Hornets hoping to leave the pack

Salisbury’s boys basketball team faces its biggest game in a long while tonight when it travels to Central Davidson.

With a win, the Hornets (6-11, 4-4), can snap a tie for third place in the 2A Central Carolina Conference and will be well on their way to making the state playoffs.

Four CCC teams get bids. Lexington and West Stokes are locks for the top two spots, but third place — and immunity from being bumped out of the playoffs by an upset winner in the CCC Tournament — would be quite an achievement for the young Hornets.

Salisbury’s task tonight won’t be an easy one, however, because Central (9-4, 4-4) whipped the Hornets 66-53 in the first meeting in Salisbury. Spartan forward Nick Wilson torched the Hornets for 26 points in that game, so coach Drew Mathews has to find defensive answers for him to win the rematch.

But the Hornet boys also played one of their best games Friday in a 66-65 loss to West Stokes. Seniors Chris Geter and Andre Bruce have come on in recent weeks to lead this team toward one of four playoff berths.

Salisbury’s girls (5-12, 3-5) are on the edge of slipping from playoff contention. A loss tonight to Central (7-10, 3-5) would be the finishing blow. Salisbury dropped the first meeting to the Spartans 62-46.

North Rowan’s teams play host to West Stokes in another CCC twin bill.

North’s boys (5-13, 2-6) aren’t likely to make the state playoffs, unless they win the conference tournament. The Cavaliers do have a shot at an upset tonight because they played competitively with second-place West Stokes in King, losing 57-51. The Cav girls will be looking for their second win of the season.

In the 3A North Piedmont Conference, the biggest games are at Statesville, where the Greyhounds entertain A.L. Brown.

A.L. Brown’s boys have a nice record (12-4, 3-3), but will be in serious trouble as far as grabbing one of the NPC’s three state playoff spots if they lose to the Greyhounds (9-9, 5-2) for the second time.

A.L. Brown’s girls (12-4, 3-3) are in dire straits, too, after a home loss Friday to West Rowan. The Wonder girls beat Statesville in Kannapolis, but finishing off a sweep of the talented Hounds (14-4, 4-3) in their own gym will be a tall order.

“There’s still a long way to go and nothing’s decided yet,” said A.L. Brown girls coach Doug Wilson. “We’re not out of it by any means. And don’t forget the conference tournament. Any of six teams can win that thing.”

East Rowan’s girls (15-2, 5-1) are rolling along in first place in the NPC and should play much better at Mooresville (2-14, 0-6) tonight than when they eked out a 36-28 Saturday afternoon sleeper over the Devils in Granite Quarry. That may have been the Mustangs’ worst game.

East’s boys, losers of 13 straight, seek an upset of a solid Blue Devil team (12-4, 4-2) that is scrapping for a playoff berth.

East’s teams also have weather-related makeup games at Northwest Cabarrus on Wednesday night.

West Rowan gets tonight off, returning to action Friday at home against Statesville.

Everyone gets a rest in the 4A Central Piedmont Conference. South Rowan returns to action Friday at West Forsyth, while Davie County visits South Iredell.