WALNUT COVE — A strong second quarter lifted the Sauras ahead of the Eagles, then South Stokes hung on for a 50-43 win Friday night.

In three of the quarters, the two teams were separated by just a point, but in the second frame South Stokes went ahead 14-6 for a 22-13 halftime lead.

The Golden Eagles edged closer by one point in each of the next two quarters, 9-8 and 21-20, but couldn’t get within striking distance.

Cold shooting haunted Central as the team shot just 15-46 from the field, 32.6 percent. The Eagles were 4-18 from downtown, 22 percent, and went to the free throw line just 14 times.

The Sauras weren’t any better from long range (1-9), but shot 51 percent on two-point tries and won the rebounding battle, 31-26.

Zach Wilmoth recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11 boards as well as one assist and one steal.

Luke Haymore was 3-5 from the field, the best shooting performance for the Eagles. He finished with 10 points, three rebounds, three assists and one steal, but fouled out.

Captain Simeon Bracken had seven points, three rebounds, one assist and one block. Rocky Collins came off the bench for five points, two boards, one assist and one block.

Colby Chilton had six points, three assists and a steal. Kenyon Martin and Samuel Harries scored two each.

“We didn’t come out there with any energy at all,” said Coach Ken Eiswald. “We were out of synch all night. I really believe that it is attributable to not coming out and getting after them defensively.”

On the offensive end, the team didn’t run its zone offense well in the first half.

“We saw every imaginable zone last year and felt confident with it, but for whatever reason, the boys didn’t look comfortable in the first half,” he said. “We were much better in the second half. Of course, we couldn’t have been much worse, scoring just 13 points.”

Surry Central is off on Tuesday and then hosts Bishop McGuinness Friday.