By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.comKANNAPOLIS ó When you’re hot, you’re hot.
Northwest Cabarrus’ boys knocked down nine straight shots to open the second quarter, and five were long-distance 3-pointers.
Third-place Northwest shot a sizzling 63 percent in the first half, including nine 3s. That lights-out offense provided enough cushion to hold off the charging Cougars 84-75.
“They weren’t missing the first half,” said Carson junior Darius Moose, who had 28 points and 10 boards. “They could have kicked it up there and it would’ve gone in.”
Carson ((7-10, 3-8) was OK on offense, but it still trailed by as many as 24 points in the first half and faced a steep 54-34 deficit at halftime.
“Even if a team is shooting well, you can’t give up 54 in a half,” Carson coach Brian Perry said. “Guys were getting beat on the drive and putting the guys trying to help out in a bind. Drivers kicked out to shooters, and they made shots.”
Justin Seager and Graham Wright combined to hit seven 3-pointers.
Carson could have lost by 40, but it fought back, starting with 3s by Moose, Nick Houston (15 points on five 3s) and Josh Doby (13 points, three 3s) to begin the second half.
Carson got as close as five points twice, and it was 78-73 after Moose fed Derrick Sewell for a fastbreak bucket with 1:43 remaining. But the Trojans (13-3, 9-2 NPC) held on by making 10 fourth-quarter foul shots.
“We were pretty fortunate, maybe lucky, to win the game at Carson ó we knew that and Carson knew that,” Northwest coach Daniel Jenkins said. “We knew we needed to attack and jump on them early, and it’s a good thing we shot so well in the first half. We expected them to make a good run in the second half, and they made it.”
The future is bright for Carson’s youngsters ó Houston heads to get his driver’s license today ó and Perry still believes his team can finish in the top six and make the playoffs.
“This season’s been a roller coaster of ups and downs, and tonight was our season in a nutshell,” he said. “Sixteen minutes of being down, then 16 minutes of pretty good times.”
CARSON (75) ó Moose 28, Houston 15, Doby 13, Ferrare 8, Heggins 5, Clanton 4, Sewell 2, Begic, Holloway, Walser.
NW CABARRUS (84) ó Honeycutt 15, Seager 12, Hines 12, Wright 11, Brand 9, Felton 8, West 8, Kiser 5, Reid 4.
Carson 17 17 22 19 ó 75
NWC 24 30 12 18 ó 84