Staff report

LANDIS — Carson’s Drew Neve won the opening tip and soared to dunk a lob pass 15 seconds later from CP Perry on the Cougars’ first possession.

That was a tone-setter if there’s even been one, and Carson went on to demolish South Rowan 81-21 on Thursday for a South Piedmont Conference win.

South had a feel-good win at Thomasville on Tuesday to end a long losing streak, but the Raiders ran into a talented Carson team on the wrong night. Coming off a tough loss at Concord, Carson was focused and hungry. The result was a devastating romp.

Corbin Hales got a start with Xavier Phillips unavailable and made the 3-pointer that gave Carson a 9-0 lead two minutes into the game.

It was 26-0 before the Raiders knew what hit them. It was 26-2 at the quarter break and the Cougars (10-5, 5-2) made six 3s in the second quarter to take a 54-12 lead at halftime. Neve, connecting from all angles and distances, including two 3-pointers, scored 10 in the first quarter and 10 more in the second.

“We shared the ball, moved it well and everyone was hitting shots,” Carson head coach Brian Perry said. “When we play like that, it’s fun to watch. Drew’s dunk got us going fast.”

The running-clock second half sped by quickly. Carson led 72-14 after three quarters. Neve. Perry, Jacob Mills and Jonah Drye all took a seat for good pretty early in the third quarter.

Neve finished with 22, his fifth game with 20-plus this season. Drye made four 3s and scored 15. Mills made three 3s and scored 11. Perry had 10. Perry and Drye had a bushel of assists. Everyone in a Carson uniform got into the game and played quite a few minutes.

“We really needed a game like this,” Coach Perry said. “When everyone gets to play and you win, it’s a good night.”

Jadon Moore scored eight for South (1-13, 0-7).

Carson              26    28     17  10   — 81

South Rowan   2     10      2      7   — 21

Carson — Neve 22, Drye 15, Mills 11, Perry 10, Rockwell 6, Martin 6, Hales 3, Covington 3, Patterson 3, Walters 2.

South — Moore 8, Goodman 3, Rohletter 2, King 2, Litteljohn 2, Anderson 2, Davies 2.