Staff report

SALISBURY — It was far from easy, but Salisbury’s girls got in the win column on Monday.

The Hornets prevailed 66-57 at home against Parkland with MaKayla Noble scoring a career-best 28 points and several players making clutch free throws in the fourth quarter.

Parkland (0-6) was demolished at home by North Rowan on Friday, but the Mustangs gave a spirited effort against Salisbury (1-3).

The Hornets needed this one. They hadn’t started 0-4 since the 2002-03 season.

Noble scored eight in the first quarter as the Hornets took a 17-13 lead. Noble had 11 in the second quarter, as the Hornets took a 34-26 lead to the locker room.

Parkland was able to slow Noble down in the third quarter. Jamyrah Cherry picked up her scoring for the Hornets, but Parkland tied the game at 44-all early in the fourth quarter.

Mariana Zapata had a big 3 to break that 44-all tie, and the Hornets didn’t trail again. Noble got eight in the fourth quarter, and Torese Evans, Shamya Arnold, Noble and Zapata made fourth-quarter free throws.

“Not pretty, but this time we finished a game off,” Salisbury coach Lakai Brice said. “It was good to get more girls involved in the scoring. The 3-pointer Zapata hit was just huge, and she nailed it.”

Cherry scored 17 for the Hornets, with nine in the third quarter. Evans had eight, Zapata had seven, and Arnold scored six.

Keira Spruill made an impact as a shot-blocker.

Noble, who came off the bench her first two seasons with the Hornets, moved past 700 career points.

The win was the 190th for Brice.

Parkland     13    13   16     15    — 57

Salisbury    17    17    10     22   — 66

SALISBURY — Noble 28, Cherry 17, Evans 8, Zapata 7, Arnold 6.