Staff report

Boys semifinals …

SALISBURY — Juke Harris surpassed 2,000 career points on Friday as Salisbury romped 90-58 against West Rowan in a semifinal game in the Dale’s Sporting Goods Sam Moir Christmas Classic.

Harris, a 6-foot-6 Wake Forest recruit, scored 33 points as the second-seeded Hornets (10-3) wiped out the Falcons, the third-seeded defending tournament champs, more easily than anticipated.

“When we’re clicking on all cylinders, we’re strong,” Salisbury head coach Albert Perkins said.

The Hornets, who played a challenging pre-Christmas schedule, were clicking. Mike Geter (14) and Hank Webb (11) also scored in double figures.

Will Givens made three 3-pointers and scored 22 for the Falcons (7-3), but everyone else was held below his average by a swarming Salisbury defense. Key West scorers Kayvone Norman, Evan Kennedy, who had a career game in the first round of the tournament, and Brant Graham had only 10 points combined.

The Hornets (10-3) started fast and led 39-26 at halftime. Geter made two 3-pointers as the Hornets put away the Falcons with a 28-point third quarter.

Salisbury will play top-seeded Central Davidson (13-0) for the tournament championship at 8 p.m. on Saturday. West plays A.L. Brown for third at 4:30 p.m.

West Rowan    12    13   11   22    — 58

Salisbury          21   18   28   23    — 90

WEST — Givens 22, Holmes 9, Young 6, Tucker 5, Walker 4, Martin 4, Kennedy 3, Norman 3, Hairston 2.

SALISBURY — Harris 33, Geter 14, Webb 11, Matthews 8, Taylor 6, Dalton 6, D. Brown 4, Walker 3, Davis 2, Epps 1.

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Central Davidson is undefeated but is still seen by many as an underdog because the Spartans aren’t exceptionally tall or quick.

A.L. Brown coach Jonathan Efird had the Spartans well-scouted and well-schemed and employed box-and-one and triangle-and-two defenses that surprised the Spartans, but they adjusted at halftime and won 53-39.

“We weren’t expecting gimmick defenses from them, and we kind of struggled to get anything going offensively in the first half,” Central Davidson coach Dustin Tysinger said. “But we kept playing hard this group of guys is well-schooled in help defense, and we stayed in it against a very tall, long, athletic A.L. Brown team.”

The Wonders led 11-8 after a quarter, but Central Davidson closed the half with a 3-pointer for a 22-19 lead.

“We made some adjustments at halftime, got our guys in better positions on the floor to get shots,” Tysinger said. “And then a few shots did start to fall for us.”

The Spartans made three 3-pointers and had two three-point plays in the decisive third quarter. Those five possessions turned a nip-and-tuck struggle into a 14-point separation.

“Then in the fourth quarter, they were able to play keep-away from us,” Efird said. “I knew once we got down and had to go man-to-man, we were probably in trouble.”

Luke Staten scored 19 to lead the Spartans. Devin Sigmon scored 12, and Carson Hulsizer, who had the three-point play that gave the Spartans a 13-point lead, scored 11.

Kadan Williams led the fourth-seeded Wonders with 16 points. Nazir Reaves and Masiah Bennermon had eight apiece.

Central Davidson takes on Salisbury for the championship at 8 p.m.on Saturday. A.L. Brown battles West Rowan at 4:30 p.m. for third place.

Salisbury has looked so powerful on Thursday and Friday that most people are certain the Hornets will be crowned as champs. At least one  coach in the tournament believes the Hornets are headed for rings at the state level.

Tsyinger gave the Hornets their due as an outstanding team before the tournament started, and he hasn’t changed his mind. But these are teenagers, and in a one-game championship scenario, almost anything can happen. If you get to the final, you’ve got a chance, and Central Davidson has reached the final.

A.L. Brown    11     8     6     14    — 39

C. Davidson   8     14    17    14    — 53