From staff reports

CHINA GROVE — Carson’s girls basketball team opened North Piedmont Conference play by overwhelming North Iredell, 57-23, on Tuesday.

“We had a very stout defensive effort,” Carson coach Brooke Stouder said. “We held them to eight points in the first half and single digits in every quarter.”

Carson (13-2) didn’t shoot well in the first half, but  still led, 25-8. The Cougars got rolling on offense in the third quarter.

“One of our goals was a strong third quarter,” Stouder said.  “That’s been a problem for us lately. Overall, it was a very good game for us.  This is the first time since before Christmas that we’ve had everyone.”

Maci Cooper missed the Christmas tournament. Victoria Post missed last week’s game.

Colbie Perry and  Cooper made three 3-pointers each for the Cougars. Perry scored 15, while Cooper scored 13.

Carleigh Perry had nine points and six rebounds. Hannah Isley had a big game with eight points, five rebounds and four steals. Ellie Wilhelm had five rebounds and three steals.

North Iredell fell to 3-12.

N. IREDELL (23) — Barzee 5, Myers 5, Bradford 4, Goodin 4, Gibson 3, Anderson 2.

CARSON (59) — Co. Perry 15, Cooper 13, Ca. Perry 9. H. Isley 8, Post 4, White 3, Wilhelm 3, L. Isley 2, Sanns 2,  R. Isley. Conrad.

N. Iredell   2   6    7   8      — 23

Carson       9   16  17  17  — 59

West boys top East

MOUNT ULLA — After   a tight first half, West Rowan’s boys pulled away for a 72-57 North Piedmont Conference win against East Rowan on Tuesday.

It was the NPC opener for both teams.

Jalen Moss scored a career-high 27 points to lead West Rowan. Chaz McCombs had his biggest game of the season with 19 points.

Moss scored 13 in the fourth quarter. McCombs paced the Falcons (7-5, 2-0) as they built a lead in the third quarter.

Cameron Padgett had 13 for East (2-13, 0-1), while Sammy Pinckney scored 12.

E. ROWAN (57) — Padgett 13, Pinckney 12, Jones 8, Miller 6, Valley 6, Shuping 4, Sprinkle 4, Jordan 4, Wilson.

W. ROWAN (72) — Moss 27, McCombs 19,  Joseph 11, Allison 5, Biggers 5, Weeks 3, Hassard 2, Currie, Wood.

E. Rowan   15  15   13   14   — 57

W. Rowan  14  19   20   19  —  72

Carson boys win

CHINA GROVE — Carson’s boys opened North Piedmont Conference play  successfully with a 62-55 win against North Iredell.

AJ Mauldin made six 3-pointers and scored 22 to lead the Cougars (8-7, 1-0).

EJ Clark was held to 13 points, with 11 coming from the foul line.

Carson got eight points from Javon Smith, and Denis Zuniga and Emory Taylor combined to make five 3-pointers.

“They tried to help out on EJ some and that gave our other guys some good looks,” Carson coach Brian Perry said. “Zuniga and Taylor can shoot.”

Jayden Turner scored 12 of his 17 in the first quarter for the Raiders (5-10).

Carson slowed down Turner in the second quarter and took a 37-21 halftime lead.

“Turner had a great first quarter and hit some contested shots,” Perry said. “Chris Allen  gave us big lift defensively on him and also had some finishes around the rim.”

N. IREDELL (55) — Turner 17, Hawkins 12, Jackson 12, Saunders 9, Nicholson 3, Sherrill 2.

CARSON (62) — Mauldin 22, Clark 13, Zuniga 9, Smith 8, Taylor 6, Allen 4, Neely, Harris.

N. Iredell    15   6   17  17  — 55

Carson        16  21  8   17 —   62

  

SPC girls

Aniyah Tate scored 18 points to lead Central Cabarrus (11-5, 2-0) to a 68-30 win against Concord on Tuesday.

JV girls

North Iredell’s girls won against Carson, 30-22.

Makayla Johnson scored 12 for Carson (6-1), and Camden Corley had eight.

4A girls

Alyssa Lewis scored 13 points to lead Hickory Ridge to a 58-17 romp against East Meck on Tuesday.

  

NSMA

The National Sports Media Association’s North Carolina sportswriter of the year is Ed Hardin of the Greensboro News & Record. John Forslund of the Carolina Hurricanes and David Glenn  shared NC sportscaster honors.