By David Shaw
dshaw@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Talk about making a grand entrance.
The Carson girls basketball team perfected the art Monday night when it swiveled past visiting Hickory Ridge in its season-opener.
ěThis is the first time weíve ever been 1-0,î sixth-year coach Brooke Misenheimer said after the Cougars gained an easy 79-27 victory. ěYou think about all the different firsts weíve had the last couple of years. Well this is another one.î
Carson is 1-0 because it shot a mind-boggling 65 percent from the field (30-for-46) and buried 11 3-pointers ó including four apiece by Chloe Monroe and Sarah Holman.
Defensively, the Cougars forced 26 turnovers and limited Hickory Ridge to eight field goals, though five came in the final quarter.
ěWe came out with this intensity, ready to play,î junior Kelly Dulkoski said after shooting 9-for-13 from the floor and netting a game-high 24 points. ěWe were knocking everything down.î
They were. It was dizzying first-half pace, when Carson scored 23 unanswered points and built a 29-2 lead.
ěIt just wasnít a good start for us,î said losing coach Jessica Kulp. ěWe couldnít hit a shot. It was hard just to get shots. And everything they took hit bottom.î
Holman, one of four Carson scorers to crack double figures, said the Cougars were actually being selective from the field.
ěWe were looking for good, open shots and we got them,î she noted after sinking 8 of 9 shots and scoring 21 points. ěWe started out playing this game at our pace and we kept it there. This is the way we like to play.î
HR didnít make a basket until Kiana Davis snuck in for a backdoor layup that made it 32-5 with 5:34 remaining in the first half. The Raging Bulls best-known scoring threat ó rugged senior Jordan Strode ó was held to 12 points.
ěThat was Kellyís assignment,î Misenheimer said. ěAnd she did a great job. She tried to contest every shot (Strode) took and every pass she tried to make.î
Kulp said thatís something that comes with notoriety. ěJordanís not a secret anymore,î she said. ěThe more people know about her, the more theyíre gonna defend her.î
Hickory Ridge had no answer for Carsonís long-range accuracy. Dulkoskís third-and-final home run ball put the Cougars ahead 73-19 midway through the fourth quarter. ěWe showed people what weíre here to do this season,î Holman concluded.
HICKORY RIDGE (27) ó Strode 12, Davis 6, Ford 2, Cachine 2, Smothers 2, Wallace 2, Little 1.
CARSON (79) ó Dilkoski 24, Holman 21, Monroe 16, Allen 10, Blackwell 4, Phillips 2, Cole 2, Parks, Barringer, Stirewalt.
H. Ridge 2 7 3 15 ó 27
Carson 24 15 19 21 ó 79