From staff reports

Salisbury and North Rowan will meet again tonight in boys basketball in a Central Carolina Conference semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. at Lexington High.

The teams tied for second in the CCC with 7-3 records. The teams have played twice this season at Catawba College.

North Rowan took the first meeting, 81-62, with Joe Scott scoring 32 points and Henderson Lentz adding 20.

Salisbury evened things up last week, holding on for a 54-50 victory behind a career-high 16 points by Zadrian Harris.

North got 25 points from Lentz, but Scott sat out the game with a toe injury.

The winner will play top-seeded Thomasville in Friday’s 7:30 p.m. championship game at Lexington.

Thomasville mauled East Davidson 84-57 on Wednesday.

Carson girls

  Carson’s girls will play in a 6 p.m. South Piedmont Conference semifinal game tonight against Central Cabarrus.

The third-seeded Cougars (20-5) have lost twice to second-seeded Central Cabarrus (22-3). Central won 57-55 and 64-56.

Carson’s other three losses were to Salisbury (20-1) and undefeated Hickory Ridge.

Junior guard Olivia Gabriel (15.6 points per game) and sophomore forward McKenzie Gadson (14.4 points, 8.6 rebounds) lead the Cougars.

Carson got big games in the first round of the SPC tournament from senior Kailie Ketchie and freshman Maci Cooper.

Central is led by guard Mahaley Holit, the leading scorer in school history, and Elanna Peay, who has topped 1,000 career rebounds.

The winner advances to play top-seeded Hickory Ridge at 6 p.m. on Friday.

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Hickory Ridge’s girls (25-0) had their hands full with fourth-seeded Robinson for a half but dominated the third quarter, 23-4, and won 70-50.

Nia Daniel poured in 24 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Bulls. Jiera Shears had 15 points and four assists. Gabby Smith added 11 points.

Jada McMillan scored 17 points for the Bulldogs, while Jessie Koerner scored 16.

College baseball

Justin Evans (West Rowan) got a save with a perfect ninth inning in Barton’s 5-3 win against N.C. Wesleyan.

Evans had one strikeout for the Bulldogs (10-0).

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Colton Laws (Carson) is expected to be the opening-day starter for the Charlotte 49ers when they take on West Virginia on Friday at Hayes Stadium.

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Catawba plays its first home game on Saturday afternoon at Shippensburg.

7th-grade hoops

Knox’s boys defeated Erwin, 40-36. Cameron Stout led the Trojans with 17 points.

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Knox defeated China Grove, 41-40.

Jayden Harris led the Trojans with 17 points. Stout had 11 points and Justin Taylor  scored 10.

A.L. Brown football

  The NFL, through the NCHSAA, has sent a gold football to the school in honor of Mike Morton, who  played on a Super Bowl winner.

The presentation is set for  Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m.  in the school auditorium.

The football banquet will follow.

Women’s hoops

Morehead State’s Shay Steele (West Rowan) had 12 points and eight rebounds in Wednesday’s 87-74 win against Tennessee State.

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Mars Hill’s Aliyah Farmer (North Rowan) had 19 points and seven rebounds in Wednesday’s 91-63 loss to Lincoln Memorial.   

Men’s hoops

In Newberry’s 93-84 win against Lenoir-Rhyne on Wednesday,  Mason Spease (Central Cabarrus)  made four 3-pointers and scored 19 points.

DJ Copeland (A.L. Brown) had six points, seven rebounds and four assists for the Wolves.

Prep wrestling

The three-day state championship tournament in Greensboro  begins today.

Wrestlers from Salisbury, Carson, East Rowan, South Rowan, A.L. Brown and Davie have qualified.

ER travel baseball

East Rowan travel team baseball tryouts for 7U will be on Feb. 27-28 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Granite Quarry Elementary School.

Contact Jason Cauble at 704-239-2613.

Tryouts for 10U will be  on Feb. 19 at 2 p.m. at Staton Field.  Contact Roby Holmes at 704-213-7883.

Tryouts for 11U will be on Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. at Staton Field. Contact Chuck Hayworth at 919-412-6068.