It was a sluggish start to a close game between Roseboro-Salemburg and Union Middle Monday afternoon, with the young Leopards able to pick up steam and earn the close 38-31 win.

But it took a quarter before either team could find their footing or the basket. In the first frame, only 3 points were scored, and all by Union.

“We couldn’t find the basket,” said R-S coach Todd Wheeler. “Nothing was falling for us at all in the first quarter.”

It wasn’t much better for the middle school Spartans, who put 3 points on the board.

“Our defense was actually really good throughout the game, and that allowed us to hold them to their 3 points, but we couldn’t get anything going on offense in the first quarter,” Wheeler stressed.

The Leopards found a way to score in the second quarter, and took a 13-9 lead into the break, but it wasn’t a runaway for Roseboro. Union held their own throughout the game.

But solid shooting from the charity stripe in the fourth period sealed the game for Roseboro.

“We hit 5 of 6 free throws in the final quarter; that’s actually what won the game for us,” Wheeler said.

Quamaine Williams led scoring for R-S with 14 points. Also scoring for the Leopards were Zack Tanner with 10 points and Keshawn Bailey with 6.

The win moves Roseboro-Salemburg’s record to 7-2 overall. They travel to Midway Middle Thursday for a game against the young Raiders.