Carson’s boys basketball team has had a penchant for the dramatic this season.
The Cougars have been on the verge of blowouts this year only to hang on late in the game. That was the case Wednesday night in game that had a storyline before the fact.
Entering the week, Carson had two players on the brink of reaching 1,000 career points. Tre Williams did so Wednesday as expected, but a valiant effort from Colton Laws almost got them two in the same game.
Laws had a monster night against Hickory Ridge, scoring 29 points. The 6-foot-7 center had his most well-rounded game of the season, grabbing double digit rebounds, hitting a pair of 3-pointers and forcing himself in the paint with a dunk.
Laws needs nine points tonight at Cox Mill to surpass 1,000. If he does hit the milestone, he’ll be the fourth Rowan County player to do it this season and the 50th in county history.
Before the season, Carson coach Brian Perry fielded questions about whether Laws would come out for basketball. Perry said he never worried whether the East Carolina baseball commit would suit up.
“Colton’s always said he doesn’t love one sport over the other,” Perry said. “Anytime he steps out on the floor, he’s there to compete.”
Perry says if Laws does pass the milestone tonight, Carson will honor him before next week’s home game against Central Cabarrus. Perry reached the 1,000-point plateau himself in 1991 at East Rowan.
“We’re lucky to have two kids be pretty consistent for us for two years,” Perry said. “It’s a blessing to have two kids like that on the team.”
Williams entered the game needing just five to reach 1,000. After getting the first two out of the way,. fans gasped every time Williams put up a shot. It was a rebound Williams pulled down that gave him an open look from underneath the basket. The senior put it back up for an easy deuce and the crowd erupted. There was a brief stoppage in play that allowed Williams to take the ball up to his family and celebrate with his teammates. The student section unveiled a banner with ‘1,000’ in huge type.
“It’s pretty unusual to be in a spot where two can do it in consecutive games,” Perry said.
East Rowan’s Karleigh Wike is on the verge of 1,000 as well. The Richmond commit is 24 points away from the mark and could hit it with a big game at South Rowan tonight.
South Rowan’s Avery Locklear and North Rowan’s Nycieko Dixon surpassed 1,000 already this year. Since school consolidation, there have been 56 girls in county history to score 1,000.
North senior Michael Connor (823) is within range and the Cavaliers will probably play around 15 more games. Connor is currently sitting out after being ejected last weekend against Winston-Salem Prep.
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Almost everyone is on the road tonight but the Post has all its bases covered.
East at South is the only intracounty game on the docket. The Raiders are coming off a big win against Salisbury where Qwan Rhyne hit the game-winning shot in the final seconds. In the CCC, North travels to Tyro to play against West Davidson and Salisbury heads to Lexington. North’s boys and girls teams are unbeaten in the conference loop.
Elsewhere in the SPC, West’s boys travel to Hickory Ridge after a tough loss to Cox Mill. West’s girls have won two straight and three of four.
Ryan Bisesi can be reached at 704-797-4258 or rbisesi@salisburypost.com