Scooter Rises To The Occasion

BY MIKE LONDON
SALISBURY POST

West Rowan had just beaten North Rowan 76-66 in front of a North gym as tightly packed as your average shopping mall, and Falcon star Scooter Sherrill was wearing a smile as big as a desperate dad who's just found furbys on sale at half price.

It was nice to see Scooter flash one of Rowan County's most famous grins, because he's a young man with a job as difficult as anyone this side of Bill Clinton. He's one of the few teenagers in the world who can score 25 points and dish out six assists and have spectators leave the gym disappointed because he didn't dunk four times.

But Friday night Scooter forgot about everyone else's crazy expectations and just went about having a blast. The result was a sensational 30-point effort (with 17 coming in the fourth quarter). And when it was over, you can bet there wasn't a soul in the appreciative audience who his admission charge back.

''This was fun,'' said Sherrill. ''The crowd was great, I knew it would be. North played us tough, played us man-to-man. Whenever we come here, it's like the Bulls and Knicks.''

At least like the Bulls and Knicks used to be when the NBA courts were still in session. But what Scooter was talking about was obvious. He was talking about intensity.

And if this game was Bulls vs. Knicks everyone knows what role Scooter played - and it wasn't that of Luc Longley.

''You know,'' said North coach Kelly Everhart, who was a victim of Sherrill for the first time, ''Scooter's as good a player as there's been around here in recent memory. I enjoyed watching him play, and I could have enjoyed it a lot more if I wasn't coaching against him.''

Give Everhart and the Cavs credit for Sherrill's virtuoso performance, his best of the young season. They pushed Sherrill to use everything in his arsenal to keep West (7-0) unbeaten.

''We challenged our kids,'' said Everhart. ''Our kids loved taking on the role of underdogs and they raised their play up a notch for West. They were excited. For a lot our young guys, this was their first game in this kind of atmosphere. I was proud. They left everything they had on the floor.

''If West doesn't come in here and play outstanding, we have a chance to steal a win. The crowd and the way our kids fought, well, this is what high school ball is all about.''

North came out with a scary rush of adrenalin. Their intensity level knocked West back, and the Cavs led quickly 9-1. West didn't make a field goal until Tommy Lee scored five minutes into the game.

But the Falcons clawed back. The early key was Lee, a senior guard, who has been struggling to find minutes. He made a couple of steals and suddenly the Falcons were on top 17-15 after a quarter.

''Tommy has veteran minutes under his belt,'' said West coach Mike Gurley. ''The key for us is everyone absolutely finding a role. Tommy understood his role tonight, understood what had to be done. You try to push the right buttons. Tommy and Brian Hatley gave us a good combination tonight.''

By the second quarter, the Falcons were playing great ball, but North wouldn't go away. The Cavs (2-4) looked like anything but a team that scored 36 points in a recent home game (South Rowan). Everhart got points from everywhere - 11 from Dre Byrd, 10 from Taivio Davis and Bryan McCullough, and eight each from Anthony Allman and Tony Morgan. And his inspired team pursued every loose ball as if it were a $20 bill.

''I knew it would be tough,'' said Gurley. ''North wasn't intimidated. They took it to us, hurt us in a lot of ways.''

West forward Antwan House was literally hurt in the first quarter, suffering a deep gash above his eye. But House returned, patched up and looking like Joe Frazier after the ''Thrilla in Manila,'' and was able to score 10 huge points.

West led by 35-28 at the half, then grabbed control when Sherrill hit two 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the third quarter to make it 41-31.

North still trailed only 67-58 with 2:31 left when Sherrill threw in an amazing 15-foot jump hook, while being knocked down. That circus shot ended North's hopes.

''You mean the and-one,'' said a laughing Sherrill. ''I guess I made that one up while I was in the air.''

When you're having fun, you can do things like that - provided you're Scooter Sherrill.

''I'd have to say Scooter enjoyed this one,'' said Gurley. ''He needed a game like this.''

NOTES: West's 6-7 Donte Minter scored 11 points, seven in the second quarter. ... North will be seeded fifth in the Christmas tournament. West, the No. 1 seed, hosts East on Monday.

_WEST ROWAN (76) - Sherrill 30, House 10, Lee 9, Avery 4, Hatley 7, Jones 2, Sifford, Johnson, Mattox, McCain 1, Williams 2, Minter 11.

_NORTH ROWAN (66) - Byrd 11, Davis 10, Reddick 7, McCullough 10, Sturdivant 2, Allman 8, Morgan 8, Miller 4, Lawing 6, Headen.