By Jordan Honeycutt
sports@salisburypost.com
STATESVILLE — Carson wasted no time showing NPC foe West Iredell who was boss Wednesday in a 77-23 blowout victory.
The Cougars went to the bench after the first quarter buzzer, leading 32-5.
Behind a barrage of three-pointers and stellar defensive pressure, Carson outmanned and overmatched the Warriors from the jump.
“We take every game with the same approach and never overlook anyone,” Carson coach Brroke Misenheimer said.
“Everyone was able to contribute something tonight and we worked on some things that we can do going forward.”
Perhaps, most importantly for Misenheimer, was that her team showed no lasting effects from its Moir championship loss to Salisbury.
“We watched the entire Salisbury game on film and were able to pick out some good and some bad things that we did, but they have put that behind them and are focused on the conference and other goals,” Misenheimer said.
The Warriors and coach Mark Fox had no answer for the outisde sharpshooting of the Cougars.
Kelly Dulkoski and Chloe Monroe each scored 18 points, while Sarrah Holman and Alison Blackwell added 12 and 11 respectively.
“We just weren’t very good tonight,” Fox said. “We panicked all night against the pressure defense and there after a while, I told them not to even look at the scoreboard and take this as a learning experience.”
A tough lesson it was, as West Iredell failed to score in double-figures in any quarter of the game and couldn’t hold the Cougars under 10 points in any quarter.
Adding insult to injury for the Warriors in the fourth quarter was just that –– an injury and to their best player.
Guard Elizabeth Webb went out of the game with 16 points holding her arm and grimacing in pain.
Carson’s reserves once again stepped up big as they didn’t let the onslaught ease up much after Misenheimer pulled the starters.
Carson’s young bench players posted 13 points, most of which was down the stretch when the game was already decided, but it was a welcoming sight to Misenheimer nonetheless.
“Our girls all work hard and deserve to play and need to play to get better because we will need them the rest of the way,” Misenheimer said.
Next up for Carson is a test in conference rival West Rowan on Friday.
cARSON (77) — Dulkoski 18, Monroe 18, Holman 12, Blackwell 11, Allen 5, Phillips 5, Barringer 2, Cole 2, Parks 2, Stirewalt 2.
WEST IREDELL (23) — Webb 16, Gainer 4, Snouse 2, Ellis 1, Bolick, Coleman, Dagenhart, Feimster, Frye, Rambo.
Carson. 32 10 16 19 — 77
W. Iredell 05 06 09 03 — 23