Staff report
CHINA GROVE — Junior guard Jacob Mills scored his 1000th point as a Carson Cougar on Tuesday.
Mills only needed nine points to get there. He scored 13, reaching 1000 in the third quarter.
“To score 1000 in under three years on a team that has multiple big-time scorers, that’s an impressive accomplishment,” Carson head coach Brian Perry said.
Mills’ classmate CP Perry reached the grand milestone recently. Drew Neve, another talented Cougar in the Class of 2026, is on the way.
Other than Mills’ career feat, it was business as usual on Tuesday. Carson’s boys won again, while East Rowan fought hard right to the end, but lost again. The final was 70-55, although it was tougher for the Cougars than it sounds.
“Not in this for moral victories, but we did compete like crazy, gave it everything we had, even with Logan Bradley (illness) out,” East head coach Trey Ledbetter said. “We had a legitimate chance to win. It was a three-point game at halftime. Some things didn’t go our way in the fourth quarter, and Carson was able to get some separation at the end.”
Perry made six 3-pointers and scored 25 for the Cougars (12-1, 3-0), who stayed tied for first in the South Piedmont Conference with Robinson. The Bulldogs roughed up short-handed West Rowan 88-53 on Tuesday.
Ledbetter said East stayed in the game with efficient offense and by employing a matchup zone. Mills, a deadly shooter, was held to a pair of 3-pointers.
“Carson executes as well as anyone around against man-to-man,” Ledbetter said. “The matchup zone was a bold defense for us to try, but it worked. It helped stop the drive-and-kicks that they’re so good at. We kept all of their guys at bay — except CP. The dude can play. He made a big 3-pointer every time they needed it.”
Mills and Neve scored 13 each for the Cougars, while Will Hall added nine.
East (4-8, 0-3) missed Bradley’s 3-pointers and defense, but Brady Ailshie scored 12, and Mason McKenzie had his best offensive game of the season with 10 points. Brayden Mulkey scored nine. Aiden Lino made two 3s.
“It was a good win for us,” Coach Perry said. “Not a pretty one, but credit East. They played us very tough.”
Carson plays West Rowan on Friday. Next for the Mustangs is Northwest Cabarrus. Ledbetter hopes to have Bradley back for that one.
E. Rowan 13 15 17 10 — 55
Carson 15 16 23 16 — 70
EAST — Ailshie 12, McKenzie 10, Mulkey 9, Lino 8, Turner 7, Eudy 5, Brent 4.
CARSON — Perry 25, Mills 13, Neve 13, Hall 9, Martin 5, Walters 3, Krider 2.
