Staff report
MOUNT ULLA — You can’t start a basketball game worse than West Rowan’s boys did on Tuesday, but head coach Dadrian Cuthbertson resisted the temptation to head for the nearest exit.
“We couldn’t make a shot,” said Cuthbertson, trying to describe the Falcons’ two-point first quarter at home against Northwest Cabarrus. “Couldn’t make a layup. Couldn’t make a free throw. Couldn’t do anything.”
Two Josiah Young free throws were all the Falcons had to show for the first eight minutes. When the first quarter ended, the Falcons were in a massive hole, something like 20-2. Cuthbertson had stopped looking at the scoreboard by then.
But he hung in there, as did his team. West came back and won 54-53 to end a four-game losing streak.
Brant Graham made two 3-pointers in the second quarter. That helped get the Falcons (7-7, 3-2) going. Jalen Moten also nailed a 3-ball in the period. West scored 20 in the quarter. That was more like it.
Graham and Moten connected for another 3-pointer apiece in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was ruled by Young, who scored 10 of West’s 17 in the quarter. Young made a bucket with six seconds left that proved decisive.
Jaylen “Batman” Donaldson hit a very helpful 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.
Cuthbertson said the Falcons also got a lift from Jamantay Cox, who has been playing more minutes lately. He had a key steal and a lot of tough rebounds.
Young finished with a career-high 22 points. Graham was in double figures for the fourth straight game with 12 points.
WEST scoring — Young 22, Graham 12, Moten 7, Cox 4, Angle 4, Donaldson 3, Bame 2.
