Sports - January 2003

Hard Loss

West falls hard at Cherryville

TERRANCE THOMAS, LTN Staff Writer

January 1, 2003 - CHERRYVILLE — With one blow of a whistle, a referee can change the course of a game, even in the first quarter.

With several calls in the first quarter, an official can take a team out of a game.

Cherryville boys basketball team went to the free throw line 17 times in the first quarter to West Lincoln's three Monday.

 The free throws helped the Ironmen jump out to a 27-5 lead. The Rebels weren't the same after that. Things quieted down in the second half but it was over. Cherryville won easily 74-47.

It was a tough night for the West Lincoln faithful across the board. The Lady Ironmen also cruised to a big win, 54-30.

The calls in the boys game angered West coach Jason Kingery.

"West Lincoln (basketball team) will not play at Cherryville again," he said. "If they try to make me play here again, then I will resign that day. The officials dictated the outcome of this ball game. There were ten team fouls before we got one. (Cherryville) has a good defense but still it wasn't good. I'm upset at the officiating."

The Ironmen had beaten the Rebels twice this season already in closer games. They ran out the gate with a 8-0 lead.

West chipped backed into the game with a shot from Jeremy Detter and a 3-pointer from Cody Branton. The Ironmen scored after that to make it 15-5.

Then the game changed.

On West’s turn with the ball, a Cherryville was not called for an apparent foul.

When Cherryville got the ball, a West player was charged for a holding foul. He complained and/or said something back. The same official called a technical foul on one of his teammates instead who was nearby. That player said it wasn’t him. It was uncertain that the technical was called on the fright person.

All this happened in front of the scorekeepers table and the West bench. The officials didn't straighten it out. The technical stood.

Some of West players and fans were furious.

Regardless, Cherryville took two regular free throws, the technical and regained possession.

West Lincoln wasn't the same until the second half, but by then a confident and, perhaps, a better Cherryville team simply punished the Rebels.

It was 39-9 at one point. The lead increased to 40 later in the fourth. Both teams’ starters played most of the second half.

Nic Baxter and Zach Franklin both had team-highs with nine points each. Ben Bryant and Detter both pitched in with seven.

Both teams played their fourth game in five days. For West, the real season, conference play, begins Friday when big rival Lincolnton visits.

The Lady Rebels has had problems scoring this season. It was the same on Monday.

The Lady Rebels got their first basket from the field with 5:40 left in the second quarter. By then the Lady Ironmen were up 19-3.

While West struggled to hit outside shots and shots inside, Cherryville hit from all over, especially on layups. Cherryville guard Angie Walls scored on three layups in the first quarter and was fouled on two of them.

Cherryville led 27-11 at the half and increased it to a 30-point lead when it outscored the Lady Rebels 18-8 in the third quarter.

Since the game was decided early, both coaches seemed to use it to try new plays and get some reserves playing time.

After the loss, Jessica Leatherman said her team has to go back to the basics.

"We learned that we need work better as a team," she said "We need to work on our fundamentals. We weren't warmed up or something. (After the start of the game), it went downhill. I think Cherryville is awesome."

Leatherman had one of he better games. She scored six along with Valerie Fite. Lily Tallent game a team-best 12 points.

The only thrilling game on the night was the jayvee boys game. West's Ryan Huffman hit two free throws with five seconds left to help the Rebels win 44-42.

He along with Gene Arp and Ben Hickman had 10 points.

© 2001 Lincoln Times-News  

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