Staff report

CHINA GROVE —  Carson’s girls made 11 3-pointers and beat South Rowan, 76-45, on Tuesday.

Carson was 7-for-11 on 3-pointers after halftime and blew the game open with a big third quarter.

Colbie Perry made five of Carson’s 3s and scored a career-high 21 points. McKenzie scored 16 points. Maci Cooper made two 3-pointers and scored 11. Carleigh Perry had 10 points and eight rebounds. Ellie Wilhelm was 3-for-5 on 3-pointers and scored nine. She’s been a big addition after missing some early games with a sprained ankle. Victoria Post also made a 3-pointer.

“They’ve got a lot of shooters,” South coach Stacy Ellis said.

Gadson, Taylor Conrad and Lani Isley made three steals apiece for the Cougars, who have started 6-0 for the second time in program history.

South standout Janiya Downs scored 20 to lead the Raiders (1-2). Carlie Moore scored nine, with seven coming in the opening quarter. Bethany Rymer scored seven.

“Janiya is a good player and she’s going to get hers,” Carson coach Brooke Stouder said. “We were prepared to go box-and-one, if necessary, but we didn’t have to do that. We were able to stick with what we  normally do.”

Moore kept South close in the first quarter, but by halftime, the Cougars had taken a 32-18 lead.

“And then we had a really big third quarter,” Stouder said. “We were playing hard and got after it. This was really a complete game for us, the first time we’ve put four good quarters together.”

Carson plays at A.L. Brown on Friday. South’s girls will play a Central Carolina Conference game tonight at North Davidson.

SOUTH (45) — Downs 20, Moore 9, Rymer 7, McGuire 5, P. Chabala 4, Shell, A. Chabala, Littlejohn.

CARSON (76) — Co. Perry 21, Gadson 16, Cooper 11, Ca. Perry 10, Wilhelm 9, Post 5, Hales 2, Conrad 2, Gamewell, Isley.

South   13     5     11    16    — 45

Carson   18   14   22   21    — 76