Prep Basketball: West Rowan girls 77, Carson 59

West Rowan's Ayanna Avery looks to pass over Carson's Naylene Livengood. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post

West Rowan Coach Epps tries to get the attention of his players. photo by Wayne Hinshaw, for the Salisbury Post

By Mike London

mlondon@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — Chloe Monroe contested a 25-footer by Ayana Avery, but the net rippled anyway.

When West Rowan's Avery is on, there's not much you can do, and she was extremely on on Saturday. The junior guard scored 41 points with a variety of runners and bombs and broke the school scoring record in a 77-59 NPC win against Carson.

The record she broke was her own. Avery had 40 against North Rowan in December.

"I don't know where being that hot came from, but it just came and I'm very glad it did," Avery said.

Avery shot 16-for-26 from the field, made six 3s and hit all three of her foul shots.

Avery had a killer first quarter — pouring in 20 of West's 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting, with four 3s.

"We know the range on Ayana's shots is when she passes halfcourt, but we still felt man-to-man was our best defense," Carson coach Brooke Misenheimer said. "The first time we played West (a 65-51 Carson loss), we went box-and-one on Ayana and her teammates hurt us. Her supporting cast is good."

It's good enough that West (16-4,7-2) won its 10th straight. Deser Cross (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Shay Steele (12 points, four blocks) did major damage in the paint.

West coach Erich Epps was concerned about Carson's ability to shoot the ball, and with good reason. Four different Cougars hit 3s.

"I haven't slept worrying about this one," Epps said. "You watch Carson in warmups, and they don't miss. I don't know how Brooke does it, but she's got about eight kids that can shoot the 3."

Carson got 12 points each from Monroe and Kelly Dulkoski, who has made amazing strides since Christmas. Allison Blackwell scored 10.

But Carson didn't get to shoot early. The Cougars turned it over four straight times as West jumped out 9-0.

"We knocked 'em in the mouth, but then we had to back off the press when Shay got in foul trouble," Epps said.

Breckin Settlemyer finally scored for the Cougars with 4:40 left in the first quarter, and they started to click.

Carson (9-13, 5-5) had a very strong second quarter, shooting 7-for-10 and fighting within 37-31 at halftime.

Demya Heggins slowed Avery down a bit in the second quarter, but she got hot again in the third and pumped in 11 quick points as West built a double-digit margin.

In the fourth quarter, Avery changed from scorer to passer and Cross and Steele took over. Cross had nine points and eight boards in the final eight minutes.

It appeared Avery would finish with 38, but she converted a three-point play with 18 seconds left for the record.

"Ayana was terrific today, and Cross played very well after we made a conscious effort to get the ball inside in the second half," Epps said. "Carson is very good. This is a big win."

west rowan (77) — Avery 41, Cross 13, Steele 12, Holloway 9, Watkins 2, Ball, Turner, Jenkins, Parker, Al. Dutton.

carson (59) — Monroe 12, Dulkoski 12, Blackwell 10, K. Livengood 9, Phillips 6, Settlemyer 5, Heggins 5, Cloninger, Brown. W. Rowan 23 14 18 22 — 77

Carson 13 18 10 18 — 59