YUBA CITY, Calif. - Carson High School's boys saw a close game slip away in the final four minutes on Thursday night, losing 76-60 to Will C. Wood in the opening round of the tough Mel Goode Basketball Tournament.
The Senators (3-2) were the only team with a loss coming into the tournament. The difficult filed included Upland out of Los Angeles, St. Mary's-Stockton, Elk Grove and Bellarmine Prep out of San Jose.
Carson faces St. Mary's at 4 p.m. today in the second round.
Thursday's game was close throughout, and it was even tied 32-32 at halftime. But Wood's Danny Dillon hit three straight 3-pointers to help his team slowly pull away.
Carson coach Tom Andreasen said his Senators simply had no answer to Wood's hot shooting.
"We had to press and foul in an attempt to get back in it," he said. "That's what did it to us. We missed a ton of threes down the stretch."
Lee Biddlecome had a solid effort in only his second game this season. The 6-foot-9 power forward, who had missed Carson's first three games with an ankle injury, had 19 points, including a 3-pointer.
"He's playing great considering he's had one week of practice," Andreasen said. "The whole team played well, but when it comes down to a few shots it's tough to beat a team like Wood. They're quick, and they're big."
Cody Longero led all scorers and paced the Senator offense with 26 and three 3-pointers.
Wood had a pair of players with five 3-pointers a piece. Both Dillon and Mike Chambers were hot from long range, as Dillon had 23 points and Chambers had 21.