By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Chloe Monroeís game got a little boost after Carson emerged from the locker room at halftime Tuesday. Her night brightened with a song dedicated to her from the Carson student section.
The fans sung to Monroe for her 18th birthday and she hit four 3ís in the third quarter in a 82-31 win Tuesday against Cox Mill.
ěI think it was more embarrassing than anything else,î said Monroe after a 20-point effort. ěMaybe I got a little bit of a boost.î
The Cougars were hot from long range with nine 3-pointers as a team with Monroe hitting six and Kelly Dulkoski nailing three of her own in a relatively easy victory.
ěShooting is definitely our strength and weíve got a number of weapons at the 3-point line,î Carson coach Brooke Misenheimer said. ěYou donít want to live or die by the 3, but it is nice when weíre hitting.î
Monroe and Dulkoski got steals and layups on consecutive possessions to give the Cougars a 20-10 edge and Carsonís lead remained at double digits as it cruised to its second win in as many games.
ěWe got in early foul trouble with our post,î Cox Mill coach Tony Walters said. ěI knew coming in they were dangerous from three. You give up that many 3s, its going to cause problems.
Misenheimer was aggravated with her teamís weak-side defense and lack of prevention for Cox Millís inside game. The Chargers dumped it in to post player Jessica Stafford on its early possessions with relative ease. Cox Mill (1-2) had problems finishing, keeping it distanced from Carson on the scoreboard.
ěIn the first quarter we did not get off to a good start,î Misenheimer said. ěCox Mill came in with a good game plan of getting it to the big girls. Weíre not a tall team.î
Fortunately for Misenheimer, the Cougars are a good shooting and defensive team.
Carson led 25-10 after scoring the last 11 points of the first quarter. The Cougarsí momentum carried into the second quarter where they outscored their guests 30-5.
Despite Carson holding a 55-15 lead at intermission, Monroe didnít let up in the second half, lining up shots from deep.
ěThatís always been a strength for us,î Monroe said. ěWeíve got a lot of good shooters. If theyíre not going to guard us at the 3-point line, weíre going to shoot it.î
Alex Allen finished in double figures for Carson with 12 points.
CARSON (82) ó Monroe 20, Dulkoski 19, Allen 12, Phillips 8, Blackwell 7, Cole 2, Stirewalt 2, Parks.
COX MILL (31) ó A. Cella 12, Stafford 6, Ballard 4, Earl 4, K. Cella 3, Slice 2, David, Vasquez, Thetford, McLamb, Kerharia, Joshi.
Cox Mill 10 5 12 4 ó 31
Carson 25 30 19 8 ó 82