No one saw this one coming. Not for an instant.

Concord’s 97-95 overtime win over Salisbury in boys basketball — an instant classic — dropped out of the clear, blue sky. This one was like finding a running Mercedes in the junkyard.

The only number you need to know was that on Wednesday night, Salisbury scored the most points it’s put up in its last 154 games (since a 99-69 romp over West Stanly in 1994) — and still lost.

The Hornets (2-3) and the Spiders had gotten together in Concord (2-1) eight days earlier. Salisbury coach Drew Mathews described his team’s play that night, as “out of control,” and they still won by 13. One area coach, who was on a scouting mission, got up and left in the middle of that one, because he couldn’t bear to watch anymore.

But then came last night. And this time, two basically ordinary teams who are going to have to battle to make the state playoffs turned just another sleepy nonconference game into something that was magical, marvelous and memorable.

Even Concord’s old-school coach Foster Parker, who’s led his teams in hundreds of games that were infinitely more significant in the standings, was moved by what he saw in the Hornets’ ancient gym.

“It was awesome,” he said. “It was a fabulous, fabulous basketball game. One of the better ones. To see my kids struggle as they did on Tuesday (a 52-50 win over Piedmont) in a game that was 6-4 after the first quarter, and then to come in here and win a ballgame like this — let me tell you, this is what it’s all about.”

Parker is trying to revive a once proud program that has struggled in recent years. Last night, he may have found the catalyst for that revival.

Concord finally survived when Hornet forward Ken Drye’s 3-point attempt hit the front rim as time expired. Drye’s look was rushed and difficult, but not impossible, and until that final shot rattled away, he and his teammates firmly believed they would somehow find a way to win.

“I thought it was in,” said Jerry Miller, one of the Hornets’ surprise heroes. “Just a little short.”

Randall Jones led the Hornets with 22 points. Markeice Daugherty scored 17, Drye 16, Miller 12, and Chris Geter 11. Miller, who hadn’t played at all the previous night after missing a practice, was a revelation. “He came to me today and told me he wanted a chance to play,” said Mathews. “And he played very well.”

Greg Calzado had 19 to lead five Spiders in double figures.

There were at least 10 major momentum swings and five disqualifications due to fouls.

It was an unusual game from the get-go. Concord’s 8-0 run right out of the box propelled the Spiders to a 36-30 halftime cushion.

The third quarter was zany. The Spiders raced up by eight, then went down by six when Daugherty went on a solo rampage that fueled a 24-10 Hornet burst. By the end of the quarter, it was all even at 59-59 and both teams were in foul trouble.

In the fourth, the Spiders missed three uncontested layups and suddenly Salisbury had control. With 4:15 left in regulation, Drye, playing with two fingers heavily taped, scored in the lane for a 71-65 Hornet lead. Still leading 75-70 with 2:54 remaining, the Hornets went to their delay game. But the Spiders forced turnovers and took a 76-75 lead on a Calzado steal at the 1:23 mark.

“We played hard — a whole lot harder than we did Tuesday,” said Mathews. “But we couldn’t make the right decisions as to who should get the ball and where they should get it and when they should get it. But my kids were in situations they aren’t used to. The guy who’s made those decisions for this team the last two years was sitting beside me with his foot in a cast.”

The injured party was point guard Boo Blount, who may not be back in action until the Christmas Tournament. The Hornets have missed him every game since his injury, but never more than last night.

Still, they had their chances. Drye scored after a flurry of Hornet offensive rebounds to give the Hornets a 77-76 lead with 52 seconds left. Then Geter slapped a ball free, but was called for a foul with 24 seconds left. Mario Peay cashed one free throw for 77-all.

The Hornets had the last possession of regulation and got three cracks. But Drye, Miller and Geter missed in the lane. Overtime.

Concord took charge in the OT, storming out to a 91-82 edge. But Jones hit his first 3-pointer of the game with 56 seconds to go, moments before he fouled out, to turn things around.

The Hornet deficit was six with 32 seconds left, when Jerome Allison tipped in a miss to make it 94-90. Then Concord missed two free throws and Salisbury’s C.J. Mears was fouled on the rebound. Mears made two clutch foul shots with 17 seconds left and it was 94-92.

Calzado calmly put in two free throws to push the lead back to four, but Miller tossed in a flying, off-balance 3 with eight seconds left for 96-95. Calzado then split two free throws for 97-95, setting up the Hornets’ last possession. A pass was tipped out of bounds, but the Hornets retained possession on the side in the backcourt with three seconds left. Allison dumped the ball in to Drye, who took off and pulled up at the arc where he launched his near miss.

“We lost but this should still boost us up,” said Miller. “We’ll be hungry now. We weren’t hungry when the game started, because of the way we beat them last week.”

“I hate to lose,” said Mathews. “But this is one our kids can build on. I saw a lot of good things out there.”

CONCORD (97) — Calzado 19, Smith 12, Tims 12, Peay 12, Cook 10, Howard 9, Fairley 8, Cummings 7, Tucker 6, John 2.

SALISBURY (95) — Jones 22, Daugherty 17, Drye 16, Miller 12, Geter 11, Knauf 7, Boyd 4, Mears 2, Edward 2, Allison 2, Bost.

Concord 15 21 23 18 20 — 97 Salisbury 14 16 29 18 18 — 95