By David Shaw
dshaw@salisburypost.com
GRANITE QUARRY ó Right from the start, Katelynne Poole played like she meant business.
Poole, an East Rowan senior, scored the Mustangs’ first eight points and finished with a career-high 32 in a 76-64 NPC win over visiting West Iredell on Tuesday night.
“Katelynne’s always ready to play,” coach Karen Garmon said after East built a 20-point lead and refused to let go. “She’s relaxed now that she’s got the scholarship to Brevard. She’s so confident right now, I don’t think anybody can stop her.”
Poole, who netted 28 points Friday at Northwest Cabarrus, played with the calm of a movie usher.
“Last year I was always worried about playing my hardest so I could play in college,” she said. “Now that my dream has come true, I just go out and play the game I love. There’s no pressure.”
Poole gave East (2-2, 2-1 NPC) the lead for good early in the second quarter. Following a steal by teammate Madelyn File, Poole penetrated for a layup and 20-18 edge.”This is the best I’ve seen her play,” said East’s Mackenzie Holshouser, who had 14 points. “She could always shoot. But now she’s got us working as a team, keeping our heads.”
Poole had 19 points by halftime, hit a couple of shots in the third period and finished with a flurry. Her three-point play put the Mustangs ahead 64-48 with 5:09 remaining. Then came a steal-fastbreak layup combo with 4:50 to go. She reached the 30-point level with a 12-footer from the left side with two minutes to play and capped her evening with a pair of free throws in the closing seconds.
“It feels good to play with her,” said teammate Ashley Collins, who scored 15 points. “You should see her in practice ó she brings it all. The whole team is confident that she can shoot from anywhere.”
East prevailed on a night when 6-foot sophomore Olivia Rankin was plagued with foul trouble and managed only five points.
“It just wasn’t Olivia’s night tonight,” Garmon said. “Every time she touched somebody, it was a foul. She’s a big part of what we do, but some other girls came out and made contributions. Olivia Sabo and Madelyn File came off the bench and played well. They all gave us some momentum.”
No one provided more than Poole.
“It’s the whole college thing,” she said. “My AAU coach told me that as soon I sign, I would become the player I always thought I could be.”
WEST IREDELL (64) ó Keever 12, Renwick 10, Walden 10, Chapman 10, Frye 7, Tuttle 6, Cooper 4, Sigmon 3, Marshall 2.
EAST ROWAN (76) ó Poole 32, Collins 15, Holshouser 14, Sabo 6, Rankin 5, Vanderford 4, File.
W. Iredell 13 14 12 25 ó 64
E. Rowan 12 26 19 19 ó 76