Staff report

SALISBURY — Salisbury’s Myles Smith windmill-dunked, the crowd got excited, and East Rowan boys basketball coach Trey Ledbetter knew it was going to be a long Thursday night in the gym.

“Myles is the most athletic wing I’ve seen in a long time,” Ledbetter said. “He does things you don’t see high school guys do very often.”

Smith, a 6-foot-4 transfer from Charlotte’s Victory Christian, is averaging 20.4 points a game for the Hornets. He had 26 points in three quarters against the Mustangs to lead an 80-38 romp.

Smith is an uncommitted senior. He announced this week that he received an offer from Livingstone College.

Junior guard Braylon Taylor also has been a consistent source of points for the Hornets. He scored 21 on Thursday and is averaging 18.4 per game. He averaged 10 per game as a sophomore, but he’s made a jump with more minutes, more shots and more responsibility. Someone had to replace the massive points the Hornets lost when Juke Harris graduated. Together, Smith and Taylor are doing that.

After those two, coach Albert Perkins’ Hornets (5-3) score by committee. Macari House was head of that committee on Thursday with 11 points.

“Salisbury is very good,” Ledbetter said. “And it’s early. They’re going to keep getting better.”

Jaden Reid scored 11 for the Mustang (0-7), but it was a mismatch.

The Hornets had victory secured by halftime when they led 41-19. It was 70-26 after three quarters.

East Rowan 6    13    7    12   —  38

Salisbury     16   25   29   10  — 80

EAST — Reid 11, Ailshie 7, Thomas 7, Bradley 6. Shive 4, Blakeney 2, Krider 1.

SHS — M. Smith 26, Taylor 21, House 11, Hairston 6, Matthews 4, Brown 3, Cherry 3, B. Smith 3, Webb 2, Davis 1.