From staff reports

Thursday games …

CHINA GROVE — Carson made 13 3-pointers, but defense keyed a 67-46 victory against Northwest Cabarrus that qualified as the Cougars’ best win of the season.

“We made a ton of shots in the first quarter, but we were only up 22-19,” Carson head coach Brian Perry said. “So we talked about defense. I told the guys, ‘We can’t give up 19 points every quarter and win this game.'”

Carson allowed only eight points in a defensive-minded second quarter that would prove decisive. Getting all those stops allowed the Cougars to take a 40-27 lead to the halftime break.

Carson allowed only 19 points in the second half and won by a stunning margin. Northwest’s only previous loss in the South Piedmont Conference had been to first-place Robinson in overtime.

“We played our 2-3 zone, but we also mixed it up with some man-to-man,” Perry said. “Northwest has really good players. Landon Rowe, Justin Gonder, those guys have hurt us before. We did a good job of knowing where they were and limiting them.”

Rowe only scored seven, while Gonder had five. The Trojans (9-6, 6-2) were led by Aiden Rochevot with 13 points. Ezekial Brown had 11.

Carson (11-5, 5-3) got a huge game from senior Jonah Drye, who had 17 points and eight assists. He made five 3-pointers. Drye’s final points of the night gave him an even 800 for his career. He’s averaging 14.4 this season.

Jacob Mills made four 3-pointers, scored 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. Drew Neve had 13 points, nine rebounds and five assists. CP Perry was under the weather. He had 10 points, all in the first half, and added seven rebounds and three steals.

“CP helped us get off to a good start, but then he kind of wore out,” Coach Perry said. “He’s been sick. He was out of school Wednesday.”

Maverick Walters had five rebounds. Corbin Hales is starting with Xavier Phillips out. Hales contributed a 3-pointer.

Carson played at Lake Norman Charter on Friday.

NW Cabarrus    19   8   11    8   — 46

Carson                22  18  16   11   — 67

NWC — Rochevot 13, E. Brown 11, Rowe 7, Gonder 5, Wright-Johnson 5, S. Brown 3, Gichiba 2.

Carson — Mills 20, Drye 17, Neve 13, Perry 10, Martin 4, Hales 3.

•••

GRANITE QUARRY — North Rowan’s 28-point second quarter wiped out East Rowan in a non-conference game.

The Cavaliers rolled 80-52. Twelve players scored for North (7-5).

North, 25th in the 1A West RPU rankings, was playing for the first time this week.

Emari Russell had 15 points and five steals for the Cavaliers, who led 45-24 at halftime. Carter Williams had 14 points and five assists. Dyzarious Carpenter scored 12. JP Polk had six points, seven rebounds and five blocks.

“They are long, they are fast, and they are athletic,” losing coach Trey Ledbetter said. “And tonight, they were jump shooters. They made everything from outside.”

North didn’t shoot free throws well, but made six 3-pointers, twice as many as the Mustangs, who rely heavily on the 3-pointer.

Guard Corbin Krider had a strong game for the Mustangs with 14 points. Jaden Eudy, recently promoted from the jayvees to the varsity, scored seven. North did a good job against Brody Thomas and Logan Bradley, who are usually the scoring leaders for East.

This is a very tough stretch for East. The Mustangs (1-14) have played South Piedmont Conference leader Robinson and North Rowan back-to-back and face Concord on Friday.

“We’re young, and we’re going to be OK,” Ledbetter said. “Corbin played very well offensively tonight. We’ve got a great group of young men and we’ll continue to get better.”

North has a big Central Carolina Conference game with Salisbury on Friday.

North Rowan 17   28   20   15   — 80

East Rowan     13  11    13    15   — 52

North — Russell 15, Williams 14, D. Carpenter 12, K. Carpenter 8, Mosley 6, Polk 6, Feamster 5, Sullivan 4, Brown 3, J. Alford 3, M. Alford 2, Jefferies 2.

East — Krider 14, Eudy 7, Reid 6, Thomas 6, Shive 6, Lyons 5, Bradley 4, Ailshie 4.

•••

KANNAPOLIS — A.L. Brown beat South Iredell 73-60 at Bullock Gym, the best win of the season for the Wonders and their first success in the Greater Metro Conference.

Jeremiah Christopher scored 21 to lead the Wonders (4-12, 1-4).

A.L. Brown is 49th in the 4A West RPI rankings (out of 53 teams), while South Iredell (4-12, 0-4) is 50th.