Falcons Smash Mustangs 92-33

BY RONNIE GALLAGHER
SALISBURY POST

Ouch!

There's not much more to say about West Rowan's 92-33 victory over the East Rowan boys Monday night in the West gym.

East coach Mark Flynn didn't have too much to say about the game. West coach Mike Gurley didn't have much to say about the game.

So both simply talked about the Falcons as a team. A powerful team. A deep team.

Regardless of who you're playing, it is still difficult to defeat an opponent by 59 points. According to Flynn, it just shows what a juggernaut West Rowan is in this sport. All 12 Falcons put the ball in the basket.

"We were intimidated," said Flynn. "It was West Rowan basketball - the tradition and all that. But we're better than that. I'm not saying we'll go out and beat West but we'll give them a better game next time."

Gurley's undefeated (7-0) Falcons couldn't have played better. They hit high gear midway through the first period.

Leading 10-3, Tommy Lee banged home a 3-pointer. Scooter Sherrill stole the ball and hit a layup. Brian Hatley took a pass from Sherrill and scored. Richard Jones swished a baseline jumper for a 19-3 advantage.

And on and on and on.

Gurley was very happy with his team's beginning.

"We were encouraged," he said. "We haven't been starting games very well lately. We were down 8-0 to North Rowan."

"They're a solid team," said Flynn, "one of the best 3A teams in the state."

Everyone knew that already so Gurley had the job of preventing a ragged, overconfident performance.

"I think you've got to concentrate on yourself and make sure you're ready to play, focused and have intensity," said the gregarious Gurley.

After four straight games on the road, it was nice for the home fans to see the Falcons back in the Gurley Dome.

"We just wanted to play," said Gurley. "We haven't been in the Big House in four games so it was fun to be back here."

Sherrill certainly enjoyed himself, throwing down one 180-degree slam while scoring, passing and stealing his way to an effortless 20 points.

"Isn't that the way he's played for two and a half years?" Gurley asked. "People get on him, telling him he shoots to much and unfortunately, it weighs on his mind. I tell him that sometimes, I don't think he shoots enough. If I could shoot the ball like that, I'd shoot a while lot more.

"He's finally realizing that these people are just trying to find a chink in his armour. So he's just going out and playing."

Three other players ended up in double figures with 10: Tommy Lee, Jones and Terris Sifford.

Sifford is just a sophomore who is relied on more for his defense.

"Sifford is a defensive madman," Gurley praised. "He's like a bowl of spaghetti, all noodles and arms and everything else. He plays so hard. He feels a role we need - come in, make things happen with defense and intensity.

Jones, who moved in from Boston, had one of his best scoring nights.

"He got quality minutes that he needed to try and understand his role."

East fell behind 42-16 by halftime and then gave up 27 more Falcon points in the third for a 69-23 deficit.

"I thought after halftime, we'd settle down and do the things we're supposed to," said Flynn. "It was same things. Turnovers and rebnounding killed us. But I still think we're going to get better at that."

When Mark Johnson bombed in a 3-pointer with 17 seconds left in the game, the Falcons lead had reached a whopping 59 points.

"They can either keep their heads down and get down on basketball or get their heads up and get better," said Flynn of his team. "We'll work hard and maybe two years down the line, we'll remember games like this. If we keep our heads up, get bigger and stronger, then you'll want to pay somebody back."

Gurley simply faced the facts. He's coaching the better team now but said East's time is coming.

"Mark Flynn is a good coach and he's got East Rowan going in the right direction. They're extremely young.

"You want to see them be successful," said Gurley. "I think every coach in Rowan County was very pleased when they won (over Piedmont earlier in the season). Myself, personally, I think they're going to win more."