Salisbury High Boys Preview

BY BRYAN STRICKLAND
SALISBURY POST

The Salisbury boys basketball program is undergoing a changing of the guard - in more ways than one.

Five-year assistant Drew Mathews is replacing legendary coach Sam Gealy atop the program, and Mathews' first task is to replace a starting backcourt wiped out by graduation.

"I don't feel any pressure following him. I feel honored to be following him," Mathews said of taking over for Gealy, who left after 14 seasons to coach golf at Catawba College. "He taught me a lot about life and a lot about the game. I've worked with a lot of coaches, but I learned the most from him."

Mathews hopes he can pass on that knowledge to his new guards. The front line from last season's 13-10 squad returns intact, but the Hornets lost guards Leonard Owens, Chris Cline and Deshun Johnson - three of the team's top five scorers.

The Hornets do have some skilled players in the backcourt, but they don't have much experience. And Salisbury knows the value of experience: The Hornets appeared to have a state-playoff berth wrapped up last season, but Ledford and its nine seniors came from fifth place to win the Central Carolina Conference tournament and knock Salisbury out of the postseason picture.

"They have talent, but it's going to take time to adjust to their roles," said Mathews, who played guard for Catawba in the mid-1980s. "I do think in time they'll be very good.

"The inside players are proven players. We're going to go inside first and outside second."

That's a good plan. The frontcourt features all-Rowan County center Robbie Jefferies, a senior, and third-year starter Thad Pryor, a junior who will play power forward.

And at small forward, junior Terry Johnson should be back at full strength. Johnson went down early in the season with a deep thigh bruise that required surgery to relieve the buildup of blood.

The backcourt, by contrast, is young. The most experienced of the group is senior Brian Dalton, who as the Hornets' sixth man was a defensive specialist last season. Mathews said that Dalton is likely to start at shooting guard, with North Rowan transfer Alphonso Davis manning the point.

Davis, a senior, didn't play varsity basketball at North.

Three other guards are ready to step in if the starters need help. Sophomore Kenneth Drye played on the jayvee team last season and can play either shooting guard or small forward; sophomore Boo Blount played on the varsity team after Christmas and can play either guard spot; and sophomore Chris Phillips is an excellent athlete who will see time at the point.

Even though this is Mathews' first year as head coach, he already knows the capabilities of all his players. In addition to assisting Gealy, Mathews was head coach for the jayvees.

"I'm fortunate to have already been here and already know the kids in the program," Mathews said.

"It's not like I'm in a situation where I don't know anyone.

"I know what to expect from the kids, and they know what to expect from me."

Despite the frontcourt's experience, they too will need relief at times. Senior center Travis Justice played jayvee last season and is the Hornets' most improved player in Mathews' estimation, and 6-foot-5 junior Byran Speigner will provide defense and rebounding.

Senior forward Ryan Johnson and junior guard Justin Johnson, who are brothers, will provide further depth.

Mathews thinks that state runner-up North Stanly should again be the class of the CCC, which again gets four berths to the state playoffs. Mathews likes the experience of Lexington, East Davidson and High Point Central.

He thinks the way younger players perform will decide the fates of North Rowan, Ledford and his Hornets.

"Making the playoffs is one of our goals," Mathews said. "We must play good defense and control the boards, and we must take care of the basketball.

"But whatever this team does, it will be a special one because it's my first."

Mathews, of course, isn't trying to do it alone. Longtime assistant Bill Lee returns, and Mathews said he still talks to Gealy a couple of times a week.

"I'll call him or he'll call me, and we'll talk about anything from golf to basketball to how the kids are doing," Mathews said. "I still value his input and his opinions.

"He's been a father, teacher and a friend all in one. That's hard to find."