Coach Drew Mathews’ basketball team racked up its highest point total of the season in an 88-72 romp over High Point Central in the championship game of the 2A Central Carolina Conference Tournament at the Ledford gym here Saturday afternoon.

“I think we’re getting better every game,” said point guard Boo Blount after scoring 20 points to lead the Hornets’ balanced attack. “I said (two weeks ago) we were going to make the playoffs and we were going far. That’s what we’re going to do.”

The Hornets, now 13-14, entered the CCC Tournament as the league’s No. 3 seed, but earned the No. 2 seed by winning the conference tournament. Salisbury also earned a first-round home game against Hibriten of the Southern District 7 at 7 p.m. Monday in the 2A playoffs.

“We’re just going to have to play hard,” said Blount.” We play them at our house, and we’re supposed to win at our house.”

Salisbury had defeated North Stanly 77-59 and second-seeded Ledford 72-65 earlier in the week to reach the finals, and the Hornets’ strength in those victories was the inside scoring and rebounding of 6-4 post players Thad Pryor and TerryJohnson.

Johnson still had a big game yesterday with 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Pryor grabbed nine rebounds before getting in foul trouble, but a major part of the Hornets’ victory was the backcourt of starters Blount and Ken Drye and reserves Randall Jones and Markeice Daugherty, who combined for 53 points.

“I just told my guards earlier, ‘If the shots were there, let’s take it tonight,’ and we were on,” said Mathews. “That’s the most 3-pointers we’ve made all year.”

The Hornets got nine 3-pointers — six by guards Jones (3), Blount (2) and Drye (1). Johnson even moved outside for three 3s.

Jones and Drye joined Blount and Johnson in double figures with 14 points each.

Mathews had praise for his quartet of guards.

“Most teams that we are going to play against are going to have two good guards, and I’ve got four guys that can come in and just wear them down,” said the second-year head coach.

“They’re not necessarily overlooked: They understand their roles. The focus has been Thad and Terry all year, and we’re not going to change that focus. They understand that. You’ve got to have go-to people to go to, and that’s Thad and Terry,” said Mathews.

“I think our guys will stack up with any team’s guards. We’ve been playing together for a while like North Rowan. I think we can stack up with anybody,” said Blount.

North Rowan, led by point guard Dre Byrd, won the conference title during the regular season, but was upset by High Point Central in the semifinals Thursday night.

“I think we are some of the best guards in the conference,” said Drye. “Compared to Byrd, we’re just as good as him, as a group.”

Mathews said of his quarterback, “With Boo playing like he did tonight, he makes us go. He came out and had 20 points, and he created shots for other people. I talked to him yesterday about being aggressive. If he gets us going, it makes it easy for the rest of them to pick up and follow his lead, and he did that tonight.”

Blount was 6-for-10 on field goals and 6-for-8 at the foul line. He had six rebounds, five steals and three assists.

“Drye is just playing an all-around game. ... Randall Jones did his job. He’s our spot-up shooter and he hit a couple of 3-pointers early, and it was over after that. ... Markeice (Daugherty) is playing great defense the last couple of games,” said Mathews.

Salisbury took its first double-figure lead at 41-29 on Jones’ second 3-pointer with 2:21 left in the half. The Bison never got closer than 10 after that, and the Hornets’ lead reached 27 at 72-45 late in the third quarter.

Mathews’hot Hornets have now won seven of their last eight games, losing only to North Rowan.

“We have a game at home Monday night — Hibriten, which is new territory for them. We’re going to be at home, and I hope they’ll just continue. It’s a new experience for all the guys, and I’m looking forward to it,” said the coach.

NOTES: The Hornets continued to dominate under the boards, outrebounding the Bison 41-24. Johnson and Pryor combined for 20 rebounds, while 6-5 Alex Martin of HighPoint had only four. ... Brandon White made three 3s and led HighPoint’s scoring with 20 points. Martin scored 16, and Coulter Warwick and Willie Baker added 13 and 10, respectively. ... Salisbury was 31-for-68(45.6 percent) on field goals and 17-for-25 at the foul line, while the Bison were 26-for-49 (53.1 percent) from the floor and 15-for-22 at the line... Salisbury had only five turnovers through three quarters but finished with 13. HighPoint lost the ball 20 times. ... The Bison(13-12) will be the CCC’s No. 3 seed for the playoffs.

HIGH POINT CENTRAL (72) — White 20, Warlick 13, Martin 16, Keever 5, Baker 10, Waugh 4, Brenner, Shaver 4.

SALISBURY (88) — T. Johnson 19, J. Johnson 4, Pryor 4, B. Blount 20, Drye 14, Jones 14, Speigner 4, Blanton 4, Daugherty 5.

High Point Cent. 17 16 14 25 — 72