From staff reports

For the first time since Christmas, there’s a full schedule of high school basketball games tonight.

The biggest matchup is the Carson at East Rowan girls game in the North Piedmont Conference.

Carson (13-2, 1-0) has won nine straight against the Mustangs (13-2, 1-0), including a semifinal matchup in this season’s Christmas tournament.

East had a breakthrough NPC  win against West Rowan on Tuesday, handing the Falcons (12-1, 0-1) their first loss of the season.

West’s girls came into this week ranked fifth in 3A in the NCPreps media poll, while Carson was seventh.

West will look to bounce back at home tonight against South Iredell (6-7, 1-0). West’s Abigail Wilson leads the county in scoring with 27 points per game.

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While the NPC race is just getting started, teams in the 10-team Central Carolina Conference have reached the halfway point in the league marathon.

Salisbury’s girls (13-1, 9-0), rolled through the first round of the CCC undefeated. Ranked second in the 2A media poll,  the Hornets are at Thomasville tonight.  The Hornets beat Thomasville (6-7, 4-5) on opening night, 73-57.

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South Rowan’s girls (3-12, 2-7) are at home against East Davidson (0-14, 0-9).  South beat the Golden Eagles, 55-49, early in the season.

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North Rowan’s second-place girls (10-5, 6-1) are home tonight in the Yadkin Valley Conference against Albemarle (5-10, 3-4). North outscored the Bulldogs, 68-51, early in the season.

Boys

There’s a furious race in the Central Carolina Conference.

Salisbury’s boys have a key matchup tonight. They’re at Thomasville. Both teams are part of a three-way tie for third, two games behind Lexington and one game behind North Davidson.

Thomasville (10-4, 6-3) beat Salisbury (9-4, 6-3) on opening night, 88-85. Both teams were missing key players.

Salisbury has lost twice this season by three points and twice by two points.

Salisbury will play again on Saturday at 5 p.m. against Reidsville at Greensboro’s Ben L. Smith High as part of the all-day MLK High School Tourney Town Showcase. Fans can see all seven games for $10. Tickets are sold at the door. Games start at 11 a.m.  Salisbury plays in the fifth of the seven games.

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South’s boys (1-14, 1-8 CCC) have a chance to end a 10-game losing skid tonight at home against East Davidson (1-13, 1-8 CCC). East Davidson beat the Raiders, 53-51, in  their early-season matchup. South’s Braden Graham is averaging 19.1 points per game.

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West Rowan (7-5, 1-0) started NPC play with a win against East Rowan and is home tonight against South Iredell (3-11, 0-1).

Jalen Moss is averaging 17.9 points per game.

Carson (8-7, 1-0) plays at East Rowan (2-13, 0-1) in a rivalry game in the NPC.

Carson’s EJ Clark  averages 22.2 points per game.

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North Rowan’s boys (9-4, 7-0) are tied for first in the YVC with Chatham Central.

The Cavaliers host Albemarle (6-8, 4-3). North won the earlier meeting, 75-61.

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Davie’s boys (10-4, 1-1) are home against Glenn (9-7, 2-0)  in the CPC, while A.L. Brown (11-3, 1-1)  hosts Central Cabarrus (10-6, 1-1) in  a key SPC matchup.