Salisbury, tied for last place in the CCC, led by nine points in the first half as the Hornets made a strong bid for an upset of the third-place Cavaliers.

North (11-4 overall, 4-2 in the CCC) outscored the Hornets (3-14, 1-5) 17-10 over the last 8:08 to avoid an upset loss.

“You could tell we had four nights off playing basketball,” said North coach Gary Atwell. “We were just very sluggish at the outset. We just stood around and watched lots of times without moving toward the ball.”

North, because of Tuesday’s snowfall, had not played since falling at High Point Central the previous Friday. Salisbury had taken a four-point win at North Stanly on Monday.

CoachJennifer Shoaf’s Salisbury girls stayed ahead most of three quarters mainly because of superb free throw shooting. The Hornets went 15-for-16 at the foul line with senior center Sherree Gillespie hitting 12 in a row and 13-for-14, both the best efforts in the county this season. She finished with a game-high 21 points and added 13 rebounds for a double-double.

“Our goal every game is to shoot 75 percent from the foul line,” said Shoaf. “We spend a lot of time in practice doing it. Tonight, they really exceeded that. Only two people shot free throws, though. She (Gillespie) did a good job.” Crystal Taylor made the other two foul shots.

“But when you make 11 field goals in a game, you’re not going to win too many,” Shoaf added. Her team was only 11-for-52 (21.2 percent) on field goals.

Salisbury’s last lead came at 27-26 after two Gillespie free throws with 16 seconds left in the third.

Forward Megan Honeycutt, who led North’s scoring with 18 points, scored from the baseline with eight seconds to go for a 28-27 lead entering the final quarter.

North scored the first six points of the final quarter for an 8-0 run and led the rest of the way, but it stayed close. Forward Jenny Reilly’s basket with 3:14 to play pulled the Hornets within 38-35.

Forward Courtney Hill, who was 5-for-5 on field goals and scored 12 points, converted on an assist from point guard Joyce Hipps, then guard Amber Hill made two free throws as North went up by seven to wrap it up.

Shoaf said, “I was pleased overall. I think the biggest disappointment was at the end.I gave them specific directions, and we didn’t follow them. ... I think they played hard. I can’t doubt their effort.”

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NOTES: North went 17-for-44 (38.6 percent) on field goals and 9-for-16 at the foul line. ... Salisbury, led by Gillespie and forward Tiffany Robinson(seven boards) outrebounded the Cavaliers 36-31. ... Hipps led North’s rebounding with eight. ... North had 15 turnovers to 16 for the home team.

NORTH ROWAN (43) — C. Hill 12, Tucker 2, Honeycutt 18, A. Hill 9, Hipps 2, Bowers, Bowie, Craige.

SALISBURY (37) — Robinson, Reilly 8, Gillespie 21, Charleston 4, Taylor 2, Chunn 2, Bauk, Atkinson.

North Rowan 5 11 12 15 — 43