By Bret Strelow
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
Brandon Abel, a cup of water in each hand, was walking toward Salisbury’s locker room when a well-wisher bowed before him Wednesday night.
A less-stationary Abel helped top-ranked Salisbury move forward in the 2A playoffs by scoring a career-high 31 points during a 74-62 home win against Wilkes Central.
He also grabbed nine rebounds as the Hornets (28-1) advanced to a sectional final at East Lincoln (25-4) on Friday night.
“I just had to move around and stop being in the post because they crowded the post on us,” Abel said. “Coach says I stand still too much, and he wanted me to be active.”
Whether he was working comfortably from the high post and catching passes on the perimeter, Abel found ways to reach the rim against Wilkes Central (18-9).
He shot 13-for-20 from the field while surpassing his previous high of 29 points set a month ago in an overtime victory against Providence Grove. He took the floor Wednesday with six single-digit efforts in his last nine games, including an outing in which he rolled an ankle and went scoreless against Ledford.
“I just haven’t been able to move like I want to, but I’m working it out,” Abel said. “I feel good now.”
Darien Rankin (15 points) and Alex Weant (12 points, eight rebounds, five blocks) also scored in double figures for the Hornets. Thaddeus Williams had seven assists.
Weant’s layup off a feed from Rankin gave Salisbury a 35-30 halftime lead. Abel and Rankin combined to score all 21 of their team’s points in the third quarter, and Abel opened the fourth with a basket that produced a 58-45 advantage.
“He’s a load inside and a tremendous post player,” Wilkes Central coach Matt Hagaman said. “He can step out and shoot the ball, and he was solid from the free-throw line.”
Salisbury overcame early struggles from the line, and Weant made the biggest defensive play.
The Eagles had possession trailing 59-52 midway through the fourth quarter, and Weant stepped out to swat a 15-footer from guard Chase Miller. Dominique Phillips recovered the loose ball and scored a momentum-swinging layup at the other end.
“As long as we play our defense, I think we’ll be all right,” Weant said.
The Hornets failed to connect on a pair of free throws with 2:25 left, and Wilkes Central scored to pull within 63-57. It drew as close as five points in the final minute.
Salisbury missed 10 of its first 13 attempts from the line but went 7-for-7 in the final 1:54 with contributions coming from Abel, Williams and Weant. Abel capped his spectacular night with a three-point play.
“I want to make them all,” Salisbury coach Jason Causby said. “The ones we made at the end were the ones that counted.”
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NOTES: East Lincoln, the Southern Piedmont champion, won 62-53 against Monroe on Wednesday and will play host to the Hornets because of seeding priority. … Rankin was scoreless in the first quarter and managed a pair of transition baskets in the second. He had 11 third-quarter points. … Martin Hague led Wilkes Central with 19 points, and Roddie Bridges had 13.
WILKES CENTRAL (62) ó Hague 19, Bridges 13, Miller 12, Kimbrell 8, Abernethy 3, Alexander 3, Noyes 2, Lakey 2, Cleary, Shumaker.
SALISBURY (74) ó Abel 31, Rankin 15, Weant 12, Phillips 8, Williams 3, Knox 3, Morris 2, Jones.
Wilkes Central 14 16 15 17 ó 62
Salisbury 17 18 21 18 ó 74