You don’t earn a nickname like “the Wrecking Ball” without being an unstoppable force in the paint. And in Sunday’s game against Can’t Buy Respect, that’s what TC was, adding 8 rebounds and 5 blocks to his 32 points as he barreled through CBR’s paint presences on his way to 12 free throws. He made 11 of them.

But TC was much more than a destructive hammer; he was his team’s ballast, righting the ship after a third quarter that saw the opposition double them up on scoring to overtake them thanks to some costly mistakes in execution.

Carter put the Favorites on his shoulders, steadying an offense on the verge of panic and anchoring the defense to help slow the surging scorers on Can’t Buy Respect.

At the Drew, big players with skill are at such a premium, they’re also a must for a deep playoff run, let alone a championship. With TC in the middle, Hometown Favorites have a distinct advantage in this summer’s short season.