From staff reports

SALISBURY — East Rowan’s boys basketball team was smashed by Salisbury on Thursday on the first day of the Dale’s Sporting Goods Sam Moir Christmas Classic, while West Rowan was blown away in the fourth quarter by North Rowan.

Both teams regrouped from Thursday’s disappointment and staged a great game at Catawba College in a Friday morning consolation. The sixth-seeded Falcons won 68-65 against the seventh-seeded Mustangs, who are still searching for their first victory.

East had a desperation shot come close to tying it in the final seconds.

“We played very well and I thought West played well also,” East coach Trey Ledbetter said. “It was a really good high school basketball game. We made a few miscues down the stretch and they scored a few more than us.”

East led 39-38 at the half and took a three-point lead to the fourth quarter. The Falcons held East to nine points in the final quarter.

Brant Graham made six 3-pointers and scored a season-high 20 for the Falcons (2-7). Graham hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter.

Evan Kennedy scored 17, while Ja’mih Tucker, Josiah Young and Israel Ford added nine points each.

West overcame a career game by Brody Thomas, who scored 21 for the Mustangs (0-10). Aiden Lino scored 11. Logan Bradley had nine.

West ended a five-game losing streak and beat the Mustangs for the 14th straight time since East won 64-62 in the 2018 Christmas tourney.

East     20    19    17    9    — 65

West   23    15    15    15    — 68

EAST — Thomas 21, Lino 11, Bradley 9, Butler 7, Krider 7, Shive 6, Ailshie 4.

WEST — Graham 20, Kennedy 17, Young 9, Ford 9, Tucker 9, Moten 3.