By Bill Kiser
bstrelow@salisburypost.com
Putting up big numbers is becoming almost commonplace for Carson forward Darius Moose.
Moose scored a season-high 30 points in leading to Cougars to a 73-56 North Piedmont Conference win over Statesville on Friday night.
The 6-3 junior forward was 12-of-17 from the field ó including a 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the third quarter ó and 5 of 10 from the line.
“He’s been playing really well,” Carson head coach Brian Perry said. “He’s asking for the ball, and the guys are looking for him. And with the guys pushing the ball down the floor, they were getting him a lot of easy shots.”
Josh Doby hit five 3-pointers and had 15 points for the Cougars (8-10, 4-8), and Nick Houston added 10.
Tevin Carr scored 20 points for the undermanned Greyhounds (4-13, 3-9), who dressed just six players.
Moose’s performance came just 24 hours after he put up 28 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to Northwest Cabarrus.
Moose ó whose career high is 34 points, also kept Carson (8-10, 4-8) in the game in the first half, scoring 20 points in the first two quarters as the Cougars struggled with their 3-point shooting.
“I just came out and played,” said Moose, who also had nine rebounds and a pair of assists against Statesville. “The guys weren’t hitting in the first half … but I knew they would start, so I had to just keep getting the rebounds and putting the ball back up.”
That was vital, as the Greyhounds managed to make a game of it in the first half. They overcame an early six-point deficit to lead twice ó the last time at 23-21 with 5:40 left in the second quarter ó and tie the score six times.
However, the Cougars started hitting 3s in the closing minutes of the half. Doby drained three straight, the last with two seconds remaining, to give Carson a 36-31 lead at the break.
The Cougars then took command in the third quarter, with Moose scoring 10 points during a 16-0 run over the final six minutes. His 3-pointer with 30 seconds left capped the run and gave Carson a 56-36 lead.
The Cougars took their biggest lead late in the fourth quarter, pulling ahead 73-50 with 1:12 remaining.
statesville (56) ó Carr 20, Schofield 15, Edwards 14, Nichols 5, Gill 2, Lackey. carson (73) ó Moose 30, Doby 15, Houston 10, Sewell 8, Ferrare 5, Heggins 2, Britt 2, Jones 1, Clanton, Barringer, Holloway, Begic, Harden, Walser, Ramic.
Statesville 15 16 5 20 ó 56
Carson 16 20 20 17 ó 73