Harding forgot about junior Terris Sifford.

The 6-3 defensive stalwart was his usual pesky self but he also added offense to his repertoire against the Rams, scoring 14 points, 10 in the fourth period and overtimes.

“Some people say this is a one-man team or a two-man team,” Sifford said. “But tonight we learned how to jell as a team.”

The victory was sweet for West, which won in one of the toughest gyms in the South Piedmont Conference. The league-opening win also avenged last season’s overtime loss here.

“We didn’t want to lose,” said Sherrill. “Every time we lose something big, they like to celebrate in our face. We didn’t want to see that tonight.”

With two minutes remaining in the second overtime, the celebrating had already started on the raucous Harding side. The Rams were up 63-59 and had the ball.

“That’s when we had a gut check,” said Williams.

Sifford came screaming down the court and pulled up for a jumper in the lane. After a steal, he fed Sherrill for a 63-all tie with 1:21 left.

Harding held the ball until Williams blocked Brian Ennis’ shot with a minute left. Minter wheeled inside but missed and Williams was there to clean it up with a short lane jumper and the lead with 24 ticks on the clock.

Williams then climbed the glass for the final rebound with 4.9 seconds and West had escaped with a 4-0 record.

“That’s why they’re the No. 1 team in the state,” shrugged Rams coach Myron Lowery. “They won the game. We didn’t lose it. That’s the best we’ve played.”

“What it comes down to is two good basketball teams,” said sweat-soaked West coach Mike Gurley. “It’s the same way when we go to Northwest and Central (Cabarrus) and Sun Valley. We’re taking everybody’s best shot.

“And that’s great. It’s the only way we can get better.”

Harding (2-2 overall, 1-1 SPC) allowed West to come back once the Falcons began pressing in the fourth quarter. They had just come off a listless, six-point third quarter and trailed 43-37 with six minutes left in regulation.

“I felt I was overcoaching,” said Gurley. “I decided to just let the kids play.”

Boy, did Sifford play. At that time, he had just four points. But he quickly scored off a feed from Scooter Dalton and added a steal and layup.

Still, West could not seem to come up with the big rebound and trailed 51-48. Sherrill then took a pass far beyond the 3-point line with 48 seconds left and the N.C. State signee sank a long three to tie the game at 51.

“Scooter was what, 25, 30 feet from the basket?” asked Lowery.“We couldn’t have played any better defense on him. We even contested that shot and he drilled it.”

From that point, it was a see-saw affair that put Sifford at center-stage. He finished with seven steals and seven rebounds to go with his offense.

“Icall him our defensive whiz and I’m sincere when I say that,” Gurley said.

Defense clearly won this game.

“Iguess when coaches say it all the time, you just kinda buy into it,” Gurley said. “They think, maybe it’s true, maybe it isn’t. But with us, it is true.”

Defense let Sherrill to ease into the game. Three first-half steals led to easy buckets on a night when his jumpers weren’t going.

“I thought Scooter let his defense walk him into the game,” Gurley said. “By the fourth quarter, he was wanting the ball like he always does.”

Sherrill led four players in double figures with 22, followed by Sifford’s 14, Williams’ 12 and Minter’s 10.

Rico Greer led Harding with 24 and almost pulled it out for the Rams.

“If we had lost tonight, I wouldn’t have walked out of here disappointed,” Gurley said.. “One thing we’re trying to build on is team chemistry. After this battle, win or lose, we win tonight. We became united. To win this thing was like jelly on the toast.”

n

NOTES: Vicco Barringer, Brandon Mattox and Jonathan Vaughters were lauded for their play off the bench, especially Mattox, who hit a big 3-pointer. “Mattox always hits a big three,” smiled Gurley. ...On the game’s final play, it appeared the ref called a foul on Minter when Greer launched a 35-footer. West stormed the court to celebrate as the ref called it off. Lowery meanwhile chased one official out the door.

WEST ROWAN (65)—Sherrill 22, Sifford 14, Williams 12, Minter 10, Mattox 3, Barringer 2, Dalton 2, Mauldin, Everhart, Diggs.

HARDING (63)— Greer 24, Hayes 10, Ennis 10, Boyce 8, Barksdale 5, Lewis 4, Davis 2.

West Rowan 13 13 6 19 8 6 — 65