Staff report

SALISBURY — West Davidson came out smokin’ hot in the first quarter, but in the end, Salisbury held serve at home, 67-59, in boys Central Carolina Conference basketball action here Tuesday night.

Coach Brian Withers’ Salisbury team improved to 14-2 overall and 3-0 in the CCC, setting up a showdown this Friday at North Rowan, also undefeated in the conference. West Davidson falls to 5-11 overall and 0-4 in the league.

Carson Beane had two first-quarter 3-pointers to get the Green Dragons rolling early and the visitors had an 18-9 lead at the end of the frame.

But Salisbury put together a nice 16-8 second period to cut the deficit to 26-25 at halftime.

The Hornets had the advantage (26-20) in a wild third period, as West Davidson’s Scott Hughes scored 13 of his game-high 25 points in the quarter.

Entering the final period with a 51-46 lead, Salisbury added to its margin slightly (16-13) behind six points from DJ Alexander, four points each from Tre Oats and Deshawn Troutman, and a bucket from Wes Fazia.

Alexander, a senior forward, led Salisbury with 18 points. Oats followed with 12 points while Troutman added 11 points. Shooting guard Will Leckonby scored eight points, with 3-pointers in the first and third quarters.

Isaac Baker, a starting guard for Salisbury, suffered a leg injury in the first quarter and was carried from the court.

Following Hughes’ big scoring night for West, Holden Lanier followed with 11 points. Beane and Zach Michael added 10 points each for Coach Derrick Stokes’ Dragons.

Salisbury made eight of 12 free throws while the Dragons were eight of 14. Hughes was 7-for-10 at the line.

WEST DAVIDSON (59) — Beane 10, Adams, C. Beck, Bauguess, B. Beck, Lanier 11, Michael 10, Hughes 25, McKinney 3, Simmons, Reamy.

SALISBURY (67) — Oats 12, Horne, Harris 4, Baker, Troutman 11, J. Yang, Moss, A. Yang 3, Hughes, Fazia 6, Alexander 18, Leckonby 8, Rivins, Robinson 5.

West Davidson       18     8   20   13 — 59

Salisbury                   9   16    26   16 — 67