Staff report

MOUNT ULLA — Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. on Friday for West Rowan’s girls basketball team in the fourth-round game of the 3A state playoffs.

Win or lose, it will be the last game in the West gym for a senior group of Lauren Arnold, Emma Clarke, De’Mya Phifer, Mya Edwards and Makaylah Tenor that has made a mark at the school and in the county.

The opponent is East Lincoln, so no hype is needed. West (28-1) is the No. 2 seed in the 3A West bracket. East Lincoln (29-1) is seeded third, so the Falcons get to play at home.

West Rowan’s most recent postseason loss was to East Lincoln. East Lincoln’s most recent postseason loss was to West Rowan.

There’s some history involved and for teams that see each other once a year (not counting potential summer match-ups), it’s a serious rivalry.

West’s current seniors arrived on the high school scene in 2020-21, the delayed COVID season. They went 10-4, but the playoffs were condensed, and the Falcons weren’t invited to be part of it.

West’s girls were still only Rowan County’s third-best team when they were sophomores — Salisbury was powerful and 10-deep and the remnants of Carson’s fabulous 2021 team were still very good — but the Falcons were gathering steam late that season and were starting to figure out what they had. They made it to the second round of the 3A playoffs, losing a 56-54 fight with East Lincoln in the “The Bounce House,” East Lincoln’s home gym in Denver, not far from Lake Norman. West finished 17-7.

West’s core group of five was fortified for the 2022-23 season by the addition of talented freshman Tiara Thompson, the transfer of experienced Jamecia Huntley from Salisbury and the presence of defensive-minded seniors Dede Cuthbertson and Sarah Durham. The result was a powerhouse team that went 31-0 for coach Ashley Poole. It was a season of running clocks and blowouts. The toughest fight on the way to grabbing the big prize was the regional final against East Lincoln. That was a 49-42 struggle that took place in neutral Marion. West’s 60-50 win against Rocky Mount in the 3A championship game wasn’t easy, but compared to the East Lincoln game, it was a walk in the park.

West’s team this season is comparable to last season’s, but it’s not as deep without Huntley, Cuthbertson and Durham. Poole has some pretty talented youngsters on the bench who have a future, but right now the Falcons usually go with six while it still matters. That’s the core five, plus Thompson, who has the highest basketball ceiling of all the Falcons. They have all gotten better every year, so they are really good at this point. It’s been another season of blowouts and running clocks. West lost to Lake Norman, a very strong 4A early, 77-73. Since that game, the Falcons have won 26 straight. It may be hard to fathom, but the closest win the Falcons have had all season was by 22 against North Rowan.

When West beat Ashe County 79-52 in Round 3, a 27-point margin, it actually seemed very competitive. It’s been that kind of season. The Falcons have been kicking opponents to the curb since December.

The top six Falcons all have registered 20-point games in their careers. Five average double figures, although Arnold and Thompson can get 20 if they need to. Tenor averages about 7, but she is the wild card because she can rainbow three or four 3s on a good shooting night.

The absence of tight games hurts West some heading into Friday’s showdown. The Falcons can win it, but there’s no doubt this is going to be their toughest opponent since Lake Norman.

Like West, East Lincoln has six very good players. The only loss was to Hibriten early. The Mustangs have won 23 straight since then, including hard-fought home playoff games against Freedom and Stuart Cramer.

East Lincoln senior Abbie Hege’s forte is rebounding. She gets some double-doubles.

Juniors Taniyah Thomas and Neveah Atkins are athletes. They get steals, boards and some points. Freshman Lane Pethel has produced some double-figure games.

The two best players are the sophomores, and they are two of the best in the state.

Guard Kiara “Kiki” Anderson averages 20.8 points and 5.3 assists per game.  She broke her nose Tuesday, changed a bloody uniform, then came back in to lock up the victory against Cramer.

Guard Emma Montenari averages 18.7 points and stuffs the stat sheet in every category, even blocked shots.

It will be a crowd, and West doesn’t have the largest gym in the world. Go early.