West Rowan felt that championship feeling in 1997

Bobby Shipwash didn’t like what he heard.

His West Rowan Falcons had just lost in the Yadkin Valley 2A Conference tournament semifinals to West Montgomery and he was forced to listen to fidgeting fans muttering, “Well, they aren’t going anywhere.”

The words burned the ears of the fiery, third-year coach. On Thursday, when Shipwash reminisced about that quote, it didn’t hurt as much. That’s because those guys who weren’t going anywhere went all the way to Chapel Hill and brought home the 1997 state 2A basketball championship.

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To this day, it is still a bit difficult to believe. This was without a doubt the most unsung group of seniors to come through the school during Shipwash’s three years. They weren’t all that big. Or tall. And at first glance, no one thought they were very good.

“But we were good,” insists Matt Welborn, one of those seniors.

Shipwash agrees, but notes three keys to the title.

“One, the leadership of the senior class,” he said.“Two, young kids got hot and realized they could play on that level. And three, we got great point guard play from Bryson Goodlett. In the finals (a 79-67 win over Wallace-Rose Hill), he had nine assists and one turnover.”

And, of course, Shipwash didn’t forget about that tradition, which carries on Saturday night when West faces Parkland.

Most of this week’s talk has revolved around the rematch of 1999 between the same teams. But never forget, it was a team full of overachievers that can tell these Falcons how it feels to walk off the Dean Dome floor as champions.

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Shipwash entered the 1996-97 season with four returning starters. West played in an early tournament in Eden and Shipwash sat all 15 players down one by one and told them their roles.

“One through 15 accepted them,” he said.

Together with his assistants Ralph and Willie Ellis and Brian Perry, Shipwash began molding this team.

Goodlett had no rival in the quickness department. “He was the best I’ve ever seen,” Shipwash said. “He was totally the key to what we wanted to do.”

There were seniors Clint Mauldin, Matt Welborn and Mark Vanderslice, none of whom looked menacing but who battled and battled and battled.