By Ronnie Gallagher
rgallagher@salisburypost.com
West Rowan boys coach Mike Gurley termed Wednesday’s game in the Moir Christmas Classic against Davie County as “one of those methodical, 12 people in the stands, 1:30 fifth-place games.”
Davie’s Michael Key thrilled all 12 of them.
Make that 13. Gurley’s joining the long-range shooter’s fan club.
Key came off the bench to drill 5 of 6 3-pointers and lead all scorers with 16 points in Davie’s 56-46 win.
“Michael Key’s 3s were … key,” Gurley chuckled after the Falcons fell to their neighbor from just across the Yadkin River.
That was it for the chuckling. Gurley finds West at a very uncharacteristic 2-4 going into an NPC game against North Iredell on Tuesday. The Falcons came away from the Moir 0-2.
Davie, on the other hand, is playing well. The War Eagles (8-5) won their last two games in the Moir after losing decisively to South Rowan in the opener.
Beating West was important. Davie was on a five-game losing streak to the men in blue.
Davie coach Mike Absher was asked if his players were intimidated by the “West Rowan” on the opponent’s jersey, especially when West zoomed out to a quick 14-7 lead.
“I told them they needed to take pride on what was on our uniform,” he said. “Monday was such a disappointment, they had to take some pride into it.
“It’s a big step to beat them.”
Davie’s Shannon Dillard started the game by dunking, but when Domonique Noble stuffed one home, West led 7-2. It quickly became 11-2 when Keshun Sherrill hit two free throws and B.J. Sherrill put in a rebound basket.
“If they had kept running, it might get to double digits,” Absher said.
Insert Key, who hit three straight 3s to give Davie some confidence. The War Eagles turned the game around, outscoring West 21-7 in the second quarter.
West stayed close thanks to Isaiah Cuthbertson, who scored a career-high 12 points. But the Falcons still trailed 49-38 when defense took over. Three straight steals turned into a drive by Cuthbertson, a layup by Jarvis Morgan and another dunk by Noble.
With 4:49 left, Absher went to a stall and Davie held on.
“His kids seemed a step quicker and a little more aggressive for more periods of time than we did,” Gurley said. “We’re not letting this interfere with our No. 1 goal ó to do well in the conference. We’re 1-0.”
west Rowan (46) ó Cuthbertson 12, K. Sherrill 12, B.Sherrill 7, Noble 6, Gore 5, Crucitti 2, J. Morgan 2, T. Morgan, Miller, Phifer, Phillips, Warren, Turner, Wood.
davie county (56) ó Key 16, Mayfield 13, Redmon 10, N. Jones 9, Dillard 6, Neely 2, Absher, Slabach, Simmons.
West Rowan 14 7 15 10 ó 46
Davie County 7 21 15 13 ó 56