Prep Basketball: West Rowan boys 59, Carson 56

West Rowan's Keshun Sherrill shoots over Carson's Derrick Sewell. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post

West Rowan's B.J. Sherrill takes a charge from Carson's Devon Heggins. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post

By Mike London

mlondon@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — Carson's been the NPC frontrunner all season long.

Pursuer West Rowan finally climbed into a tie in the loss column with the Cougars on Saturday afternoon by winning 59-56 in a heated rematch at Carson.Carson won 77-76 in overtime at West. This one also went to the wire. It wasn't over until Cody Clanton's 55-foot heave sailed wide and the horn sounded.

"We lost the first one because Carson played right to the end," West coach Mike Gurley said. "We played to the end today, and we feel fortunate to win."

Keshun Sherrill scored 17 points to lead the Falcons. K.P. Parks had 15.

Darius Moose (14 points) and Clanton (11) led the Cougars.

West (12-6, 8-1 NPC) has three league games this week. Sixth-ranked Carson (18-3, 9-1 NPC) has games remaining with Statesville and South Rowan. If both teams win out, they'll share the title. A third Carson-West matchup in the NPC tournament final isn't a done deal, by any means, but it's probable.

"We still haven't accomplished anything yet, but now we do have the opportunity to compete for the NPC championship," Gurley said. "We've played Carson for 68 minutes now and it's been even. I realize five other teams are going to have something to say about it, but it would be nice if we can play Carson a third time to decide the NPC's top seed."

Carson hung in Saturday with Moose and Clanton plagued by foul trouble. West shot 33 free throws to Carson's 10, a figure partly due to those thick West bodies pounding the glass. West muscleman Chris Smith had 11 boards.

"We also got in foul trouble last time against West," Carson coach Brian Perry said. "It's tough when Moose and Clanton sit down. That takes away opportunities. They're playmakers, and this was a day we didn't make enough plays."

West won despite shooting 28 percent from the floor in the first half and making only 16 of those 33 free throws.

West began the game with a 3-pointer by Sherrill and ferocious energy that included a flying baseline stuff by Domonique Noble. Carson weathered that first punch and led 15-14 after a quarter.

The Falcons shot 2-for-11 in the second quarter and missed seven free throws. That inaccuracy helped Carson take a 27-23 halftime lead.

The third quarter was drama-filled because Sherrill, West's designated shooter, couldn't buy one. After his early 3, he missed 11 straight shots against Carson's zone.

Carson played most of the third quarter with Moose on the bench, but point guard Brandon Ferrare and Clanton were hot. The Cougars would have pulled away except for the effort of a football All-American. As Cougars backed off to stop his penetration, Parks swished two 3s and delivered an 11-point quarter. Those points saved West.

"K.P. saw we were in desperate straits," Gurley said. "That was the winner in him coming out."

Carson led 45-41 after three, but then Sherrill came to life. His pullup jumper with 5:50 remaining ended his personal dry spell and gave West a 46-45 lead.

"Everyone knows how important Keshun is to us, and he's got to have that World B. Free mentality," said Gurley, referencing one of the more consciousless shooters in pro hoops history. "Even if Keshun is 0-for-10, he's got to believe the 11th is going in."

Sherrill's nine-point fourth quarter put West over the top.

"K.P. carried us a long time," Sherrill said. "We just had to play off him and I had to keep my confidence."

Perry said the play that wrecked the Cougars came right after a clutch 3 by Devon Heggins gave Carson a 53-53 tie with 1:35 left. Sherrill drove, missed, soared for his own rebound and stuck it in to put West ahead to stay.

"I couldn't give up on that play," Sherrill said. "I was hoping to get fouled, but it was even better to get the basket."

Carson had two empty possessions, and Sherrill hit three of his four free throws to stretch West's lead to 58-53.

"I hated we had to foul Keshun," Heggins said. "You know he'll make them."

Clanton hit a 3 with four seconds left to make it 58-56.

Then Carson fouled Smith. He made one of two free throws — he banked it — for a three-point lead. Clanton's desperation shot veered from the rim, and West was back in the chase for a championship.

west rowan (59) — K.J. Sherrill 17, Parks 15, Sherrill 10, Smith 7, Noble 6, Phillips 3, Cuthbertson 1, Gore, Crucitti.

carson (56) — Moose 14, Clanton 11, Heggins 10, Houston 8, Ferrare 8, Wagner 3, Sewell 2, Raper, Long. W. Rowan 14 9 18 18 — 59

Carson 15 12 18 11 — 56