By Bill Kiser
sports@salisburypost.com
STATESVILLE ó East Rowan will lose two 1,000-point scorers at the end of the season.
But a future 1,000-point scorer emerged for the Mustangs during the last two weeks, and sophomore Olivia Rankin showed why Friday night.
Rankin scored a career-high 17 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for third-seeded East Rowan in its 55-45 loss to Statesville in the championship game of the North Piedmont Conference tournament.
“I feel like my team really depends on me more,” said the 6-foot Rankin, who averaged 12 points per game in three NPC tournament games. “I have to be there for them, to give it my all. In the past, I haven’t ó I’d give up on things too easy. But not this week.”
Rankin’s play was key for East Rowan, and it showed in two stretches of Friday’s game.
She scored 12 points and pulled down six rebounds in the first half against the Greyhounds, helping the Mustangs overcame a seven-point deficit to lead 24-20 at the break.
But when Rankin picked up her third foul midway through the third quarter and came out of the game, that opened the door for Statesville to fight back and regain the lead for good
“There was a definite shift in momentum when she got in foul trouble,” East head coach Karen Garmon said. “(But) she’s playing confident, and the girls are really getting on to her to play big. That’s why we call her ‘Big O.’
“My girls wanted to give her the ball ó that’s why we had all those turnovers (25 against Statesville) ó and she realizes how important she is, especially going into the playoffs.”
And it’s already got opposing coaches thinking about how to defend against Rankin _ not just for the playoffs, but for the next two seasons.
“If she hadn’t run out of gas in the second half, we would’ve definitely been in trouble,” Greyhounds head coach Todd Jones said.
“She’s a hell of a player. She’s going to be a nightmare. She’s tough to stop now. … We will definitely remember her next year, because she’s left a lasting impression on me. She’s definitely going to be someone to deal with the next couple years.”