Falcons Turn Back Salisbury In Season Opener

BY ED DUPREE
SALISBURY POST

West Rowan basketball coach Mike Gurley didn't want his second season opener with the Falcons to be like the first, and his boys made sure of it with a solid second half in a 70-54 victory over Salisbury on Tuesday night.

West, coming off its 1997 2A state championship season, hosted Salisbury in the season opener a year ago in Gurley's first game as head coach of the Falcons. The Hornets knocked off the Falcons 58-56.

Last night's meeting in an endowment game at Catawba College's Goodman Gym was the first between the county rivals since that game played almost exactly a year ago (Nov. 25), and West had all it could handle from Coach Drew Matthews' Hornets until midway through the third quarter.

West, ahead only 36-32 at halftime, was on top only 41-40 about halfway through the third quarter.

The Falcons then got three quick baskets - two in transition - from superstar junior guard Scooter Sherrill for some breathing room. His six straight points, followed by another 9-0 run turned the tide in West's favor. The lead eventually reached 20 points.

Sherrill, who scored 1,030 points (fourth on West's all-time list), through his sophomore season, led the Falcons last night with 24 points on 9-for-17 from the floor with three 3-pointers and 3-for-5 at the foul line. Senior forward Antwan House was also in double figures with 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Falcons to a slim 37-35 advantage on the boards.

For Salisbury, senior center Robbie Jefferies scored 13 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Jefferies had a solid inside game with 14 points and nine rebounds against the Falcons a year ago.

"We really made it a key that Robbie Jefferies is one of the top players in this county. He's one of the top players in the CCC (Central Carolina Conference). We did not want him dominating that offensive glass the way he did one year ago," said Gurley.

"Donte Minter and Frankie Williams, I thought, played excellent in the post. ... We've got to rebound. We're big, and there's no reason for us not to get position and really get the glass and hold teams to one shot," said Gurley. Williams, the 6-5 starting center, was active in the paint defensively.

"I thought Frankie really battled on the boards. Frankie looked to be assertive," said Gurley.

Minter, a 6-7 freshman, came off the bench for seven points, seven rebounds and a couple of blocked shots. Did that performance in his first varsity game surprise Gurley?

"Yes and no. No, it's not a surprise, because we know he has talent. But, yes it was a surprise, because I don't expect anything from Donte this year. He's a ninth-grader. ... He's 14 years old. We know that consistency probably is not something that goes with a 14-year-old's game. We're trying to see what we get in Donte, and use it. When he doesn't play to his level, we're not going to get down on him," said the West coach.

Each team made over 20 turnovers (Salisbury 23, West 22) in the fast-paced game.

"I think ragged play kind of plagued both teams at times," said Gurley. "I thought the turning point was our 2-3 zone (starting the second half). We got a lot of breaks off that. I'm not a zone man by nature.

However, when a zone works and you can make the other team miss jump shots, you're in perfect running lanes. ... We had the longest and most sustained spurt through all the ragged play, and it was caused by the zone. They were missing long shots. I thought we did a super job of getting position and boxing out, which is something we've made an emphasis for 15 practices. Then we got the rebound: Boom, we were running. ... Brian Hatley (reserve guard) got out on the wing and ran fantastic. Antwan House, besides some turnovers that he's got to work on playing out on the wing, did a nice job running."

Salisbury's Matthews, making his varsity coaching debut after replacing the retired Sam Gealy last summer, was especially pleased with his team's first-half effort.

"I think the kids did a good job. I think they tried to do what we've been working with them in practice - execution, rebounding and making good decisions with the basketball. I was pleased with their effort in the first half," said Matthews.

"I think in the third quarter we came out a little flat. That's when West usually comes out strong. That's probably one of the biggest differences in the game. I think we did some good things, and we have a lot of things we need to improve on," he said. "They had a couple runs. We made turnovers and turnovers. You can't make turnovers against West, because they've got some people that can finish the play."

NOTES: West went 24-for-54 on field goals (44.4 percent) to Salisbury's 20-for-54 (37 percent). West had a nine-point edge at the foul line, making 19 of 31 to Salisbury's 10-for-20. ... West will not see action again until Dec. 2 at home against South Rowan. Salisbury hosts Charlotte Country Day on Dec. 1.