PROSPERITY — When Newberry High School point guard Gary Rouse stepped on the floor for the first time this season, he looked a little different.

The Bulldogs’ All-County point guard last season didn’t have the dreadlocks he sported last year, and played a little out of control at times at Strom Thurmond on Jan. 16.

Rouse was back to form and had a major impact in the ’Dogs’ victory at Mid-Carolina Friday — just his second game since re-joining the team.

The Bulldogs’ 5-foot-4 guard lived in Florida during the fall semester, but transferred back to Newberry in time for the spring semester.

Rouse’s impact has been felt immediately.

“We’ve lost guys like him in high school athletics — that intensity,“ Newberry coach Chad Cary said. “We have some guys that are going to bring that some nights, but he brings it every night. He brings it to practice. Since he’s been back, we’ve had more intense practices that we’ve had all year.“

Rouse, a starter last season, came off the bench in both games he’s played this season, with different results. Against Strom Thurmond, he came in the game in the second half and committed three fouls in less than two minutes and turned the ball over a couple of times. Rouse entered Friday’s game midway through the first quarter and had two assists, forced three turnovers and drew a pair of charges in his first three minutes of court time.

His on-the-ball defense against Mid-Carolina’s primary ball handlers helped spark the Bulldogs’ fourth-quarter surge.

He played most of the second half and gave Newberry something it’s sorely missed in close losses to open region play. The Bulldogs led in fourth quarters against Strom Thurmond and Saluda, but lost in large part because of woeful free throw shooting in the final minutes of regulation and overtime.

Rouse put Friday’s victory away for the ’Dogs by hitting 13-of-14 free throws in the final four minutes. Those 13 points were his first of the season.

“He’s a leader,“ Cary said. “He’s 5-foot-something, but he can get people in the right spot. I don’t think he knows what to do yet, but if he keeps doing what he’s doing, we’re going to be all right. The way he knocked (free throws) down tonight, any team in America would like to have that right there. It’s automatic.“