By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
Salisbury seniors Shi-Heria Shipp, De’Rya Wylie, Kia Rice, Nene Phifer and Jasmine Clinding started the last regular-season home game, and picked up the 101st win for the class of 2009.
Salisbury pounded visiting North Rowan 75-28 with a flurry of steals and stickbacks on Tuesday. The Hornets (20-2, 11-2) secured their sixth straight season with at least 20 wins and beat the Cavaliers for the eighth straight time.
Shipp, Wylie and Rice have been key Hornets since 2005-06. They played in the 2A state-championship game as freshmen and reached the Western Regional the past two years. Their careers are winding down, but at the same time they’re gearing up for a run at the one prize that has proved elusive ó a state title.
“There wasn’t that much emotion tonight because there are games left,” Salisbury coach Andrew Mitchell said. “But this is a great group of seniors. All good students; all college-bound. That’s the main thing.”
Wylie led the Hornets, who were in charge 38-9 at halftime, with 15 points. Shipp scored 13.
When North freshman Teaunna Cuthbertson skied for a stickback with three minutes left in the first half, she scored the first points the Cavaliers (3-19, 1-12) got from anyone other than senior Quon Cuthbertson, who had 15 points and eight boards.
Shipp and Wylie had three steals each in the third quarter, and Bubbles Phifer was on the floor fighting for a loose ball with the Hornets leading by 40 late in the game.
“My girls competed hard,” North coach Tony Hillian said. “But Andrew has done a great job with his team. They’re very disciplined and they play together.”
Wylie, a physical post defender despite being a wiry 5-8, got to bang around with friend and rival Quon Cuthbertson, also a four-year varsity player, one more time.
“Quon’s big, and I’m not,” Wylie said with a smile. “But I grew up with Quon, and tonight it was like, ‘Well, here we go again.’ The thing I try to do against her is hold my ground. We don’t want anyone pushing us around.”
Wylie finally drew a fourth-quarter charge on Cuthbertson on her third try.
A key development was Clinding sinking three shots in the second half as Mitchell kept calling her number.
“We want to boost her confidence because she’ll be very important to us in the games ahead,” Mitchell explained.
The games ahead probably include a third meeting with East Davidson for the CCC tourney title next week. The Golden Eagles are responsible for both Salisbury losses.
“We have to get there and so do they, but our blood is boiling for it,” Mitchell said.
north rowan (28) ó Q. Cuthbertson 15, Roberts 8, Gregory 3, T. Cuthbertson 2, Ellis, Smyre, Brown, Turner. Rhinehart, Bethea.
salisbury (75) ó Wylie 15, Shipp 13, Ay. Holmes 8, N. Phifer 8, B. Phifer 7, Rice 7, Clinding 6, Heilig 5, As. Holmes 4, Miller 2, Young.
N. Rowan 6 3 10 9 ó 28
Salisbury 16 22 21 16 ó 75