Western Regional preview: Salisbury vs. Newton-Conover

Salisbury's Ashia Holmes (4) during 2A Western Regional match up with Bandys High School at the Greensboro Coliseum. Brandys fell the the undefeated Hornets 45-31. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

Salisbury's Bubble Phifer (5) during 2A Western Regional match up with Bandys High School at the Greensboro Coliseum. Brandys fell the the undefeated Hornets 45-31. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

By Ronnie Gallagher

rgallagher@salisburypost.com

It didn't take long for Bandys coach Beth Queen's postgame analysis to pump up the Salisbury girls basketball team.

After the Hornets' 45-31 win in a Western Regional semifinal on Wednesday, Queen said, "Personally, I think Newton-Conover's defense is better."

Fans who visit the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center today at noon will find out if that's true when defending state champion Salisbury (27-0) meets Newton-Conover (28-3) in the 2A Western final.

A berth in next week's state championship game is on the line. Salisbury has won 33 straight games, and Newton-Conover has won 18 straight.

"The girls kinda told me about it," Salisbury coach Andrew Mitchell said Friday afternoon of Queen's quote. "The one thing about that is, it will make us sharpen up our offense."

Queen's point was made in the Red Devils' 59-38 rout of Shelby on Wednesday. Newton-Conover limited the Lions to 27 percent shooting, including 16 percent during a second half in which Shelby went 4 of 25 from the field. The Red Devils outrebounded Shelby 40-28.

Defense is also Salisbury's strong suit, and the Hornets will face a Catawba Valley Athletic Conference champion full of talented players.

Shynese Whitener, who scored 12 points against Shelby, is considered one of the quickest players in the area.

"She is fast," said Mitchell, who has scouted the Red Devils. "We'll have to take her strengths away."

Mitchell is also impressed with inside player Kadesha Gibbs, who dominated Shelby with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

"She's real aggressive," Mitchell said. "She's strong posting up. She blocks shots with force."

Hearing that excites Salisbury big girls Olivia Rankin, Jessica Heilig and Isis Miller.

"Olivia, Jessica and Isis get pumped up for games like this," Mitchell said. "Warriors like to play against other Warriors."

One thing that pleased Mitchell in the Bandys win was how his players did not let the pressure of trailing early affect them.

"I've got a lot of years of experience," said Mitchell, who once led the Livingstone women to a CIAA tournament championship. "At tournament time, you're going to get behind. Sometimes, that tends to rattle you. But I've seen us score a lot of points in a manner of minutes."

That's what Salisbury did in the second half to run away from Bandys.

Having a game under their belt on the Special Events Center floor, which is 10 feet longer than a high school court, will help the Hornets.

"The first couple of minutes we were real winded," Mitchell said. "You wouldn't think 10 feet would mean that much."

Bubbles Phifer was also coming off an eye problem, but Mitchell said all the Hornets are healthy and ready to go. And that's a good thing against the Red Devils, who are coached by Jonathan Tharpe.

"They know how to win," Mitchell said. "You don't just win 18 straight.

"When I watch them, they're very similar to us," Mitchell added. "When Bubbles watched the film, she agreed."

Salisbury is favored to return to the state final, and Mitchell has no problem with that.

"Talk to anyone who knows me," Mitchell said, "and they know I have two goals. No. 1, go undefeated. No. 2, win a championship at the highest level."

He's two games from reaching those goals.

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NOTES: Other Newton-Conover players who can hit double figures in points are Quazzy Tipps and Tiana Littlejohn. Tipps made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Red Devils a 51-48 win over North Surry in a sectional final. ... Salisbury is a little more familiar with the Special Events Center because Newton-Conover played its regional opener at UNCG. ... This is Newton-Conover's 10th Western Regional appearance and its first Western final since 1992. ... Bandys lost to Newton-Conover three times, falling by five, eight and 16 points. ... This is the second recent meeting between Salisbury and Newton-Conover in a regional final. In football, the Red Devils edged the Hornets in overtime. ... Howard Platt and The Coach, Bob Parker, will broadcast the game on WSTP 1490-AM.