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ICARD — Concerned about his superstar’s hyper-extended left wrist, West Rowan coach Mike Gurley phoned Donte Minter at 10 on Saturday morning.
Minter said he felt fine.
At 1 p.m., three hours before West was supposed to tangle with talented T.C. Roberson (27-4) in the 3A Western Regional finals,Gurley called Minter back to make sure all was well.
“I’m OK, Coach,” assured Minter. But then after a moment’s hesitation, the 6-foot-8 horse added, “I just won’t be able to shoot.”
That statement propelled Gurley’s jaw in the general direction of the floor.
At 3 p.m or so, Gurley felt like looking for a sharp sword to fall on after watching his senior southpaw go through warmups.
“Donte took about three free throws — right-handed — and sat back down,” Gurley said. “I turned to my assistants and said, ‘What in the world are we gonna do if Donte can’t put the pill in the hole.’ ”
Good question, because Minter’s not just another 22 points-per-game guy. He’d led West in scoring in 25 of its 28 games and stands tall among the state’s all-time top 25 scorers. Prior to Saturday, Minter had poured in 2,045 points, more than Jerry Stackhouse, 30 fewer than legendary Phil Ford.
And Roberson, obviously, wasn’t just another team. It had won 19 straight. It had knocked West out of the regionals in 1991 and 1998. It hadn’t lost to a 3A team and hadn’t lost in 2002.
Assistant Willie Ellis answered Gurley first.
“This is West Rowan and at West Rowan someone always steps up,” Willie E. reminded. “And I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Brian Avery.”
If you’re wondering which horse to pick in the Derby next year, you might consider dialing Ellis. No pick to click has ever been more on target. Avery would lift the Falcons past Roberson 54-42 and to their school record 29th victory.
Ellis insisted he had inside information.
“Brian told me he was going to be a warrior,” he said. “He told me this was going to be his night.”
It was indeed— but not right away. Like the rest of the Falcons, Avery couldn’t buy a jumper early. West missed 19 of its first 22 shots and Avery missed five of his first six. But while nothing he was firing up was going in, the 6-0 senior was obviously fired up. Six players on the floor were 6-5 or taller, but Avery soared for five first-quarter rebounds.
“Those rebounds made a statement, gave him confidence and showed how hard he was playing,” said Gurley. “(Coach Robert)Hairston took him out and told Brian to keep plugging. He told him all we had to do was find four guys to play as hard as him.”
Hairston told Avery he was in the game unless he took himself out. And when he did exit the contest for a few breaths of oxygen, Avery was to report back to the scorer’s table the second he was ready. With Minter limited to layups and gutting out minutes on sheer will power, Avery had to be on the floor.
West never led in the first half and trailed 31-28 after three quarters. But 30 seconds into the fourth quarter, Avery swished the Falcons’ first successful 3 from the right wing for a tie. Just 19 seconds later, he struck again from the left corner and West led 34-31. That sudden six-point swing was the key.
“Donte was playing hurt and we were struggling,” said Avery. “Someone needed to step up. I took it upon myself to bring them out of their zone.”
Roberson looked very surprised. West fans were mildly surprised. Falcon coaches were not.
“Brian’s done it all year,” said Hairston. “He distributes the ball, he defends and he rebounds. He does everything so quietly, people have been sleeping on him. But he’s a next level player.”
There was more to come from Avery. His steal and hanging, double-pump floater pushed West’s lead to 38-33.
Then, hounded by Avery, Roberson guard Luke Dickinson shoved him for an offensive foul and a critical turnover. Then Avery nailed yet another jumper — his fourth straight connection — to hand the Falcons a 42-35 lead.
“I rode Brian all year and told him he was sorry,” grinned spectacular Falcon swingman Junior Hairston. “But Brian is the man.”
“Something came over Brian today,” added West forward Phillip Williams. “Roberson was close to pulling away, but single-handed Brian put a stop to ’em. He carried us in the fourth quarter.”
Avery did carry the load. He scored 13 in the final eight minutes. That’s why everyone on the West side of the gym moaned when he went down clutching his right leg with 2:25 remaining.
But those same fans rose to render an ovation like the ones Mickey Mantle used to hear at Yankee Stadium just 60 seconds later when Avery returned to the court to finish off the Rams at the foul line.
“I heard the crowd yelling,” said Avery, who finished with a career-high 21 and led West’s scoring for the first time. “Were those cheers really for me?”
They were.
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Officials handed the MVP award to Minter, mostly for those 35 points he rolled up in the semis.
But proud as the big guy was and as courageous as he was yesterday, you could tell he wanted to split that plaque in half so Avery could keep a chunk for his own mantle.
“My wrist was killing me,” said Minter, who battled for 14 points. “You can’t say enough about what Brian did.”
The good news for Falcon faithful is that Avery may have one more great game left.
“In 1997 when West won the state championship, (teammate) Durell White and me were in Chapel Hill to see it,” Avery said. “That was the most incredible thing in the whole world. We always wondered if we’d get our chance to do the same thing. And now here it is.”
Here’s hoping it happens.
Avery is the poster child for everything good about high school athletics. Last year, he struggled academically and wasn’t eligible to play. But he hung in through some difficult times and turned it around in the classroom. Today, there’s no more polite or sincere athlete in Rowan county.
“Coach Gurley got me to focus more on my studies,”Avery said. “Things have worked out and I’m having the most fun I’ve ever had in my life with this team.”
Brian, if you’re hearing more cheers, well, those are for you, too.
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Contact Mike London at 704-797-4259 or mlondon@salisburypost.com
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