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Freshman's Half-Court Heave Sends Hornets to State Title Game
Royce Perkins' buzzer-beater lifts Salisbury High over Central Davidson in regional final
Published on Mar. 6, 2026
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In a thrilling 4A West Regional final, Salisbury High School's freshman guard Royce Perkins hit a game-winning half-court shot at the buzzer to defeat Central Davidson 47-46 and advance to the state championship game. The Hornets trailed by one with just seconds remaining before Perkins' heroics capped off a back-and-forth battle between the two teams.
Why it matters
This victory marks Salisbury's first trip to the state title game since 1987, a significant accomplishment for the program and the community. The dramatic finish also showcases the talent and poise of the young Hornets squad, led by freshman Perkins, who delivered in the clutch on the biggest stage.
The details
With Salisbury trailing 46-45 and just 3 seconds left, Jon Ross threw a perfect inbounds pass to Perkins at midcourt. Perkins caught the ball, took one dribble, and banked in a half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Hornets the 47-46 victory. The game-winning shot capped off a tight, back-and-forth contest that saw neither team lead by more than 5 points.
- The game-winning shot was made as time expired in the 4A West Regional final on March 6, 2026.
- Salisbury trailed by 1 point with just 3 seconds remaining in the game.
The players
Royce Perkins
A freshman guard for Salisbury High School who hit the game-winning half-court shot to send his team to the state championship game.
Jon Ross
A Salisbury High School player who made the perfect inbounds pass to Perkins in the final seconds of the game.
Albert Perkins
The head coach of the Salisbury High School boys basketball team.
Braylon Taylor
A senior guard for Salisbury High School who is a Catawba College recruit and the team's leading scorer.
Dustin Tysinger
The head coach of the Central Davidson High School boys basketball team.
What they’re saying
“Maybe it was just our time. This was an awesome basketball game.”
— Albert Perkins, Head Coach, Salisbury High School (Salisbury Post)
“We fought like crazy in a tough, back-and-forth high school basketball game. We tried to mix our defenses up and keep Salisbury off-balance. They're really good, really well-coached and they're a lot bigger than us. We couldn't have asked our guys for any more than what they gave us. Just really proud of all of them. But it came down to a half-court heave, and we didn't have luck on our side tonight.”
— Dustin Tysinger, Head Coach, Central Davidson High School (Salisbury Post)
“Just grateful for the moment.”
— Royce Perkins (Salisbury Post)
What’s next
Salisbury will play the winner of the Reidsville-Washington game on Saturday at East Carolina University for the 4A state championship.
The takeaway
Salisbury's dramatic victory showcases the talent and resilience of their young team, led by freshman Royce Perkins' game-winning heroics. This run to the state title game marks a significant milestone for the program and the community, proving that hard work, determination, and a little bit of luck can propel a team to new heights.
