Guards help ASU’s

rise to first place
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

Appalachian State’s young backcourt has gone through some growing pains this season.

However, the young backcourt has been growing up as the 2007-08 season has gone along. They are a big reason why the Mountain-eers are 14-7 overall, 9-3 in the Southern Conference and are in first place in the North Division.

College of Charleston, Appalachian State’s opponent at the Holmes Center Thursday night (7 p.m. tip-off), has also gone through some growing pains. The Cougars (10-12, 5-7) have dropped four straight before beating The Citadel 63-48 Monday night. It was the longest Charleston losing streak since the Cougars lost five straight in 1979.

To make matters worse, Charleston coach Bobby Cremins suspended two players — forward Dustin Scott and guard Marcus Hammond — for undisclosed violation of team rules.

Cremins said in the Charleston Post Courier that the suspensions were for just the Cougars’ game against The Citadel, so both are expected to play Thursday.

“They’re playing some freshmen and you’re going to have some bumps in the road with young kids like that,” Mountaineers coach Houston Fancher said. “Confidence is an important thing with young players.”

Appalachian State’s young backcourt seems to be gaining confidence as the season goes on. Even though the Mountaineers struggled through two close games, a 56-52 win over Elon and a 69-64 victory at Western Carolina, the Mountaineers have limited late-game mistakes that can cost teams victories.

Jeremi Booth, a redshirt freshman, got his first start Saturday in Appalachian State’s win over Western Carolina. He joined freshman point guard Donald Sims and sophomore guard Kellen Brand in the starting lineup.

Brand, who collapsed on the court after running into a pick that knocked him unconscious four game-minutes earlier, did not practice Monday, but worked out Tuesday and should be ready to return to the lineup Thursday against Charleston. Brand was guarding Western Carolina’s point guard when he ran into a solid pick set by the Catamounts’ Arnold Gore. Brand left the game, but responded to a battery of tests given to him on the bench and eventually went back into the game.

He drained a long jump shot that gave the Mountaineers a 62-60 lead, but felt dizzy when Western’s Brandon Giles was shooting foul shots.

He fainted as Giles’ second shot went through the net with 1:23 left in the game.

“Kellen’s OK,” Fancher said. “He sat out practice (Monday), but he should be back.”

Charleston is the first of three games the Mountaineers will play at home. They host The Citadel Saturday and then Wofford next Monday. It’s a chance for the Mountaineers to add some league victories before facing two critical North Division road games at Elon (Feb. 14) and at UNC Greensboro (Feb. 16).

Western Carolina helped the Mountaineers’ cause when the Catamounts surprised visiting Chattanooga 70-66 Monday night. Georgia Southern also helped when it tripped UNC Greensboro 80-78 in Statesboro, Ga.
Monday’s games left the Mountaineers in first place, by themselves, in the North Division. Chattanooga slipped to 14-9, 9-4, while UNC Greensboro is 13-7, 7-4.

Fancher likes the idea of not only being in first place, but also Appalachian State having five of its final eight SoCon games at home.

“It’s good to be there now, but there are some important games to be placed and lots of mileage left in this race,” he said.