By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
Salisburyfought through the monotomy of another blowout and walked away unscathed in a 67-25 win on Friday night against East Davidson.
The Hornets held their guests to five field goals and scored the opening 14 points as they improved to 11-1 overall and 2-0 in the 2-A Central Carolina Conference.
Senior Ashia Holmes sunk six of seven field goals in the first half en route to a 19-point night to lead the defending state champions in scoring.
Be it a nail-biter or one of the several laughers the Hornets have been invloved in, Holmes said the team still relishes each win. Especially since it was their 11th straight.
ěItís still fun,î Holmes said. ěIt depends on how you win. Either a tough game or not, itís still fun.î
Holmes nailed a pair of threes early from the same corner to give the Hornets a 10-0 edge not even two minutes into action.
ěThatís actually my worst spot for shooting,î Holmes said. ěMy AAU coach has been working with me for a long time to become a shooter and finally, I got the technique down.î
Afterwards, the lead never dipped under double digits as Salisbury held East to just five field goals and forced 26 turnovers. The Golden Eagles were scoreless for the first 4:39 of the game until Taylor Alexander hit a free throw. Their initial field goal came at the end of the opening quarter on a jumper from Ashley Swaim. Holmes hit another jumper inside the arc on the ensuing score to give her eight straight points. All Holmesí points came in the first half.
ěI try my best to instill the team concept in them,î Salisbury coach Chris McNeil said. ěTheyíre starting to get the concept that, no matter what, youíre going to get everybodyís best shot every night.î
Doreen Richardson and Brielle Blaire each scored nine points for Salisbury, who lead 21-3 at the end of the first quarter.
ěWe executed our game,î Holmes said. ěWe had a couple of turnovers, but otherwise we went on our run, came out wiht good intensity and did what we had to do.î
Salisbury led 36-7 at the half and 54-15 after three quarters.
EAST DAVIDSON (25) ó Whitley 5, Turner 5, Hallman 5, Harvell 4, Baker 3, Alexander 1, Grimsley, Atkinson, Bell, Welborn, Pope.
SALISBURY (67) ó Ash. Holmes 19, Richardson 9, Blaire 9, Rankin 8, Ay. Holmes 6, Allison 4, Hicks 4, Helig 3, Thompson 2, Miller, Feamster.
E. Davidson 3 4 8 10 ó 25
Salisbury 21 15 18 13 ó 67