EAST BEND -- Low scoring or not, Starmount's boys basketball team is still getting wins.

The Rams survived a scrappy, determined Forbush squad 44-41 on Friday night for their third victory in a row and the fifth in six tries.

Victor Davila dominated the paint, scoring 24 of Starmount's points, and Shane Bryant added eight. The Rams improved to 5-1 in Mountain Valley 2A play heading into a big Tuesday night contest against conference co-leader Ashe County (6-1).

Friday's rematch with Forbush proved entirely different from the first time the teams played in mid-December, a 74-43 Starmount victory.

This time -- like last Wednesday's game between Starmount and Elkin -- the pace was more of a grind. Starmount took a 9-8 lead after the first quarter and held a 24-23 edge at the half.

A 14-3 run to start the second half proved the difference. Forbush fought back on its home floor over the final eight minutes, outscoring the Rams 15-6, but it wasn't quite enough. The Falcons are still looking for their first MVAC victory, falling to 0-7, 3-15 overall.

Matthew Zachary, one of the best three-pointer shooters in the conference, finished with 25 points to lead all scorers. But Forbush's next highest contributor, Matthew Smitherman, only managed four points.

Other Starmount scorers included Tyler Jackson 4, Chris Cowles 3, Jake Barr 2, Cody Spicer 2 and Antonio McClelland 1.

Ashe County will bring an 11-game win streak to Boonville tomorrow night. Starmount is the only team to best the Huskies this season, winning in West Jefferson 57-54 on Dec. 14.

ASHE COUNTY 86, SURRY CENTRAL 52: The Huskies used a 27-10 run in the second quarter to pull away, improving to 15-1 overall, 6-1 in the conference. Ashe led 49-24 at the break. Surry Central dropped to 1-14 overall, 1-5 in the MVAC.

Marvin Spicer led Central with 14 points. Austin McLamb, Matt Harris and Tyler Hudson added nine apiece. Tommy Spagnolo paced Ashe with a game-high 23 points, while Tatum Lemly chipped in 19.

"They really came out with a lot of energy and pressed us," Eagles coach Ken Eiswald said. "I really didn't have the guys prepared tonight for that. They are a good basketball team. They forced us to turn the ball over and took advantage.

"The guys kept playing hard in the second half, and got a little bit of confidence."

Central travels to North Surry on Tuesday, visits East Wilkes on Wednesday and hosts North Wilkes on Friday.

Girls Basketball STARMOUNT 60, FORBUSH 54: The Rams completed a season sweep of the Falcons, surviving a fourth-quarter comeback.

The Rams used an 18-12 surge in the third period to get out to a comfortable working margin, 49-38. Forbush outscored Starmount 16-11 in the final period but couldn't climb all the way back.

Mary Katherine Taylor and Jordan Raye, who both had big shooting nights last Wednesday against Elkin, continued to play well two nights later. Taylor netted 18 points, and Raye scored 15. Taylor Doss added another 11 points, followed by Kelsey Stamper 5, Cory Hutchens 4, Erin Bledsoe 4, and Brittany Melton 3.

Jade Burkeen paced Forbush with 15 points, while Jessica Kite (11 points), Leslie Long (10) and Maygan Baldwin (10) also reached double figures.

Starmount improved to 8-9 overall, 2-4 in the MVAC. The Rams jumped over Forbush (7-12, 2-5 MVAC) by a half game in the league standings.

ASHE COUNTY 72, SURRY CENTRAL 35: The Golden Eagles fell behind 21-7 in the opening quarter and never could recover. Ashe, which improved to 6-1 in the conference, outscored Central 25-6 in the second period for a commanding 46-13 halftime advantage.

Kelly Hemmings, Judy Toney and Tealisha Boyd, who each had six points, led the Eagles in scoring. Mallory Clay's 15 points paced the Huskies, who play at Starmount on Tuesday. Ashe had 11 players in all to score.

Surry Central will travel to face North Surry on Tuesday.

Wrestling SURRY CENTRAL 49, ASHE COUNTY 24: The Golden Eagles improved to 3-1 in the MVAC with the home victory.

Austin Oakley, Nate Murphy, Jed Martin, Dakota Holder, Will Lawrence and Cesar Pena all recorded pins for Central. Bobby Johnson and Josh Stover won by decision.

"Everybody wrestled really well tonight," Central coach Stephen Priddy said. "Jed wrestled really well. Austin Oakley and Josh Stover had big nights tonight. Nate Murphy and Cesar Pena, who is a freshman, have come a long way."

The Eagles host North Surry on Tuesday and travel to Starmount on Wednesday in a pair of MVAC 2A matches.

The conference tournament will be this Saturday at Forbush.

BISHOP MCGUINNESS 44, EAST WILKES 21: Cale Bartley (125 pounds), Preston Myers (152) and Derek Evans (171) won by decision for the Cardinals. Josh Nations (215) and Jonathan Laws (285) were forfeit winners for East.

College Basketball USC-SALKEHATCHIE 100, SURRY COMMUNITY 94: Former Starmount standout Ferdinand Morales poured in 25 points and Derein Chatman scored 22 but it would not be enough for the Knights in a Saturday afternoon loss.

Surry (3-16) trailed by as many as 13 but took a 50-48 lead at the break. Surry put USC-Salkehatchie on the line late and the Indians made their free throws to seal it.

Four other players reached double figures for the Knights -- Marcus Brown (13 points), Qasim Frederick (11), Jeremy Helms (10) and Tim Lee (10). Tim Middleton scored 20 points to lead the Indians.

On Friday night, the Knights roared back from 18 points down and took the lead, but could not hold on in a 75-67 loss to Denmark Technical College.

Denmark Tech was up by 13 points at halftime. With five minutes to go, Surry took a three-point lead, but the Panthers hit crucial free throws to secure the win.

Chatman had a team-high 17 points for the Knights. Brown chipped in with 16 and Morales had 13.

"We put them on the line and they picked up some points," Surry coach Eddie Wilmoth said. "Both games were really, really good. I feel really good about the team. We are getting better and better each game."

Region X play continues for Surry this week with two games at home against Clinton (Tuesday) and USC-Salkehatchie (Saturday).