Over the years, North Rowan has whipped East Rowan in boys basketball as consistently as Batman’s battered The Joker.
So maybe no one at Goodman Gym should have been shocked that the Cavaliers did it to the Mustangs one more time on Thursday night in a Sam Moir Christmas Classic first-round game.
Even when East led by 13 points late in the third quarter, fans who know their hoops history probably saw North’s 49-48 win coming. Even when East carved out an early edge and held it and held it and held it, everyone should have known the rest of the story.
For Mustang rookie head coach Derek Kurnitsky it was like leading the Indy 500 all the way only to blow an engine 50 yards from the finish line. It was like convincing Julia Roberts to marry him, only to be jilted at the altar.
“The best team didn’t win tonight,” groaned a disappointed Kurnitsky. “I feel bad for our kids, because it didn’t bounce our way. But they have to handle it like men.”
By most measures, East should have been celebrating. But it froze on a few free throws, turned it over at winning time and finally succumbed to North’s superior beef and quickness.
Big Junior Farmer (6-foot-7, 300 pounds) scored the game-winning bucket, sticking back a missed free throw with nine seconds left. It was North’s first lead since 2-0, but it was the only lead that mattered. It gave fourth-seeded North its 22nd straight victory over fifth-seeded East and the Cavs’ 27th win in 28 games in the one-sided rivalry since the 1992-93 season.
North earned the dubious right to meet top-seeded West Rowan (9-0) in tonight’s 7:30 semifinal. East was relegated to a 1:30 consolation bout with Salisbury.
It took the Cavs forever to decide they wanted to play, but once they did, they did what they had to.
“In the first half, we set basketball back a few years,” said North coach Kelly Everhart, whose team won despite 32 percent shooting and 18 turnovers. “It was absolutely awful.”
“That first half (North shot 23 percent) it was like we were still talking about presents and stuff,” volunteered North guard Lamar Geter.
East led 26-14 at the end of that unsightly first half and appeared to have things under control. Mustang Matt Belk dominated, firing in 18 of his career-high 31 points.
Belk scores on offensive boards, but on this night, he was unconsciousness. He started knocking down 3s from the top and soon, Kurnitsky, sensing something wonderful was afoot, saddled up his senior horse and rode him.
East began running its patented “Indiana” play for Belk instead of its guards and Belk responded by swishing 3s from both corners. Belk hit 12 of 16 shots, including six 3s. He added seven rebounds, three steals and three blocks. Belk scored every single East point (20 straight!) in a remarkable 14-minute stretch in the middle two quarters. For three magical periods, he forged a personal 26-26 tie with the North squad.
“When a good player gets in the zone like that, there’s not much you can do,” said Everhart. “You just try to withstand it as best you can.”
It was clear that North (3-5) would not withstand Belk’s onslaught if anyone else on the Mustangs (2-7) got even luke warm. But no one did. Brent Whitley’s modest five points made him East’s No. 2 scorer.
The tide swung for good when Farmer, seated at the end of the bench because he had missed practice time, finally entered the fray with 3 minutes, 23 seconds left in the third and North down 11. East’s lead steadily melted thanks to Farmer’s overpowering bulk and sophomore Marcus Mitchell’s smooth outside stroke.
“Marcus stepped up and made shots and Junior is just the biggest man around,” said Geter. “I had faith in the boys and they came through.”
It looked like the Mustangs might survive when newcomer Santos Shipp rolled in his only field goal to give East a 48-44 lead with a minute left. But Farmer hit two clutch free throws for 48-46, then made a surprisingly athletic steal in North’s press.
That led to a James House miss, but Mitchell got the offense rebound and was fouled with 13 seconds left. The soph hit his first foul shot, then missed the second. Fortunately for the Cavs, it was a perfect miss, caroming high over a straining Belk and into the eager paws of Farmer. The big guy casually cashed in the gift for a 49-48 lead.
“I was glad to give the team a boost,” said Farmer. “The ball just came to me.”
“The toughest block-out is always on a foul shot, because you have to wait,” said Kurnitsky. “And Junior is just so big.”
East hurried downcourt after Farmer’s hoop and Derek Talbert got a decent look at a 3-pointer from the right wing. But his shot bounded long off the iron and Geter chased down the rebound to seal the victory.
“We had a shot to win it, we just didn’t make it,” said Kurnitsky. “Effort was there, like it’s been all year. But we’ve got to get over that last hurdle. We’ve still got to find a way to win.”
EAST ROWAN (48) — Belk 31, Whitley 5, Abel 4, Talbert 2, Shipp 2, Shepherd 2, Miller 2, Taylor, Cauble.
NORTH ROWAN (49) — Mitchell 13, Farmer 11, Geter 10, House 6, Connor 5, Pemberton 2, Rankin 2, Horton, Rutherford, Bates, Hawkins.
East Rowan 10 16 11 11 — 48
North Rowan 9 5 12 23 — 49
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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