High school basketball roundup: Salisbury splits
Published 12:22 am Saturday, December 8, 2018
By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com
Friday’s roundup …
SALISBURY — Salisbury’s girls proved something to themselves on Friday.
Even with star Bryanna Troutman stuck on the bench for 10 minutes with four fouls, Salisbury found a way to beat a determined Lexington team, 57-44, in Central Conference action.
As awesome as Troutman can be, it’s still a team game. No. 2 option Anayia Fulson came through, as expected, during Troutman’s absence, but so did newcomers Ja’kiya Brown, Jaleiah Gibson and Rachel McCullough.
Troutman tried to swat a shot and got her fourth foul very early — with 3:21 remaining in the second quarter. She headed to the bench.
Salisbury led 18-15 when Troutman, who is headed to Wingate, departed. Moments later, the Hornets (4-0, 3-0) were reeling and Lexington (6-1, 2-1) was rolling. Lexington led at halftime, 23-22.
Troutman stayed on the pine as the third quarter started and the Hornets appeared to be in trouble. But Brown made hustle plays to keep Salisbury close.
The game-swinging play was a rugged three-point play by Gibson, a freshman, that put the Hornets up 29-27. They wouldn’t trail again.
Fulson followed with a layup and a steal for another layup.
McCullough hit two 3-pointers, and when Troutman returned to the floor with 1:35 left in the third quarter, Salisbury was in front, 40-33.
McCullough’s third 3-pointer stretched the Hornets’ lead to 11 early in the fourth quarter.
Troutman, who still managed to lead Salisbury with 16 points, finished off Lexington with a driving bucket and five free throws.
Danasia Bray was tough on the glass for the Yellow Jackets and scored 18.
LEXINGTON (44) — Bray 18, Harvin 7, Owens 6, Peoples 4, McIntosh 4, Rose 3, Rosenboro 2.
SALISBURY (57) — Troutman 16, Gibson 11, Fulson 10, Brown 9, McCullough 9, Robinson 2, Glenn.
Lexington 9 14 14 7 — 44
Salisbury 8 14 23 12 — 57
Salisbury boys
SALISBURY — Lexington’s 6-foot-9 Alex Holt and junior guard Derrick Dearmon were hard to handle, and the Yellow Jackets stayed unbeaten in the Central Carolina Conference with a 53-49 road win against Salisbury’s defending champs.
Dearmon’s brilliant 27-point night included 17 in the second half and 10 in the fourth quarter.
The Hornets (2-2, 2-1) had plenty of chances to pull it out, but couldn’t get point-blank shots to fall.
Lexington left the door open late with missed free throws, but the Hornets couldn’t corral key defensive boards.
With Lexington leading by three with 19 seconds left, Tedric Jenkins missed two free throws, but Holt blocked a left-wing 3-point try to tie by Salisbury guard Jacquez Smith.
Then Lexington (3-4, 3-0) missed two more free throws, but Holt got the rebound. Then Tyrek McNair made a free throw for a four-point lead and sealed victory.
“We’ve got to rebound better and box out better,” Salisbury head coach Bryan Withers said. “We just didn’t play well at all, but with only three or four guys back from last year, it’s going to take us some time. There are times we’re going to be good, but also times when we’ll be bad.”
Both teams struggled in the first half. There were terrible offensive droughts. Xavier Kesler kept Salisbury close with 15 first-half points. Lexington led 24-23 at the break.
The Hornets played their best ball at the outset of the third quarter, hitting the visitors with a furious charge. Smith made a 3-pointer, freshman Jalon Walker powered in a stickback, Cam Gill exploded down the lane for a bucket, Smith made two free throws, and Walker scored again in the paint for a 34-26 Salisbury lead.
A timeout and a put back by Holt got Lexington settled down. At the end of the third quarter, another Holt bucket in the paint, gave Lexington a 38-36 lead.
Salisbury led 46-45 with 2:03 remaining, but Lexington scored the next seven points. Jenkins took a big charge. Quiet all night, Justice Yim made a huge bucket. The Jackets were suddenly in control, and they just kept getting stops. Holt was a massive presence inside.
“We missed way too many shots in the paint,” Withers said. “It’s a tough loss, but we’ll be fine. We’ve got the pieces and we’ve got the talent to be as good as last year. It’s just a matter of everyone figuring out their roles and learning to play together.”
LEXINGTON (53) — Dearmon 27, Holt 13, Yim 5, Jenkins 4, Ewart 2, Page 1, McNair 1.
SALISBURY (49) — Kesler 18, Smith 7, Gill 7, J. Walker 4, Chawlk 4, R. Walker 3, Norman 2, Carlton 2, White 2, J. Fisher.
Lexington 15 9 14 15 — 53
Salisbury 14 9 13 13 — 49