Gallagher column: Rowan County is Fan-tastic

Salisbury's student fans cheer from behind the Hornet bench. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post

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Carson's Cody Clanton (4) throws the ball inbounds next to the West Rowan student section. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

As a sportswriter, there is one big problem with trying to talk to coaches after a girls basketball game in Rowan County.

You probably won't have a seat for the boys game when you go back to the bleachers.

I keep reminding Rick Strunk of the NCHSAA that Rowan County is the best high school county in the state.

And not just because we witness a lot of state championships. But just for the record, the county brought home four last year. It has already picked up two in the fall: Salisbury tennis and West Rowan football. Those two teams also had the best individuals in the state.

West had K.P. Parks. Salisbury had Hannah Lebowitz, the K.P. Parks of tennis.

Now it's winter and Salisbury's girls are overwhelming favorites to repeat as 2A state titlists. When spring comes, Salisbury is a favorite to repeat as state track champions.

I kid East Rowan baseball coach Brian Hightower that the pressure is on for his perennially talented Mustangs to get to the championship series.

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But basketball. Ah, basketball.

That's when Rowan County really proves it's the best. The fans make sure of that. What we have seen since Christmas validates my point.

I ask you, Rick Strunk, is there a prep Christmas tournament anywhere that packs 3,500 fans into a college arena like the Moir Classic at Catawba?

I'm waiting for an answer.

And what about student sections? Is there a county anywhere that can compare to Rowan?

Oh, there may be one school in a county that packs its gym with crazies like this county (Lake Norman comes to mind over in Iredell), but every school?

What helps is that four of Rowan's six schools are in the 3A North Piedmont Conference. From Woodleaf to Gold Hill to Landis to China Grove, the people live through their high schools. And they show up in droves.

Salisbury and North were taken away from each other in the 2A Central Carolina Conference due to realignment. Salisbury must get tired of hearing about the county schools because their students have stepped up. Look at the photo above. They stand the entire game behind their beloved Hornets.

And like the county schools, they make noise. A lot of it. No other school in the CCC can compare.

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Last week, Rowan fans got to see how witty — and downright funny — Rowan County kids are.

It's Cameron Indoor Stadium every night.

The East Rowan-South Rowan doubleheader on Tuesday was a hoot.

The East crowd baited Blake Houston, who got them back by hitting threes. South tailback Thomas Lowe flexing his muscles and doing the Heisman pose for the crowd? Classic.

Chants, cheers, razzing. All in good fun. You almost forget to watch the game.

On Friday, it was just crazy. Carson brought its gang over to the Gurley Dome at West Rowan for a first-place showdown in the NPC. West has one of the smallest gyms so fans got there early for a seat. Which meant the girls played in front of a packed house, too.

The boys game came down to free throws with no time on the clock after Carson's Nick Houston was fouled 70 feet from the basket. He steps to the line in front of a thousand stunned, gasping fans with his team down one.

Houston is the star of his own show, one I like to call "Nick Flicks."

Nick flicks his wrist. Ball goes in. Twice.

Carson wins in overtime. Fans go home hoarse and exhausted.

Catch your breath, people. In February, the two schools meet at Carson.

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I hear that a lot of the adults come to the games to watch the kids. What will they say? Better yet, what will they wear?

At Carson, kids don referee shirts and dark glasses. They walk around with canes like they're blind when a call doesn't go to their satisfaction. West and Salisbury students encourage each other to wear the same color. At East, there's no telling. We've seen kids in Spiderman suits and Blues Brothers outfits. South has the best cheers.

I think Carson, West, East, Salisbury and North got tired of my bragging on South students. Every school tries to outdo the other.

Want to see? Here are some other can't-miss county dates, unless they're rescheduled:

Jan. 20: West at Salisbury (boys only).

Jan. 22: West at East.

Jan. 26: Carson at East.

Feb. 2: West at Carson.

Feb. 5: South at East.

Feb. 9: Uh-oh. A dilemma. Which one do you attend? East at West or South at Carson.

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What makes the fanfare all worthwhile is this: The kids — and adults — have something to cheer about.

As of today:

- Salisbury's boys are in first place.

- Salisbury's girls are in first place.

- North's boys are in first place.

- Carson's boys are in first place with the second and third-place teams being West and South.

Of course, all of those teams are vying for championships. They always seem to be.

It's Rowan County.

It's simply the best.