HICKORY— Seems like every few minutes this year we’ve written — and you’ve read — that West Rowan’s closest basketball game all season was its 90-76 win at Central Cabarrus on opening night.
Expect to see that staggering statistic revised after the Falcons’ Western Regional semifinal scrap with talented Gastonia Ashbrook at East Burke High at 8:30 tonight.
This one has all the signs of being a close encounter for the Falcons (27-0), who are the state’s only unbeaten boys squad.
Ashbrook (24-2), ranked third in 3A, has athleticism, a 6-foot-5 guard (Britton Johnson) who can light it up, all the confidence in the world and a cagey coach in Marty Hatchell who boasts 240 career wins and has a 1991 trip to Chapel Hill under his belt.
The Greenwave lost early to Gaffney, S.C., and to rugged East Gaston in the Big South Conference Tournament. Otherwise, it’s been nothing but W’s for the Wave, including a Falconesque 20-game winning streak.
People who watched Ashbrook rip off 17 straight points to decide its sectional final with Kings Mountain last week are convinced these guys can play with anyone — including West.
West coach Mike Gurley certainly sounds convinced.
“Ashbrook’s not gonna be awed by the wonderful Falcons,” he said. “This is gonna be a basketball game. It’s gonna be fun.”
You know all about West and 2,000-point scorer Donte Minter. But the Wave has personnel, too.
Johnson (17.2 points a game) is a special player who routinely nails five or six 3s. He scored 36 against Gaston Day, 34 against South Point. He’s potentially a serious problem since West’s top three guards are under six feet.
Junior Brad Falls (6.2 ppg) is Ashbrook’s head. The 5-11 floorleader doesn’t shoot much, but is sort of a high school Steve Blake in that he makes what he takes and runs Hatchell’s system to perfection.
Up front, 6-2 Jazz Cathcart (9.6 ppg ) and 6-3 football standout Jabarr Adams (11.7 ppg) will give away considerable height to West’s inside studs, but are physical enough to hold their own.
“I call Cathcart ‘Tarzan,’ ” because he’s a chiseled specimen with not one ounce of fat on him,” said Hatchell. “Adams has got Sam Perkins arms. He’s the best defensive player I’ve ever coached.”
Rounding out Ashbrook’s first five figures to be either dependable 6-3 Elliott Fox or skywalking 6-1 guard Arrington Littlejohn.
“Littlejohn jumps out of the gym, dunks it any way you want it,” said Hatchell.
Guard Darius Sanders and 6-4 Blake Robinson provide depth for a deep team that usually employs an eight-man rotation.
“We’re talking about a team that’s good inside, that works hard and is extremely well-coached,” said Gurley.
Hatchell has an upbeat attitude about drawing West in the semis. He’s working feverishly to put a positive spin on that potential negative.
“If you want to be the best you’re gonna have to beat the best and that likely means beating West,” he said. “I know I’d rather play West (tonight) when we’ve had four days to prepare, then try to beat them on Saturday with no prep time.”
A couple of things to remember about Ashbrook.
They generally handle defensive pressure well, because their post players (Cathcart and Adams) are skilled ballhandlers.
Ashbrook, in the regionals for the first time since 1993, also rebounds exceptionally hard for a team without overwhelming size. Hatchell said his guys have been outboarded just once.
Finally, Ashbrook’s strength is its defense, which shut out Forestview for seven minutes in the sectionals.
“We mix it up,” said Hatchell. “We spend an hour, 15 minutes of every two-hour practice on defense. We play man, we play zone and we trap some. That gives people a lot of different things to try and prepare for. Defense is definitely our thing.”
Hatchell acknowledges his team hasn’t faced anyone with West’s combination of size and athleticism, but he’s looking forward to tonight’s tussle all the same.
“For the first time all year, we’re the underdogs and that’s gonna be nice,” he said. “There’s a lot of pressure on that top dog and sometimes you can’t help but feel it.”
Makes sense. But a smiling Gurley doesn’t look like he’s feeling any heat.
“We’re in Hickory (for the 10th time in 13 years) and that’s a necessary step,” he said. “When you get here that means you have a chance.”
Today's News
