CHAPELHILL— You could tell that Mike Gurley was loving this. Really loving this.
He brought an entourage that included a trainer, a principal, an athletic director, two assistant coaches and even his daddy, for cryin’ out loud.
The West Rowan group was one of 16 entourages who convened in the Dean E.Smith Center Monday for the annual state championship media day.
Everyone was beaming. Their school had made the big dance. Their kids were going to play in the Dean Dome.
And as Gurley says, don’t ever underestimate the value these kids put on this. Of 343 basketball-playing schools, West Rowan is one of only 16 left.
Gurley is one of the most familiar faces and West Rowan is one of the most familiar schools. When the Falcons jump it up at 9 p.m. Saturday against Parkland, it will be the third time in the past six years they have played here.
Gurley joins guys like Howard West of the Winston-Salem Reynolds boys and Kenny Carter of the High Point Central girls, who always seem to be at this media day. And no one takes it for granted because, who knows, it might be your last time.
“The worst thing that came out of 1999 (a West defeat to Parkland in the 3A finals) was the loss,” Gurley said. “Everything else was a plus. The chance to play in the Smith Center was awesome.”
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Everything about Monday morning’s press conference was exciting to the coaches, even the ones who have been here time and time again.
The walk-through, where NCHSAA associate director Rick Strunk, gives everyone a tour of the Dean Dome, was exciting. Knowing you’re going to dress in the same locker room that housed all of those great Tar Heels was exciting. Seeing Matt Doherty walk to the podium to greet everyone was exciting.
“Unfortunately, I have more free time than I’d like,” Doherty joked to the crowd.
Doherty remembers playing in his state title game and sees no difference with today’s players.
“You’re creating memories that will last a lifetime,” he said. “I just came back from the Texas state championships. There were 18,000 people there. It was pretty darn impressive. And I want this tournament to remain here until I’m dead.”
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Doherty stuck around through lunch so he could shake hands with everyone — including one 7-year old who tagged along with Dad because of a teacher’s workday.
“Are you going to let me coach you one day?” Doherty asked the kid?
The kid said, “Yes,” and why shouldn’t he answer that way? This was a day to dream of big things.
“Your schools, your communities and your teams will remember this forever,” said Charlie Adams, the executive director of the
NCHSAA. “The goal is to make a memory to last forever.”
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What is Gurley most proud of? His Falcons never once mentioned Chapel Hill during the regular season. As the wins mounted to 29 and the losses stayed at zero, they focused on the game at hand.
“How many teams haven’t made it, where all they talked about was getting to Chapel Hill?” Gurley wanted to know. “This team didn’t do that. Maybe it’s from all the scars we have. We know it’s a rugged road.”
But a road well traveled by Gurley, who wouldn’t mind one bit if he traded that state championship ring from 1995, when he was at Lexington, for one with West Rowan blue.
He has won here and lost here, so the emotions run hot and cold. But one thing that hasn’t changed for Gurley is watching his kids run up and down that famous floor.
There’s something about speeding across that big blue outline of North Carolina at
midcourt.
“It’s that floor, that Murphy-to-Manteo thing,” Gurley gushed. “Every kid growing up watches a big game in Chapel Hill. Now, it’s a dream that every kid who plays basketball envisions — playing on that floor.
“You’re excited. your blood is flowing quicker.”
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There will be a $5 parking fee and tickets are $7 pre-sale and $8 at the door.
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Reynolds is making its seventh trip to the finals and is the two-time defending champion. The Demons make their 15th consecutive appearance in the 4A playoffs.
And guess what? That’s nothing compared to some of the girls teams.
Midway, in the 1A title game, made the state playoffs for the 16th straight year. Carter’s High Point Central club is in the playoffs for the 19th straight time and has won at least 20 games in all of those 19 years. Like Reynolds, this is the seventh state title game for the Bison.
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The Post covers three conferences and each one has a team in the finals: Reynolds from the Central Piedmont 4A, West from the North Piedmont 3A and Ledford’s girls from the Central Carolina 2A.
Like Gurley, Ledford’s John Ralls brings an undefeated team (31-0) to Chapel Hill. His girls have won three titles and have five appearances here in the last eight years.
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You always hear of three great college basketball teams located within a 15-mile radius: Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State.
Well there’s a similar scenario in this year’s girls basketball championships.
High Point Central, Ledford (located in Wallburg) and Thomasville are all in the finals and have that same distance between them. Together, they have combined for an 87-4 record.
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One sad note: Rockingham County’s girls made the finals but two athletes (one track, one football) were killed in a car wreck a couple of days before the press conference.
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And finally ...
West Rowan is expected to bring the largest fan base. But don’t paint your bodies, West fans. You won’t get in. Don’t paint your chest, wear a shirt and then think you’re going to pull it off. You will be escorted out.
No noise-makers. No signs. No banners. No streamers.
Ido think the NCHSAA will allow the fans to cheer, however.
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