Coach Houston Fancher asks for patience
By Steve Behr

sports@wataugademocrat

CHARLOTTE — If there is one thing that Appalachian State men’s basketball coach Houston Fancher would like to see from ASU fans who attended the Mountaineers’ 84-78 loss to Charlotte Monday night is patience.

While the Mountaineers’ front court is loaded with seniors, the backcourt is young. Starting point guard Ryann Abraham is a redshirt sophomore and his backup, Donald Sims, is a true freshman. Abraham didn’t miss a shot in scoring 11 points, but also had six turnovers and one assist. He hit three 3-pointers and a 2-pointer, but also fouled out.

Sims missed his lone 3-point shot attempt, but hit 2-of-3 attempts from the floor and finished with four points. He also had four turnovers and struggled against the 49ers’ pressure defense.

The two replaced three-year starter D.J. Thompson, who led the Mountaineers in scoring his final two seasons with the team. Demetrius Scott and Nate Cranford, both starters last year, also graduated.

“I was thrilled with the different sections of fans who made the trip and who believe in this team and I’m going to ask them to continue to believe in this team, because they have a special team here,” Fancher said. “They’ve got a team that is going to compete for a championship this year. I’m not going to back away from that statement because I believe that these guys have an opportunity to do that.”

Fancher said that it will take time for the younger players to grow into their roles like Thompson, Scott and Cranford did.

“With so many new faces, you’ve got to be patient with new kids and allow them to grow a little bit and not expect them to jump right in and drive like D.J., Nate and Demetrius did,” Fancher said. “Those guys had been doing this for four years and now we’re asking guys who have been doing it for one (year) and none to step in and provide us with the same thing. It’s going to take time, but I was encouraged tonight. I expect more and they know that, but I was pleased with the effort they gave us tonight.”

Shooting guard Kellen Brand, a sophomore, led all ASU scorers with 27 points.

Eduardo Bermudez, a junior, finished with nine points in 34 minutes.

“Kellen’s ready to step out and be one of those leaders for us,” Fancher said. “He’s a guy who wants the ball in his hands. He’s a scorer by nature and we’re going to need him to put points on the board.”

Redshirting the season
Appalachian State center Tyler Webb and freshman guard Donterious Hughes will redshirt this season. Webb, who would have been a junior this year, faces a logjam of frontcourt players who are seniors this year.

Loud crowd
Fancher and Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz were impressed with the energy the Halton Arena crowd gave both teams. A total of 7,065 fans, many pulling for Appalachian State, were as loud as Lutz has heard since the days the 49ers played arch-rival Cincinnati in Conference USA games, though it didn’t get quite that loud.

“I know that Appalachian brought a lot of folks, too,” Lutz said. “But our season ticket holders and our community folks have been there for a long time. And our students are always great. With more numbers, it just resonates.”

Familiar VIP
Former Mountaineers coach Buzz Peterson watched the game court side with former Charlotte Bobcats head coach Bernie Bickerstaff.

Peterson, who is the director of player personnel for the Bobcats, coached the Mountaineers from 1996-2000. He is the last coach to guide the Mountaineers to the NCAA tournament, having done so in 2000.

Peterson was 79-39 while at Appalachian State. He also coached at Tulsa for a season before heading to Tennessee for four years. His last coaching job was at Coastal Carolina.

UNCC soccer honored
Charlotte’s women’s soccer team was honored during the second half of Wednesday’s game. The 49ers, captained by former Watauga standout Ashley Rex, won both the regular season and Atlantic-10 Conference championships.

The 49ers (16-4-1), winners of 10 of their last 11 games, begin the NCAA tournament Friday against Clemson in Knoxville, Tenn. Charlotte beat Clemson 3-1 earlier this season.