The East Rowan Mustangs are not quite ready to relinquish their title as defending girls champions in the Sam Moir Christmas Classic.

A Jocelyn Lowe layup and a string of free throws in the final minute enabled East to hold off Salisbury High 44-40, in the opening game of the annual prep tournament Monday morning at Catawba’s Goodman gymnasium.

In a game of extreme scoring streaks, the score was knotted at 35-35 with 5:30 left to play. Speedy guard Shenique Pharr then gave East a working margin with two free throws and a layup to make it 39-35. But Salisbury tied it again at 40-40 on a pair of Tyzarea Alexander foul shots with just over 40 seconds left to play.

Lowe, the Mustang point guard, then took it inside with 38 ticks remaining for a tough basket and a 42-40 lead.

“I had the whole sideline so I just took it in for the layup,” Lowe said. ” I am just thankful it went in.”

Salisbury freshman Bryanna Troutman penetrated for a short jumper to tie but it spun out with Brittany Small securing the rebound for East. Shenelle Pharr then iced the 44-40 win with 10 seconds left on a pair of free throws.

East had come into the tournament hitting just 43 percent of their foul shots but made 5 of 6 down the stretch to hold off the Hornets.

“We have had a lot of experience with end of game scenarios like that this season,” East coach Danielle Porter said, “and some have not exactly gone our way. But today, we actually did what we were supposed to do in that situation.”

The Mustangs (6-5) came in as the sixth seed but the 9 a.m. start seemed to catch them napping as the third-seeded Hornets (7-4) blitzed out to a 17-5 lead. A pair of long threes by Maria Capito and inside scoring by Troutman gave Salisbury the big edge.

Then the tide suddenly turned for East in the second period with a 14-2 spurt. Shenique Pharr scored two quick buckets then a pair of Laura Weisensel free throws completed the huge rally to give East a 20-19 lead. They built the lead to 25-19 early in the third period before Salisbury battled back ahead to set the stage for the frantic finish to the game.

“You have just got to put your head in the game,” Lowe said of the slow start. “We had the right amount of energy but we finally got back into our game in the second period, rebounding and sprinting to transition.”

Hornet Coach Lakai Brice said the quick start was great but the second quarter was a crusher for her team. “We had just two points in the second quarter and that killed us,” she said. “But in the end, we just needed one more stop and a layup or two.”

East was led by Shenique Pharr with 18 and Shenell Pharr with 10 as they move on to the semi-finals this afternoon at 3 p.m. against second-seed Carson. The Hornets were topped by Capito with 13 and Troutman with 12 as they face Moorseville in another 9 a.m. consolation game this morning.

East R0wan (44) — Shenique Pharr 18, Shenell Pharr 10, Small 6, Weisensel 4, J. Lowe 4,  Harrison 2, Wagner.

Salisbury (40) — Capito 13, Troutman 12, Alexander 9, Robinson 6, Phifer, Glenn.

E. Rowan    8  14    8    14 — 44

Salisbury   17   2  12    9 — 40