2A State Championship: Bubbles joins Salisbury's elite

Salisbury's Bubbles Phifer stands up to accept the 2A champion MVP award after Salisbury high school defeated East Bladen in the 2A State Championship at Reynolds Coliseum on the NC State University. Photo by Jon C. Lakey, Salisbury Post.

By Ronnie Gallagher

rgallagher@salisburypost.com

RALEIGH — As Bubbles Phifer raced up and down the court Saturday, speeding her way past the East Bladen Eagles for steals, assists and points, Jennifer Shoaf sat in the Reynolds Coliseum bleachers across from the Salisbury bench.

Reminiscing.

There was a time about four years ago when a Hornet named Shayla Fields was doing the same thing for her. There was a kid named Bubbles over at Knox Middle who used to tell Shoaf she would be better than Rowan County's eventual all-time leading scorer (girls or boys).

"Yeah, I do remember," Shoaf said of the conversation while watching Salisbury win its third state title since 2004, beating the Eagles 49-37.

"I was talking to Bubbles in middle school and she said that when she got to high school, she was gonna break all of Shayla's records," said the former coach.

That didn't happen, at least point-wise. She finished with 1,361 career points, 1,422 behind Shayla. Bubbles is fourth on the Salisbury scoring list, joining legendary names like Donna Carr and Sheree Gillespie as the top Hornets in school history.

But she did outdo Rowan County's greatest player when she won her second state championship. She leads Fields in that category 2-1.

Better yet, she won it on Kay Yow Court, where Fields starred for N.C. State.

"Last year, I told the team, 'I'm going to get you one.' " she said. "They got me one so I'm excited."

Bubbles also out-trophy-ed Fields. When she was named Most Outstanding Player of Saturday's game, that gave her back-to-back honors to go with last week's Western Regional MVP. She will be an easy repeater as Rowan County Player of the Year.

As the Hornets' only senior, coach Andrew Mitchell and Bubbles bonded when he took over for Shoaf last season. As serious as they are on the court, they joke around when the game is over.

Bubbles made perhaps the key shot of the game, a long, long ... loooooong three to end the first half, giving Salisbury a 28-20 lead. When asked about the rainbow jumper, Mitchell, tongue planted firmly in cheek, mused, "She finally made one."

Bubbles gave that championship smile and said she was thinking, "I better make it or Coach is gonna kill me."

She had her typical game: 14 points, four rebounds and a slew of assists and steals.

It was just the type of finish to her career that Shoaf envisioned before she moved on to Patton High in Morganton.

"She really set high goals for herself," Shoaf said. "She wanted to make a statement. She struggled a little her freshman year with scoring but she was still the defensive player she is today. And when she's not scoring, she's getting the ball to other people."

Shoaf, who still lives in Salisbury despite a 70-mile drive to Morganton, has enjoyed this year's title run, along with last year's title win against Graham. She keeps up with her former players, like Ashia and Ayanna Holmes, and attended Saturday's game with former Hornet De'Rya Wylie. But one thing that has stood out over the last two seasons is the kid named Bubbles.

"I thought last year, she was the key to their success," Shoaf said.

Mitchell will tell you she continued being the key because she sacrificed for her teammates.

"Bubbles probably could've scored as much as Shayla if she was the No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 option," he said earlier in the week. "She could have 2,000 or 2,500 points. But she wanted to do what was best for the team. A lot of scorers wouldn't do that. I think she's actually a better passer."

Doing what's best for the team? Sacrificing?

That's what wins championships.

And in the case of Bubbles Phifer, it's what makes a Most Valuable Player who joins a gal named Shayla as two of the most unforgettable Salisbury Hornets.

Ever.