Staff report

SALISBURY — Fourth-seeded Central Davidson’s girls basketball trampled Carson 64-23 on Saturday afternoon in the Dale’s Sporting Goods Sam Moir Christmas Classic.

The lopsided victory at Catawba College’s Goodman Gym gave the Spartans (6-6) two wins in the three-day event. They edged South Rowan in the first round and lost by 14 to East Rowan in the semifinals.

After two days of struggling to score, Central filled it up against the weary Cougars.

“Maybe playing for the third day on this court helped some and maybe we had fewer jitters,” Lauren Boone said. “But I thought it was mostly just a matter of our shots falling today. Those same shots didn’t fall for us Thursday and Friday.”

The Spartans put four in double figures, including Reagan McCarn (14 points), who represented the Spartans on the all-tournament team. Lauren Chesney and Logan Jordan scored 13 each, while Bethany Myers had 10.

Central Davidson had the game wrapped up after a sizzling, 26-point first quarter and led the Cougars 38-7 at halftime.

Seventh-seeded Carson (2-9) went 1-2 in the event, but used up most of its energy in a 47-44 overtime victory against Mount Pleasant on the first day. The Cougars were beaten soundly by Salisbury in the semifinals and were never in the game as they scored a season-low point total on Saturday.

“We’re short-handed with injuries and we just didn’t have the legs to play a third day in a row,” Carson coach Chloe Monroe said.  “And give Central Davidson credit. They shot the ball really well.”

Julia Burleson scored nine for Carson. Allie Martin had seven.

Burleson averaged 12.0 points in the three tournament games.

“Julia had a good tournament,” Monroe said. “It was good to see her shooting with confidence.”

CARSON — Burleson 9, Martin 7, Capenter 2, Yarbrough 2, Sheets 2, Guiton 1.

CENTRAL — McCarn 14, Chesney 13, Jordan 13, Myers 10, Hulsizer 8, Forrest 5, Rhodes 2.