By Ryan Bisesi
rbisesi@salisburypost.com
GRANITE QUARRY — The 3-point parade the Carson girls basketball team is marching in doesn’t look to be ending anytime soon.
The Cougars hit four treys in the first quarter at East Rowan Tuesday night to key its eighth-straight win to open the season in a 79-36 triumph against its county rival.
Carson (8-0, 1-0) broke open a 6-5 game midway through the first quarter and led 27-8 after eight minutes in the NPC opener for both teams. The first 8-0 start in school history has team morale high and the Cougars carrying themselves confidently.
“It’s really nice and rewarding to know our hard work is paying off,” Carson’s Kelly Dulkoski said. “To be 8-0 is a great feeling.”
Chloe Monroe led all scorers with 20 points and canned four 3’s of her own. It was her second 20-point game of the season. Dulkoski and Tyesha Phillips both had 13 for the Cougars, who are averaging 69 points a game so far. Katherine Barringer finished with 10 points.
“I know the girls were ready to play last night at practice,” Carson coach Brooke Misenheimer said. “East Rowan’s a rivalry to begin with and it’s the conference opener. I think our girls were itching to get out here.”
Monroe converted a 3-point play with 29 seconds left in the first quarter for the 27-8 advantage.
The Cougars, who host Davie County Thursday, held East to single-digit scoring in the opening two quarters.
“Our defense created a lot for us,” Misenheimer said. “We also got some transition baskets and moved the ball well. It was important to get that big lead going into halftime.”
Carson led 42-15 at halftime and 65-25 entering the fourth quarter.
“There’s a lot of excitement right now, “ Misenheimer said. “The kids are having fun in practice and they’ve got big goals for this year. They’re a fun group to be around and they expect a lot of themselves.”
Post player Kelli Fisher had 13 points to lead East (0-8, 0-1) and Karleigh Wike scored seven. The Mustangs had a tough time overcoming 27 turnovers and a tight pressure defense from Carson.
“We’re still battling turnovers,” East coach Danielle Porter said. “You’re not going to be able to do anything productive when you’re committing 27 turnovers.”
East faces West Iredell on the road Friday.
CARSON (79) — Monroe 20, Dulkoski 13, Barringer 10, Holman 9, Blackwell 6, Stirewalt 4, Allen 2, Parks 2, Cole.
EAST ROWAN (36) — Fisher 13, Wike 7, Sides 6, Poole 5, Lowe 4, Gullett 1, Thomas, Brown, Gobble.
Carson 27 15 23 14 — 79
E. Rowan 8 7 10 11 — 36