Already without scoring sensation Sherree Gillespie, out with a sprained ankle, the Hornets lost the services of Keke Chunn Friday night against Davie County. The result was a 58-45 loss to the War Eagles.

Actually, Shoaf was upbeat afterward, despite the fact her team fell to 0-8 on the season. She liked the fact that others were forced to step up.

Chunn went down to the court twice with asthma attacks. She left for good with 4:41 left in the third quarter and Salisbury, which lost to Davie in an earlier meeting by 18, down just 32-27.

“I think it was more anxiety,” Shoaf said. “She uses an inhaler but she panicked because she got so hot and couldn’t get her breathing controlled.”

Chunn had 12 of the team’s points by then but without her, Davie began pulling away.

Shoaf was happy to see reserves come off the bench for big shots, something she agonizes over.

“They won’t shoot when they’re open,” she said.

But freshman (Monica) Clinding was forced to make some plays and she finished with six. Charlene Miller drilled two 3-pointers. Jenny Reilly played her usual solid game, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

“They got excited over what they were doing,” Shoaf said. “There was a level of confidence. At one point, they thought they could win.”

But so did the War Eagles. Led by savvy senior Tina Harkness, who led all scorers with 22 points, Davie did a good job of scoring on fast break layups. In fact, seven of her baskets came on layups.

But Salisbury hung tough, taking the lead, 9-6, after a Reilly layup off a steal.

It was nip and tuck until Julie McDaniel swished a three-pointer to put Davie up for good 17-14. Salisbury trailed 21-17 at halftime.

“I was happy at halftime,” said Shoaf.

Davie’s lead quickly went to 29-20 at the beginning of the third period. Three layups by Harkness and a hoop by Ashley Williams made it an uphill battle for Salisbury the rest of the way.

Shelby Michael, Lauren Cornatzer and Harkness scored in the final two minutes of the third to give Davie a 39-29 advantage going into the final eight minutes.

And after Chunn’s last attack, she would not be back.

“She lost it there at the end,” Shoaf said. “We couldn’t get her calmed down enough to put her back in.”

Clinding, who was just called up from the jayvees (“and was scared to death,” according to her coach) hit two baskets in the final period. Charleston and Anita Edwards each scored and Miller banked in another three. But Salisbury could get no closer than 39-33.

With three minutes left, Michael and Harkness began a parade to the free throw line.

Shoaf was definitely impressed with Harkness, a waterbug.

“We didn’t do a good job of denying Harkness,” said Shoaf. “She’s going to hit her free throws. That’s experience and leadership. And she’s got such a nice shot.

“She was all over the place. We didn’t do a good job of keeping up where she was.”

Micheal had a quiet 10 points but she scored six late in the fourth when the game was still on the line.

Shoaf put another positive spin on the loss. This will probably be the last game without Gillespie.

“We’re learning to play without her but we don’t have the confidence to step up and take over,” she said. “I told the girls “Everything you’ve learned in these six games, you’ll have to keep doing.”

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NOTES: Shoaf said Chunn would be back. “It was a setback tonight but she’ll rebound from it.” ... Charleston had 10 points for Salisbury. ... Shaof said she was also impressed with McDaniel, who finished with seven ... Cornatzer scored six for Davie.

SALISBURY (45) — Chunn 12, Reilly 10, Charleston 7, Clinding 6, Miller 6, Edwards 3, Atkinson 1, Taylor, Bauk, Robinson.

DAVIE COUNTY (58) — Harkness 22, Michael 10, McDaniel 7, Cornatzer 6, Merlau 4, Williams 4, Raynor 3, Moore 2, Whitaker, Angell, Gajewski.

Salisbury 9 8 12 16 — 45