Franklinton’s Demons fell to Salmen in the District 8-4A opener, 90-49, at home Tuesday.

The game was close for the first half of the opening quarter.

Azende T. Magee began the game’s scoring with a 3-pointer 1:03 into the contest, but Salmen tied things at 3-3 when Corey Vinson was good on a trey at the 6:06 mark.

Tray Anders, who led the Demons with 13 points, knocked down a jumper, and Franklinton had a 5-3 advantage.

Salmen’s Cody Rudolph evened the contest with a pair of free throws.

Azende O. Magee made a floater to put Franklinton back in front, 7-5.

The Spartans retied things, 7-7, on Rudolph’s shot with 4:51 remaining.

That began a 19-0 run.

Lane Bolner put Salmen in front for good with a 3-pointer before Rudolph hit a pair of free throws.

Chris Vickers nailed a 3-pointer from the top of the key and then hit one from the right wing to make it an 18-7 contest with 2:14 on the clock.

Bolner was good on a shot and got fouled but missed the free throw. John Norvel capped the run with a layup, and Salmen led 24-7 at the 1:30 mark.

Darrius Dawson ended Franklinton’s scoring drought with a three, cutting the deficit to 24-10 with 42 seconds on the clock.

Vinson capped the period’s scoring for Salmen. It was 26-10 after one.

“We had the game plan in to give us the best opportunity,” Franklinton coach Randall Ginn said. “We didn’t execute the game plan. They knocked down their shots. They went inside and used their height advantage. They shot over the top of our man-to-man. They shot over the top of our traps. They’re better than us. We think we’re one of the better teams on the Northshore, but they’re on a different level. They are the class of the Northshore year-in and year-out.”

Salmen outscored Franklinton, 20-9, in the second quarter and had a 46-19 lead at the break, as the Demons continued to struggle.

The Spartans extended the lead to 53-19 over the first 1:30 of the second half, but Franklinton made a 6-0 run on back-to-back threes by Anders, trimming the deficit to 53-25.

But this night belonged to Salmen.

The Spartans led, 66-32, after three before going on for the 90-49 win.

Azende O. Magee posted nine points for Franklinton. Nick Burkhalter had eight while Azende T. Magee put up six.

Dawson finished with five, and Ryché Jenkins had four. Peter Williams and Resean Hart both added two for the Demons.

Franklinton is 15-7 overall.

The Demons are back in action tonight facing Lakeshore at home. The game gets under way, following the girls contest, which tips off at 6 p.m.

Vickers led Salmen’s scoring with 25 points. Rudolph tallied 21 points while Vinson posted 13.

Bolner had 11, Norvel recorded nine and Jordan McNeil logged eight. Jordan Morris finished with three in the victory.

Salmen improves to 19-5 with the victory.