From staff reports

Boys roundup …

SALISBURY — Zay Kesler scored a career-high 26 points and led Salisbury to a 74-72 double-overtime win against Ledford on Tuesday in the SHS gym.

The Central Carolina Conference game was tied at 62-all after regulation. Kesler made free throws to help the Hornets get to overtime, and he also made key free throws late in the contest.

“It was tight and we fumbled it around some, but Zay played a tremendous game,” Salisbury coach Bryan Withers said. “We also got big performances as far as rebounding and defense from Lawon Blackwell, Kevin Chawlk and Raheim Walker.”

Jacquez Smith scored 11 for the Hornets (4-2, 4-1).

Ledford (2-2, 2-1) put five players in double figures led by Chad Dorrill with 18 and Ethan Reece with 15.

“Ledford is a very good team, excellent at sharing the ball,” Withers said. “We had to do some good things to beat them. We know we can put points on the board, but our defense isn’t where we want it to be yet.”

Salisbury plays at Central Davidson in another league game on Thursday.

LEDFORD (72) — Dorrill 18, Reece 15, Reed 11, Partee 10, Little 10, Lester 6, Compton 2.

SALISBURY (74) — Kesler 26, Smith 11, Chawlk 9, R. Walker 9, Gill 6, Witherspoon 5, Blackwell 4, Carlton 2, Norman 2.

Ledford               14    15    17   16   (10)    — 72

Salisbury           9      21    17  15    (12)    — 74

 

West-A.L. Brown

MOUNT ULLA — West Rowan’s winless boys pushed A.L. Brown’s undefeated club on Tuesday in the West gym, but the Wonders walked away with a 58-50 victory.

Payne Stolsworth scored 20 to lead the Falcons (0-8). He’s scored 20 or more in four straight games.

Amare Haynie carried most of the load for the Wonders and scored 22.

It was an interesting cat-and-mouse matchup between coaches Mike Gurley (West) and Shelwyn Klutz (A.L. Brown), old friends who took over at their respective schools prior to the 1997-98 season.

With a small lead, A.L. Brown held the ball for much of the fourth quarter.

West controlled the second quarter and led 34-30 at the half, but the Wonders had a strong third quarter, grabbed the lead and kept it.

A.L. Brown (6-0) had won an earlier meeting in Kannapolis, 71-48.

A.L. BROWN (58) — Haynie 22, Isom 7, Briggs 7, Foggie 7, Chapman 6, Grier 6, Colson 2, Glenn 1.

WEST (50) — Stolsworth 20, Brawley 9, Butler 8, Joseph 4, Tadlock 3, Ford 2, Hassard 2, Moseley 2, Weeks, Matthews.

A.L. Brown               21    9    17    11    — 58

West Rowan            12  22    7      9     — 50

 

Carson

CHINA GROVE — Carson’s boys stopped a three-game skid with a 68-52 home win against Central Cabarrus on Tuesday.

The Cougars had lost to the Vikings early in the season, 75-71, but Carson (3-6) played that one without Cole Perry.

Perry scored 23 in the rematch.

Carson also got a season-high 13 from Mark Spry, who made three 3-pointers, and 13 from EJ Clark.

“We had more continuity tonight than we’ve had,” Carson coach Brian Perry said. “Guys are learning to play together the right way, and this was the best 32 minutes we’ve put together so far. Shots were going in, and when that happens, it’s easier to do all the other things.”

Carson was down by a point at halftime but took charge with a big third quarter.

“We’ve had a couple of bad ones this year, but we’ve kept working,” Coach Perry said. “I was proud of how we played tonight.”

Christian Cornish and Nasim Fuller scored 13 each for the Vikings (2-6).

Carson plays at Davie County on Thursday.

CENTRAL CABARRUS (52) — Cornish 13, Fuller 13, Bessette 10, Heslop 8, Jones 5, McCallum 2, Alston 1.

CARSON (68) — Co. Perry 23, Clark 13, Spry 13, Smith 8, Mauldin 7, Hales 2, Jackson 2, Zuniga, Harris, Allen, Washington.

C. Cabarrus    15   17    11    9     — 52

Carson            14   17   23    14      — 68