Staff report

GASTONIA — The 2017-18 girls basketball season in Rowan County was quite good, with Carson (25), West Rowan (21), Salisbury (19) and South Rowan (18) combining for 83 wins, including five in the state playoffs.

Of those four strong teams, Salisbury was the one that stumbled toward the finish line, 18-2 late in the regular season, but ending up 19-6. The Hornets couldn’t overcome a late-season injury to star Bryanna Troutman and exited the 2A playoffs in the first round.

Salisbury has retooled quickly, with Troutman, a first team all-county pick and a 1,000-point scorer, returning to health, and with standout junior guard Anayia Fulson, a second team all-county player, back for her third year as a starter. Fulson is closing in on 700 career points.

The Hornets have added a lot of quick, new faces to the mix, and they’re playing the uptempo brand of basketball that coach Lakai Brice, who is now in her sixth season, prefers.

“We’re faster than last year and deeper — we have a lot of girls who can come in and contribute,” Brice said. “I’m excited about this team.”

Salisbury opened with a 71-42 romp at Thomasville on Friday and didn’t do anything to derail Brice’s excitement in a non-conference game on Monday, winning big at Gastonia Hunter Huss, 70-39.

The 6-foot-1 Troutman, who has signed with Wingate, stuffed the stat sheet for 13 points, 14 rebounds, six blocks, four assists and four steals.

Freshman Jalieah Gibson had 10 points, 10 rebounds and four steals for the Hornets (2-0).

Janika Glenn, a returning starter, had nine points and five steals.

Fulson scored eight.

Eleven Hornets scored.

“We did a good job of getting out in transition and pressing,” Brice said. “We got some layups and we were finishing at the rim.”

Huss fell to 1-1.

Salisbury is home tonight at 6 p.m. for a Central Carolina Conference game against West Davidson (2-0).

Salisbury has played so far without returning starter Tacorra Robinson, but Robinson is expected back Friday for the Hornets’ game with Lexington. That could be a big one in the CCC. Lexington is off to a 5-0 start under new coach Andrew Porter.

Salisbury scoring vs. Huss: Troutman 13, Gibson 10, Glenn 9, Fulson 8, McEntyre 6, Brown 5, Oats 5, Robinson 4, Mashore 4, Evans 4, McCullough 2, Harrell, Horton.

•••

NOTES: South Rowan’s basketball games with Ledford that were scheduled for tonight have been postponed due to Ledford’s run in the football state playoffs. North Davidson will be Ledford’s opponent in the 2AA regional final on Friday, and that’s also affected South Rowan’s basketball schedule. South Rowan’s girls will play at North Davidson on Thursday, but the boys game has been postponed. … Both East Rowan teams have started with some energy and will host Concord tonight. … West Rowan is at A.L. Brown tonight. West’s girls are off to a 2-0 start.