By Mac Heffner
The Mount Airy News
mheffner@mtairynews.com

TOAST - This week has been filled with good news and bad news for the North Surry boys basketball team.

The good news?

North Surry is playing Starmount tonight at home with a shot at clinching the Mountain Valley 2A title.

The bad news?

The Greyhounds will do so without the services of Brandon West.

North was upbeat during practice on Thursday night, despite the loss of West, a senior guard who will miss the rest of the season due to a broken bone in his left foot. West, who watched practice with a cast on his left foot Thursday, was hurt earlier this week, but not before hitting a crucial shot at Ashe County on Monday night.

West, North's second leading scorer, hit a three-pointer on Monday with his team trailing by two points to help the Greyhounds beat host Ashe County in game's final seconds. That win helped North (12-8, 9-1) stay in first place in the MVC.

In 10 league games, West has averaged 15 points per game, 3.1 rebounds and three assists. He hit 48.5 percent from 3-point range and is a 73 percent free-throw shooter.

Coach Chris Butler of North said West's injury was a big setback for his team with Starmount and its center Victor Davila, a 6-foot-9 Virginia Tech signee, visiting the Greyhounds tonight.

"It's a big loss because of his scoring and ball handling," Butler said of West. "But, we hope we have some guys that can step up and replace some of the numbers we've lost. We've are young, but we have kids that have gotten a lot of experience this season, and they have to be ready to step up."

Senior Lee Martin will be counted on even more with West out. Martin leads North with 19.9 points per game to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists per outing.

The Rams (12-7, 8-1) have lost three of the last four meetings with North, including the first meeting in Boonville this season.

"It was good to win at their place, but it will take that effort and more to win Friday night," Butler said.

Davila is the Rams' centerpiece, but starters Chris Cowles, Shane Bryant, Cody Spicer and Matt Brown have stood out at times for Starmount this season. Cowles is a capable outside shooter, while Spicer can score from all over the floor.

Butler said limiting Davila's touches inside was important, but added that the Rams big man would "still get his" share of points.

"We want to limit him for sure," Butler said. "At the same time, you have to limit the other starters because they are good players."

North expects to have a solid home-court advantage with a large, rowdy crowd.

"We expect a packed house," Butler said. "It's always fun to play in that type of environment, and we did it Monday in a hostile environment. We should be able to feed off of a more friendly crowd that is in favor of us tonight."