By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY — This is the Salisbury boys team we thought we’d see all year.
The Hornets’ inside tandem of Tyler Petty and Tony Nunn crescendoed Monday night in a 63-47 victory against North Lincoln in the opening round of the state 2A playoffs.
Petty scored 22 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and blocked four shots in his best game of the year. Nunn settled for 19 points, six rebounds and four blocks.
The Hornets earned a second-round date with Northwest Conference No. 2 seed West Stokes Wednesday in King. Salisbury (14-13) climbed above .500 with the victory.
“I’m glad we’re seeing glimpses of being good before it’s too late,” Salisbury coach Jason Causby said. “I’m glad we were able to play better in the second half.”
Salisbury jumped out to a 9-0 lead, but trailed 13-11 at the end of the first quarter. North tied it at 25 late in the half for a knotted score at the break. The Hornets’ 11 first-half turnovers kept North in the game.
“The first half, we struggled on defense,” Petty said. “I feel like we really came out in the second half and delivered.”
Nunn’s slam to start the second half set the tone for the remainder of the night. Petty added a pair and Nunn converted two free throws for the first six points of the half.
North (15-11) closed to within 41-38 at the end of the third quarter. Salisbury answered with a 13-0 run that put the game away. Hornet guards Tion McCain, Keion Adams and B. J. Woods dumped it in to the trees in the post and watched their lead expand.
“The size difference obviously killed us,” North coach Eric King said. “When they throw the lob, there’s not much we can do against them.”
McCain finished with 11 points for Salisbury with Adams adding seven.
After surprising the rest of the league and winning the CCC Tournament, the Hornets hope their peaking at the right time.
“It was frustrating throughout the season because we have the talent,” Petty said. “We just couldn’t put it together for a whole game.”
NORTH LINCOLN (47) — Brotherson 10, Cannon 8, Ramos 8, Stidham 7, McLean 6, Henson 3, Varberg 2, Edwards 2, Yarbrough 1, Ledford, Ashby, Caldwell.
SALISBURY (63) — T. Petty 22, Nunn 17, McCain 11, Adams 9, Woods 3, Griffin 1, Robertson, J. Petty, Edwards.
N. Lincoln 16 9 13 9 — 47
Salisbury 13 12 16 22 — 63