Staff report
If the Sam Moir Christmas Classic’s top two boys seeds ó West Rowan and Salisbury ó make it to Tuesday night’s championship game, Davie coach Mike Absher wants to be there to witness it first-hand.
His War Eagles have already lost to both teams this season and comparing the two are easy.
“I felt that those were the two best teams in the tournament and after them, there’s everyone else,” said Absher, who lost his first-round game to South Rowan on Saturday. “Both teams are so athletic. Both have a post presence with (Salisbury’s Brandon) Abel and (West’s K.J.) Sherrill. And they’ll both get after you with defensive pressure.”
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Salisbury (9-1) beat North Rowan on opening day and takes on South Rowan at 4:30 p.m. today. Top seeded West (6-0) meets Carson at 7:30 p.m.
West beat Carson in a recent matchup 79-35, but Salisbury’s only loss was to South Rowan. Defensive pressure hasn’t seemed to bother South star Hunter Morrison, so stay tuned.
The first boys game of the day will be Absher’s War Eagles against North Rowan at 1:30 p.m.
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Absher warns that if you concentrate solely on stopping West’s Sherrill, you may pay the price. Davie found that out in a 69-35 loss to the Falcons.
“We held K.J. to nine points,” Absher said. “But they have so many other weapons. They shoot well from the perimeter. And K.J. is so unselfish. He’s like, ‘Let’s just get the win.’ ”
Davie lost to Salisbury 74-48.
“Salisbury was very good at pressing the ball,” Absher said. “They’re all about pressing and then finishing.
“Abel and K.J. would be a good matchup,” Absher said. “And the guard play, with (Darien) Rankin and (Kaleb) Kimber is very good.”
Absher has many fond Moir memories. In fact, he saw a long run end with the 68-56 defeat to South on Saturday.
Davie had a streak of six straight years making it to the semifinal game end. The War Eagles have been to three championship games, winning two in Absher’s seven years.
“I’ll be honest, those two championships are high on my list of accomplishments,” he said. “It’s always a tremendous atmosphere and springboarded us for the rest of the year.”
Absher knows not to get ahead of himself. Talented South Rowan and Carson, of course, will have a say in whether the dream matchup between West and Salisbury becomes a reality.
But if it does?
“That would be a great one,” he said.