De’Mya Phifer (middle) holds 1,000-point ball.

 

By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

MOUNT ULLA — The game in the West Rowan gym on Tuesday night was bigger than most, and there was extra stress on senior guard De’Mya Phifer, who needed 13 points for the 1,000 milestone.

Achieving 1,000 points is supposed to be fun. But while the magical milestone brings pride and joy to family, coaches and teammates, getting to the doorstep of 1,000 means dealing with a bit of pressure on every shot attempt, and needing 13 isn’t like needing two or three. Thirteen is about what Phifer averages.

The opponent wasn’t going to make it a walk in the park. Northwest Cabarrus was in the house, and the Trojans, always tenacious, are one of the top teams in the South Piedmont Conference.

“Northwest is big and they’re good,” West coach Ashley Poole said. “We knew De’Mya would have to work for every point she got.”

There were anxious moments in the first half, but it all worked out. West Rowan won 74-48 to stay unbeaten in the SPC. Phifer not only got the 13 she needed, she exploded for a season-high 21. Now she’s at 1,008 …. and counting.

Fueled by Mya Edwards’ eight points, the Falcons took an 18-6 lead after a quarter

Phifer didn’t get off to an ideal start. Her offensive contribution in the opening quarter was just two free throws.

Then West missed eight free throws in the second quarter and had to settle for a 35-24 halftime lead. Phifer had one bucket and six points at halftime.

“She came over to me and said that she just wasn’t going to be able to get it tonight,” West coach Ashley Poole said. “I told her to relax, that her teammates had her back. She was rushing. She needed to let the game come to her more. I’ve had quite a few 1,000-point scorers, and there’s always anxiety when you get close. You just have to play and let it happen in the flow of the game.”

It happened in a big way for Phifer in the third quarter. She had four buckets and nine points in the quarter and reached the milestone — plus two.

“She used her defense to create her offense,” Poole said. “That’s something she’s always done.”

West (11-1, 6-0) needed Phifer’s third-quarter outburst to stay in command of the game. The Falcons led 54-40 going to the fourth quarter.

West finally put the Trojans (11-4, 6-2) away with a 20-point fourth quarter. Lauren Arnold had eight in the final quarter, while Phifer had six.

Arnold, who had to fight through some foul trouble, scored 19. Emma Clarke scored steadily throughout the game and accounted for 18.

“It’s an unusual game when Emma doesn’t look big out there, but she didn’t tonight,” Poole said.  “She played really well.”

Tiara Thompson had a light scoring day, but she took on the toughest defensive assignment against Northwest’s quick guard Re’ale Walton.

Walton scored 16, but was held to one field goal in the second half. Post player Kennedy Hilsenroth scored 11, while Mackenzie Ortscheid, a forward who can score inside and out, had nine.

West won’t get to relax long. Robinson, also undefeated in the SPC, will visit on Thursday.

NW Cabarrus   6     18    16    8    — 48

West Rowan    18    17   19   20   — 74

NWC — Walton 16, Hilsenroth 11, Ortscheid 9, A’lanah Moore 8, Furner 2, A’yanah Moore 1, Bell 1.

WEST — Phifer 21, Arnold 19, Clarke 18, Edwards 8, Thompson 5, Tenor 3.

 

 

 

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