Prep Basketball: West Rowan boys 88, West Iredell 41

By Jordan Honeycutt

sports@salisburypost.com

MOUNT ULLA — You know those days where nothing goes wrong and everything goes right––West Rowan experienced that feeling Monday.

The Falcons were firing on all cylinders and every kid in a white jersey saw the net swish in a 88-41 blowout of West Iredell.

“We always want to play well but you also always want to play your best late in the year,” West Rowan coach Mike Gurley said. “The offense and defense was great tonight and everyone on the team put forth effort and that felt really good.”

While Gurley was applauding and smiling, Warrior coach Benjamin Johnson could only shrug his shoulders at the repetitive sight of scoreboard increases by the Falcons.

Thanks to Falcon star Keshun Sherrill, Johnson also had to be hearing the words of ex-ESPN analyst Mark Jackson’s famous saying–– “Mama, there goes that man.”

Sherrill scored 21 points in the first half and rested the majority of the second, after the game was already decided.

“That kid (Sherrill) is so special,” Johnson said. “We tried to hedge him––he penetrated for a layup. We tried to sag off him––he buried one of those pull-up jumpers. It’s like you know what he’s going to do, but you just can’t stop it.”

Johnson also started four junior varsity players alongside star guard Jalen Gray, due to disciplinary reasons.

Gray torched the Falcons early, as he usually does, but began to tire and force the issue down the stretch, playing into West Rowan’s hands.

“Jalen always averages big games against us,” Gurley said. “He is a heck of a ballplayer and I think we got to him some after tightening up our defense and held him under his average against us.”

Gray scored 20 points but couldn’t overcome the Falcon onslaught by himself.

Jarvis Morgan was the inside force for to match Sherrill’s outside once again Monday, as he (Morgan) scored 15 points.

The most stylistic of points for Morgan came on a fast break alley-oop from Sherrill that help put the game on ice.

Sherrill acknowledged that he was more aggressive than four nights ago at West Iredell when he “only” scored 18.

“I felt a lot better tonight, I was really sluggish the other night,” Sherrill said.

“It was a total team effort tonight and we were all focused on what we had to do on offense and defense.”

The Falcons also punished West Iredell with bench play, getting 28 points form the reserves.

West Rowan is attempting to repeat as conference tournament champions and definitely made a statement with the first step.

“We always take things one game at a time here and we know that other teams are going to be ready and prepared for when they come to play us,” Gurley said.

The semifinal matchup that awaits the Falcons in Statesville is arch nemesis East Rowan.WEST ROWAN (88) — Sherrill 27, J.Morgan 15, Tucker 7, Blackwood 6, Martin 6, T.Morgan 6, Reddick 5, Warren 5, Gallagher 3, Cuthbertson 2, Hassard 2, Long 2, Rayner 2.

WEST IREDELL (41) — J.Gray 20, Phifer 7, McHargue 4, Boggs 3, Ellis 3, Gillend 2, Teasley 2, Gibbs, Robinson, Summers.

W. Iredell 16 10 09 06 — 41

W. Rowan 22 20 22 24 — 88