West Rowan High School’s girls basketball team achieved a remarkable victory on Saturday, defeating Carson High School 61-27. This win marks the Falcons’ 22nd victory of the season and solidifies their position at the top of the South Piedmont Conference (SPC). The Falcons have experienced a stunning turnaround, having previously finished last season with a record of 2-21 and 0-16 in the SPC.
This season, the Falcons boast a record of 22-1 overall and 13-1 in conference play, with all of their home games resulting in victories. Their only loss came in a closely contested match against Northwest Cabarrus. The Falcons now share first place in the SPC with the Trojans, who also have secured over 20 wins. Both teams are expected to receive favorable seeding in the upcoming 5A state playoffs.
Strong performances from key players have contributed significantly to West Rowan’s success. The return of Tiara Thompson, alongside the resurgence of Aubrey Martin, has been pivotal. Notably, the players who endured last season’s challenges have also played a crucial role. Many of them, now sophomores, have provided essential support to the senior stars.
In the game against Carson, Julia Burleson made a strong start, hitting two three-pointers in the first quarter. However, West Rowan’s defense effectively limited her contributions thereafter. Carson, playing without key players Rylee Hedrick and Brooklyn Johnson, struggled to find scoring opportunities, and freshman Cambie Perry led the Cougars with just nine points.
Following the game, Carson head coach Chloe Monroe acknowledged the challenges faced by her team. “We played hard. We were just overmatched,” she said.
Thompson excelled for West Rowan, scoring 22 points and surpassing the 20-point mark for the 11th consecutive game. Martin added 14 points, including two three-pointers, while Luci Pharr contributed eight points and Sydney Smith added seven points.
As the second seed in the conference tournament, West Rowan will host seventh-seeded East Rowan on Monday. Carson, with a record of 10-11 and 7-7 in the conference, is seeded fifth and is set to face fourth-seeded South Rowan.
The final score reflected the Falcons’ dominance throughout the match, with quarter scores of 21-11, 15-6, 13-3, and 12-7. West Rowan’s scoring breakdown included contributions from various players: Thompson (22), Martin (14), Pharr (8), Smith (7), Hurd (5), Allen (4), and E. Smith (1). For Carson, Perry (9), Burleson (6), Snow (5), Faggart (4), and Braylee Johnson (3) rounded out the scoring.
As the season progresses, the Falcons’ remarkable turnaround serves as a testament to resilience and teamwork, promising an exciting finish as they head into the playoffs.
