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MISENHEIMER — For the first time since 1996, West Rowan’s boys won’t be in the West Regional. A thousand West fans have basketball-sized lumps in their throats after their beloved Falcons lost 55-54 in overtime to hungry High Point Andrews on Saturday in front of an overflow crowd at Pfeiffer’s Merner Gym.
It was a contest that many veteran observers called the best high school game they had ever seen. Certainly it was right up there.
“It was the most exciting thing I’ve ever been a part of,” said Andrews point guard Will Price, who will see Falcon defenders Terris Sifford and Horatio Everhart in his nightmares for weeks. “I think the whole school was here to cheer us on .”
The trip to Hickory was not decided until Terris Sifford’s desperation 90-foot heave astonishingly glanced off the front rim in the final second, sending Andrews fans into jubilation and West fans into mourning.
“I watched that last shot all the way down the floor,” shouted Andrews hero Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay, who will play football at N.C. State. “I thought it was going in. For a moment, I was in shock.”
But in the end, the shock rested with the Falcons (23-6). Coach Mike Gurley was downcast, his assistants crestfallen, his players numb after watching a six-point lead evaporate like morning mist in the final 1:19 of regulation.
“Things just didn’t go our way at the end,” whispered Gurley. “Andrews never quit. Give them the credit. They took it at us.”
The Red Raiders (23-6) start four seniors, most of them veterans of a 66-60 loss to West in the sectionals in 1998 and a 51-46 regionals loss to the Falcons in 1999.
“Two years ago we’re tied with West with 12 seconds left,” said Andrews coach Frank Hairston. “I reminded our guys of that.”
“West ended my season twice,” said Aughtry-Lindsay. “They weren’t going to do it a third time.”
Aughtry-Lindsay’s surprising 17 points, 15 of them in the second half and overtime, were the key. Gurley knew all about Price, the heady general, and big guys Lester Dunn and Rod McCollum. But the football guy?
“We figured Freddie was the least likely of their guys to beat us,” sighed Gurley.
It was all Andrews early. The Raiders scored at will in the lane, while forcing West to shoot outside.
“We zoned them pretty good,” said Hairston. We played in front of their big guy (Minter). You can’t let him get the ball. You have to make them throw it to the wings and try to do something else.”
Minter picked up two early fouls battling for position and West’s perimeter corps couldn’t buy a jumper. The Falcons slid behind 20-9 in the second quarter as Merner Gym exploded in a sea of red pom-poms.
But big man Rod McCollum (6-foot-6), who had 14 early points, got his second and third fouls in bang-bang fashion and, with Everhart hounding Price, Andrews bogged down. Then Phillip Williams came off the bench to spark West with nine quick points. By halftime, with an emotional Gurley screaming at his troops to bend their legs and play defense, the Falcons clawed to a 26-23 deficit.
West briefly grabbed control in the third quarter, leading 29-26 two minutes in, when Junior Hairston scored on the run. Then Andrews came back. And then West came back, and then Andrews rallied again as the game swung on a sensational see-saw.
With 3:18 left, Minter scored to put West ahead 43-41. Then the high-flying Hairston took a lob and jammed furiously for 45-41. Sifford calmly nailed two free throws for 47-41. The scoreboard clock registered 1:49.
But Aughtry-Lindsay scored twice and Lester Dunn hit two free throws with 1:13 remaining for 47-all. No one scored in the final frantic 73 seconds of regulation, which ended with a Sifford steal.
West jumped ahead 52-49 in the overtime. But two McCollum free throws and Price’s breakaway layup put Andrews back in front 53-52 with 57 seconds left.
Hairston’s clutch hanger with 34 seconds remaining gave West its final lead at 54-53, but with 15 seconds showing, Aughtry-Lindsay drove the baseline hard and scored.
Everhart took the ball to the basket and drew a foul with seven seconds left, but missed both free throws. The first banged the back iron, the second rattled, but refused to go.
Williams grabbed the rebound, but his shot was rejected by McCollum. Andrews’ Jeff Collie was fouled with one second left. He missed the free throw and Sifford sent his near-miss prayer hurtling goalward as Falcon fans gasped.
He nearly connected.
“Of all the teams I’ve coached, this is my favorite ,” said Gurley. I hurt for them. They fought to the end.”
HPANDREWS (55) — Price 2, Collie 2, Lindsay 17, McCollum 20, Dunn 12, Gillespie 2, Thomas.
WESTROWAN (54) — Sifford 6, Minter 14, P. Williams 14, Everhart, Hairston 15, Mauldin 5.
HPAndrews 18 8 13 8 8 — 55
W. Rowan 9 14 12 12 7 — 54
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