Your “pizza” back door lob became well known to your fans. Did the opposing teams start catching on when you yelled?

“The opposing teams that we played more than once started to catch on to the lob play but very few teams were ever able to stop it!!”

—Marvin Featherstone

Growing up in Kentucky and then Hendersonville, how did the chemistry that you and Kevin developed on the court affect each of your games?

“Being a twin and playing so much together our entire lives created  UNDESCRIBABLE chemistry.  I always knew where he would be on the court and we could read each other like a book.  All those years playing in our backyard for countless hours in the rain, cold, and summer heat made it so easy to play together.  Never had more chemistry with any other player in my career.  I know opposing defenses did not like it when both of us were on the court.” 

—Brian Combs

When you think back on the 1987 season, what’s your favorite memory?

“I have a lot of favorite memories, but what comes to mind is the fun we had in practice. We competed in every drill against everyone all the time. That made us better and made the games easier.” 

—Eric Gash

Your team played at a torrid pace.  Were you exhausted at the end of the game?

“Yes, the pace definitely created exhaustion but coach had us in really good shape.  Our practices were harder than the games.  I was more exhausted after practices.” 

—Brian Combs

What’s the most important lesson you learned from Coach Wilkins?

“Coach Wilkins instilled confidence and a will to win in me. I learned a lot from his defensive philosophies and still use them with my teams.”

—Marvin Featherstone

What was the toughest part of mastering the “run and jump” defense?

“One of the hardest concepts to master, in the run and jump, is timing. As the defender, you want to force the offensive player to one side and the backside defender would spring the trap. The run and jump would not work as well if the offensive player saw you coming so you had to be quick about it.”

—Eric Gash

What did you learn from Coach Wilkins about defense?

“Coach always stressed Defense wins championships.  We would spend 80% of our practices working on defense.  He always said, “I know you guys can score because I watch you guys play pick up in open gym. No need to spend much practice on it.”  It was very frustrating because we all wanted to play Offense. In the end he was right, because our D is what helped us go 28-2 and win a State Championship.  I didn’t fully understand this until I got to college and one of my assistant coaches at UNC-Asheville told me the reason they chose me over other kids they were recruiting was because my defense was the best of the group at my position.” 

—Brian Combs

You suffered a late season injury that could have kept you out of the lineup at a crucial time. What happened? And how determined were you to play?

“During the Regional Semifinals game I injured my ankle late in the game. We had to play the Regional Finals game the next day. I left the gym on crutches after the 1st game. I was so determined that I was gonna play the following night that I literally slept about 2 hours with a bag of ice on my ankle before the Regional Finals game.  Got to the gym and had it wrapped by Doc Durham and played like it hadn't been hurt.”

—Marvin Featherstone

Late in the fourth quarter of the state championship game, when North Duplin started coming back, cutting your lead to five, what was going through your mind?

“As I recall, the only thing that was going through my mind at that time, was let's finish it. We were ready for the moment. We were not going to be denied!”

—Eric Gash

What does the accomplishment of winning the 1987 state championship mean to you now?

“I really think it taught me hard work pays off.  That was a very challenging year for me because we had just moved from Kentucky to a new city and High School and I really wanted to finish my HS basketball career on top.  I remember early on coach talking about this team has a really good chance at winning a State Championship.  That was all I thought about that entire basketball season.  I look back now and it means the world to me.  Accomplishing a State Title is the best way to finish a High School career.  Its surreal how all the pieces fell together and how we as a team bonded instantly and how we played for each other on the court.  Now I tell my son who is 16 and playing HS ball that anything is possible.  What an achievement and I still feel this today.” 

—Brian Combs