
“They all got some pretty good experience tonight,” Gurley roared. “They found out what West basketball is all about.”
So did everybody in the gym. The Hornets, who bombed in eight 3-pointers, played well enough to win against most people.
This one, however, just wasn’t “Minter” to be.
n
NOTES: Salisbury had a 20-14 turnover edge, but was killed on the boards 43-26. Minter had 14 rebounds to lead the Falcons and added five blocks. ... Jones’ 26 points was a career high. He had 22 against South Rowan last season.
Today's News