Staff report
The anticipated battle for second place in the CCC never fully materialized as the quicker Salisbury Hornets blistered Ledford’s girls 59-34 on Friday in Wallburg.
“They are a step quicker,” Ledford coach John Ralls said. “They’re two steps quicker. They’re three steps quicker. You can’t duplicate that or practice against that when you don’t pass. It’s tough.”
Salisbury (19-2, 10-2) jumped out to a 12-6 lead, and the Panthers managed to stay within striking distance through the first half.
After Ledford’s Chelsea Freeman popped a jumper from the elbow early in the third quarter, the Panthers (16-5, 9-3) trailed by nine.
Buoyed by the play of Ashia Holmes, the Hornets went on a 20-0 tear that gave them a 50-21 lead by the end of the quarter.
In one stretch during the run, Holmes scored eight points in less than three minutes.
Salisbury also played suffocating defense against the Panthers.
“We needed to be patient trying to get the ball up the court,” Ralls said. “When we got the ball up the court, we needed to get into our half-court offense rather than take the first open look we got.
“We tried to do that some, but once you falling behind, it’s hard to stick to that plan.”
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Notes: Bubbles Phifer scored 12 points to lead Salisbury, and Holmes finished with 10. Shi-Heria Shipp and Ayanna Holmes had nine.
salisbury (59) ó B.Phifer 12, As.Holmes 10, Shipp 9, Ay.Holmes 9, Wylie 6, Heilig 6, Miller 4, Rice 2, N.Phifer 1, Young.
ledford (34) ó W. Saintsing 12, Freeman 11, Perricozzi 8, Ballard 3, Holbert, Williams, Parks.Salisbury 12 14 24 9 ó 59
Ledford 6 11 4 13 ó 34