By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
GRANITE QUARRY ó Mallory Drew got East Rowan’s girls started with seven points in the first three minutes.
Then everyone piled on.
Drew, Tempest Means and Devan Corpening posted career highs as the Mustangs, who have played a killer schedule, shot better than 50 percent for three quarters and finally had some fun.
Mackenzie Holshouser was in double figures for the first time this season, Olivia Sabo enjoyed a seven-point third quarter, Lindsay Eagle made her first varsity 3-pointer, and Amber Boling scored her first varsity points. There was good news all over the place.
With 10 players scoring, East blew out visiting West Iredell 72-23 to open the NPC season on Friday. The Mustangs are 1-6 overall, but 1-0 where it counts.
“This was the beginning of a new season and we talked about just starting over,” East coach Karen Garmon said.
Drew opened the scoring, and Alaina Vanderford followed with a 3-pointer. When Drew made a steal and drove for a physical three-point play, it was 8-0 right off the bat.
Both teams entered the night winless, but relief was etched on the faces of the Mustangs after those first few minutes. They realized they were going to get this one.
“I hit my first shot, and I just knew it was going to be a good game,” Drew said. “Coach told us we were 0-0 again. We had an open mind and got back on track.”
East sizzled, connecting 10 of its first 12 shots. It was 19-2 after a quarter.Drew had back-to-back stickbacks in the second quarter to push the lead to 37-10. It was 38-14 at the break.
Drew had never scored more than six points in a game, but she shot 5-for-5 from the field in the first half while getting five boards.
“Mallory’s 5-foot-6, but she leads us in rebounds with those volleyball ups,” Garmon said. “We tried her first at point guard, but then we moved her inside and told her to just get in there and fight.”
Means, who had never scored more than seven in a game, had 10 points in the second half for a game-high 14.
“She’s playing against boys in P.E. class,” Garmon said. “It’s helped her control that great speed she has.”
West Iredell (0-6) made just one field goal in the second half as the margin grew.
west iredell (23) ó Tuttle 6, Sigmon 6, Eliis 3, Marshall 3, Ijames 3,Moose 2, Gatton, Fain, Dyson.
east rowan (72) ó Means 14, Drew 13, Holshouser 10, Sabo 9, Corpening 8, Eagle 5, Vanderford 5, File 3, Honeycutt 3, A. Boling 2, B. Boling.
W. Iredell 2 12 7 2 ó 23
E. Rowan 19 19 19 15 ó 72