SPENCER — By all rights, North Rowan’s basketball campaign should be over right about now.
But it’s not.
The Cavs (13-14) will practice today and play Thursday at mighty Burlington Cummings because Lamar Geter, their cocky cut-up of a point guard, refused to let this season die. When his teammates asked if it was OK to pack away their uniforms, Geter said no way.
Geter scored 24 points to lead the Cavs to a 60-57 overtime win over Monroe in the first round of the 2A state playoffs on Tuesday night. He nailed six 3-pointers from distances that had to be seen to be believed.
Geter always talks the talk and often walks the walk. On this night, the little giant who couldn’t even earn a uniform on last season’s green machine walked on water without getting his high-tops wet.
“Last year this school had better players,” said Geter, sporting his standard impish grin. “So I just watched the games from the stands.”
This year there haven’t been many better players anywhere. Geter took his 17th trip to double figures and registered his third 20-plus scoring outing in North’s last six games.
The Cavs needed everything Geter had to give because they were nearly run out of their gym early. After North’s Mike Pemberton opened the scoring, Monroe ripped off the next 13 points with a wicked fullcourt press. Jittery North turned it over seven times in the first three minutes, and Redhawk finisher Jason Barrino had nine points before the Cavs blinked.
At that point, it was even money as to North getting off another shot, much less winning the matchup of No. 3 seeds.
“We went out there like it was another regular-season game and Monroe was thinking playoff game,” said Geter. “Their heads were in it, ours weren’t.”
But North coach Kelly Everhart called a timeout and demanded his team settle in and get focused.
“We were tentative and acting like we’d never seen a press,” said Everhart. “I reminded them we’d been pressed by West Rowan.”
Duly chastised, the Cavs started getting the ball down the floor occasionally. Whenever they did, Geter stuck a 3. One of his trifectas came from that white volleyball line that lies 30 feet or so from the hoop.
“Had to get Monroe out of their zone,” said Geter. “They were acting like they didn’t think I could shoot.”
Actually, Monroe was dropping back into a fairly standard zone if North beat its press. But Geter was launching the ball from a good five feet beyond the defenders on top, like you’ll see Duke’s Chris Duhon do.
“Lamar was taking shots you don’t like to see kids take,” admitted Everhart, uncertain whether to laugh or cry. “But he was knocking them down. There was nothing I could say except, ‘Just keep on making them, Lamar.’ ”
Geter did. By the end of the quarter, North trailed just 17-13. And the Cavs were even at 22-all after a rainbow 3 by Tristan Rankin was money.
But North’s comeback expended enormous energy. Monroe finished the half on a 9-1 run for a 31-23 lead.
With the visitors from the Rocky River Conference threatening to separate from North in the third quarter, Geter struck again. After he banged two downtown daggers, North trailed only 40-35.
Then Geter got help. Beefy postmen James House (13 points, six boards) and Jamar Connor (seven points, eight rebounds) asserted themselves and fouls piled up on the skinnier Redhawks, who struggled after whistles wiped out prime-time rebounders Ray Cureton and Barrino.
With two minutes left, Geter whipped a Pistol Pete-ish pass to Rankin, who converted a short jumper. The Cavs were even again at 48-all.
Geter sank three free throws in the final 49 seconds, but Monroe reserve Charlie Price’s press-break layup knotted the game at 52-all. Then House missed a long jumper with four seconds left in regulation, and the game headed to OT.
Monroe entered the extra session minus three fouled-out starters, giving the Cavs an enormous edge. Still, the Redhawks jumped ahead 55-52. But then it was Geter Time one more time. He dropped one from the general vicinity of Long Street for a 55-all deadlock.
“They didn’t get out on me, so I shot it,” shrugged Geter matter-of-factly.
Then it was House’s turn. The likeable muscleman had fought a losing battle with free throws all night (1-for-9), but coolly canned a hotly contested springer from — of all places — the foul line, for a 57-55 North lead.
“In when it left my hand,” beamed House, waggling his right wrist.
Monroe tied it one last time, but a manly rebound by Connor and his two clutch free throws put the Cavs on top to stay. After Rankin boarded Monroe’s last attempt, House and Geter tangoed from the floor performing what Geter described cryptically as “our AAU dance.”
Whatever those strange steps were, this was a landmark win for a team that once stood 4-12.
“The guys acted like they really wanted this one,” croaked a hoarse Everhart.
“We don’t have as much talent as most teams,” barked House. “But we do have heart. That always seems to keep us in it.”
Heart’s a great thing to have. Sometimes a no-conscience guard with 30-foot range is even better.
MONROE (57) — Barrino 18, Carter 10, Robinson 8, Price 6, Cureton 5, Handy 5, Hinson 4, Hood 1, Heggins.
NORTH ROWAN (60) — Geter 24, House 13, Rankin 10, Connor 7, Pemberton 4, Rutherford 2, Bates, Mitchell, Horton, Hawkins.
Monroe 17 14 9 12 5 — 57
North Rowan 13 10 12 17 8 — 60
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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