By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
LEXINGTON ó With Salisbury’s girls playing suffocating defense, Central Davidson registered two more field goals than Hornets guard Bubbles Phifer.A limping Phifer sat out the entire game with an injury.
Shi-Heria Shipp provided the scoring punch as Salisbury set a school record for fewest points allowed in its 42-8 victory against the Spartans on Friday. The previous mark of nine was established earlier this season in the Hornets’ 91-point win against South Mecklenburg.
“We hammer that all the time ó defense, defense, defense,” Salisbury coach Andrew Mitchell said. “I think when we get a little time over the break we’ll go back and focus a little more on our offense. “We work so hard in practice to make the offense look ugly, when we get to the game, our offense looks ugly. The other team’s offense looks ugly, too.”
Central went 0-for-20 from the field in the first half and trailed 20-3 at the break.
Lydian Beck swished a 3-pointer with 6:34 left in the third quarter, and Salisbury (8-0, 2-0 CCC) had limited the Spartans (4-4, 0-1) to a 1-for-36 showing prior to Jazmine Charles’ layup with 22 seconds remaining in the contest.
“It’s something to take pride in, but it’s not like we’re trying to keep ’em under 10 points,” Shipp said. “We just go out and play defense as best we can. When you look up at the scoreboard and it’s eight or nine, it’s good defense.”
The Spartans scored the first point, and Salisbury didn’t scratch until 3:27 remained in the opening quarter.
Central wanted to hold for one shot in the final 25 seconds of the period. Two steals from Shipp turned into a layup and a pair of free throws.
Shipp led the Hornets with 18 points and six steals. Mitchell said he hopes to have Phifer, the team’s leading scorer, back by the start of the Christmas tournament.
“I think she just needs a little time off,” Mitchell said. “It’s hard to say, and she’s been sick. We just felt like a few days would do her good.”
SALISBURY (42) ó Shipp 18, N.Phifer 4,Ay.Holmes 4, As.Holmes 4, Wylie 4, Pearson 3, Miller 2, Heilig 2, Rice 1, Young, Ross.
C. DAVIDSON (8) ó L.Beck 4, Charles 2, Reid 2, Guterman, Ch.Tysinger, Hall, Ca.Tysinger, Baldwin, Tuttle, Jernigan, E.Beck.Salisbury 15 5 13 9 ó 42
C. Davidson 1 3 3 2 ó 8