By Mike London
mike.london@salisburypost.com

LANDIS — The only serious adversity South Rowan’s girls faced in Monday’s 57-33 romp against Northwest Cabarrus came prior to the tip-off.

Head coach John Davis suffered an injury — while getting the bleachers ready.

“I fell turning the handle rails,” Davis explained. “My foot slipped and my arm got caught up in the rail. I tried to play it off until I got to the back hall, but it stung pretty good.”

Davis was in a lot of pain and was hospitalized in Salisbury. He was diagnosed with a ruptured triceps tendon. He’ll need surgery to repair the damage. He’s not sure of the date yet.

Laurie Corriher, a long-time assistant for several South coaches, piloted the team in Monday’s game on short notice. She said it was her first time being in charge on a varsity bench since former SR coach Jim Brooks got tossed in a heated affair against East Rowan. That was in 2008.

Corriher appeared to enjoy standing up and yelling. She shook off the rust, and her team easily took care of business against the Trojans.

“We won it for Coach Davis,” Corriher said.

Janiya Downs, the county’s leading scorer, and Brooke Lowery made 3-pointers in the first quarter as the Raiders took a 16-5 lead.

It was 22-11 in the middle of the second quarter when Downs and Tazah “Z” Hardin led a spree of steals and easy buckets that put the Raiders on top 37-13 at halftime.

It was 46-15 early in the second half before NWC shooter Braedon Allen made two long ones in a row.

South post player Whitley Arnott had a big third quarter, blocking shots, rebounding and getting stickbacks, and the Raiders maintained a large enough lead that Corriher was able to comfortably clear the bench and let everyone log a lot of minutes in the fourth quarter.

“Proud of the ladies,” Davis said. “When everything falls into place, we’re gonna be a very good basketball team.”

Northwest focused a box-and-one defense on Downs, but she still scored 18 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out four assists.

“She didn’t feel great tonight,” Corriher said.

Hardin looked like a triple-double candidate at halftime. Besides scoring 13 points, she finished with eight rebounds, seven steals and three assists.

Riley Corriher was steady and scored 11 points. Arnott contributed nine, as the Raiders (12-8, 8-6) solidified their grip on fourth place in the South Piedmont Conference standings.

Allen scored 14, including 10 in the third quarter. Tricia Robinson added 12 for the Trojans (3-15, 2-12), who played without Ashleigh Thomson (concussion).

NW CABARRUS (33
Allen 14, Robinson 12, Florian 4, Maddox 2, Sterling 1.

SOUTH (57)
Downs 18, Hardin 13, Corriher 11, Arnott 9, Lowery 3, McClary 2, Rollins 1, Cam. Carlton, Car. Carlton, Shell, Wagner, Spratt.

NW Cabarrus          5    8      12   8—  33
S. Rowan                16  21      15    5 —  57