You’d think by West Rowan winning its first 27 basketball games, there would be no doubt that it is having one of the best seasons in Rowan County history.
But then again, it’s not even the best season in West Rowan history.
Not yet, anyway.
If the Falcons defeat Gastonia Ashbrook in the Western Regionals tonight at East Burke High School, they will finally separate themselves from the 1994 Falcon team.
That club, coached by Charles Hellard, won its first 27 games too. It rolled into the Western Regionals as an overwhelming favorite to make the state championship game.
It didn’t, falling to West Caldwell 75-73.
On Thursday, Hellard and one of his stars from that club, Dadrian Cuthbertson, visited the Falcon practice. They reminisced. They compared. And they talked about the pressure of being an undefeated, No. 1-ranked high school team.
“Nobody will say they felt pressure,” said the retired 63-year-old Hellard. “But I think it was there. And I don’t think you tell a group like this not to worry. The feeling is there.”
The 1994 season was Hellard’s last, ending a coaching career that began in 1961. Although he doesn’t visit West’s gym much anymore (“they don’t play until 8:30 and that’s past my bedtime,” he laughs) he still replays the game over and over in his head.
“Somebody told me the worst thing for a coach is being 0-20,” Hellard smiled. “The second worst thing is being 20-0.”
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It would be a great fantasy basketball game, wouldn’t it?
On one side, you’ve got a starting lineup of Joel Fleming and Charlie Howells at guard, Cuthbertson and Chavis Cowan at forwards and 7-footer Quincy Hall in the middle.
On the other side, you’d have Brian Avery and Horatio Everhart at guards, Phillip Williams and Junior Hairston at forwards and 6-foot-8 Donte Minter in the middle.
Actually, it’s not a fantasy game. One thing that sets West Rowan basketball apart is the rich history and the loyalty of the alumni. The guys from 1994 still like to rough up the young pups in pickup games, just like they were roughed up when they were coming through.
“I played against Alphonso Keaton and Toby Brown and they taught us things,” said Cuthbertson, a bulky — yet deceiving — small forward. “I try to do the same things with these guys and teach them stuff. It’s a tradition.”
A tradition that never graduates, according to current West coach Mike Gurley.
“When I open that gym in the off-season,” he marvels, “they are there every chance they get.”
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It was a lot tougher road for the 1994 dream team, then in the South Piedmont Conference, Cuthbertson and Hellard agree. The current edition of the Falcons is winning by an average of 30. The ’94 squad had unbelievable battles within their own county against Salisbury (with Bobby Phillips and Marvin Dixon) and North Rowan (with Edwin Suber and Mitch Ellis).
“The game at Salisbury (a 78-75 heart-thumper) was monumental,” Hellard remembers. “And if I wasn’t coaching, it would’ve been a pleasure to watch Joel and Suber go at it. That was quick on quick.”
But through the close games, West came out on top. A two-point win over North. A three-point victory over Adrian Parker and South.
By the time West reached the regional finals against West Caldwell, the Falcons were brimming with confidence.
“It wasn’t cockiness,” said reserve Jason Causby, currently the jayvee boys coach at Concord. “But there was an air about us. We knew we’d take everybody’s best shot.”
Fleming and Cuthbertson were the leading scorers, while Cowan was pure man. Howells was the most underrated player on the team and Hall could just intimidate with his size. Off the bench came Tim Hogue, Keeper Scoggins and Jason Davis.
“What surprised people was that Quincy wasn’t our first, second or even third option,” Causby said. “That’s how deep and how good we were.”
And, as Hellard was quick to point out, senior leadership was as important as talent. He allowed Fleming to take care of internal matters, as well as be the coach on the floor. Hellard credited much of Fleming’s demeanor to having a father, Clement, who was a well-respected coach.
“I was just along for the ride,” chuckled Clement, a coach at Concord High, who gave all the credit to his late wife, Cora. “Joel had a helluva mother. She was a helluva woman.”
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Clement and Cora Fleming were among the throng of West fans who traveled the road to the regionals. On the way, West had to knock off, of all people, Gurley and his Lexington team in the sectional finals, 78-74.
“That game taught me not to go on a sight test when you’re scouting,” Gurley laughed.
“I looked at Joel Fleming and knew he was a player. I looked at Quincy Hall and knew he was a player. I looked at Chavis Cowan and thought, ‘My gosh, if that kid isn’t a player, then he’s a Greek God.’
“Then I looked at this heavy-set guy and said, ‘We can stop him.’ Well, Dadrian Cuthbertson (22 points) proceeded to kill us the whole game.”
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But it all came crashing down when West Caldwell hit 11 3s. Meanwhile, in the final two minutes, the Falcons uncharacteristically had four turnovers, four missed shots and clanked four front ends of the one-and-one off the rim.
With the score tied at 73, Fleming launched a jumper from the foul line as the clock ticked under 10 seconds.
“It was a shot Joel hit nine out of 10 times,” said Causby, who said he was Fleming’s best friend. “No make that 912 times out of 10.”
But the ball bounced long and suddenly a West Caldwell guard was heading in the other direction. He was fouled, made the free throws and the Falcons were a disappointing (disappointing?) 27-1.
“I’m still not over it, really” admitted Hellard.
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Now, the Cuthbertsons and the Cowans and the Halls always seem to be with Gurley and his players, whether it’s on the courts of Cleveland or in the stands rooting them on.
They don’t worry about whether their 27-game winning streak is broken.
“We want them to break the record and win a state championship,” Cuthbertson said. “I think we ought to have more.”
Any advice for the Falcons if it’s a tight game tonight with the time running out?
“I’d tell them to just keep playing like they always do and keep having fun,” Cuthbertson said.
And win one for themselves — and the 1994 team.
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Contact Ronnie Gallagher at 704-797-4287 or rgallagher@salisburypost.com
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