From staff reports
MORGANTON — Carson’s girls basketball team ended the season with an 80-36 loss at Morganton Freedom on Thursday in the second round of the 3A state playoffs.
Freedom (28-0) is the No. 1 seed and has been ranked at the top of the 3A state poll most of the season.
“They’re really good,” Carson coach Broke Misenheimer said. “They were stronger, faster and more skilled and experienced than we are. It took us a half to try to catch up to the speed of the game.”
Freedom led 30-15 after a quarter and overwhelmed the Cougars 32-6 in the second quarter to take a 62-21 halftime lead.
The game went to a running clock in the third quarter.
“Their guards can all handle the ball, shoot the ball and pass the ball,” Misenheimer said. “And they’ve got a 6-2 post player (Amy Rhoney) who is just a really solid girl. She’s hard to move and hard to get around.”
Olivia Gabriel scored 17 points to lead the 17th-seeded Cougars. McKenzie Gadson had seven before fouling out.
Lindsey Adams led the Patriots with 20 points. Rhoney scored 18.
Freedom hosts North Iredell on Saturday in a third-round matchup.
The winner of Saturday’s West Rowan-Weddington matchup will play the Freedom-North Iredell winner.
It was a tough way to end the season for the Cougars.
Playing without any seniors, they went 16-12, won a playoff game and reached the Christmas tournament title game.
“I hated it ended the way it did,” Misenheimer said. ‘But it was a very positive season, and we’ve got girls who are going to keep working to get better. We saw tonight how good we’ll have to be to compete with the best teams in the state.”

Freedom 80, Carson 36

CARSON (36)
Gabriel 17, Gadson 7, Wiggins 3, Ketchie 3, Furr 3, Shumaker 2, Turney 1, Taylor, Street, Fesperman.
FREEDOM (80)
Adams 20, Rhoney 18, Corpening 12, Williams 11, Ervin 8, Pearson 7, Davenport 2, Miller 2.

Carson 15 6 11 4 — 36
Freedom 30 32 9 9 — 80