SPARKS -- When it came down to settling the battle of wills, the Carson High School boys basketball team won out on Tuesday night.
Once that happened, then the Senators were on their way to a 61-49 victory against Galena in the opening round of the Northern 4A Regional boys basketball tournament at Spanish Springs High School.
Vince Inglima scored 27 points and Ryan Buttner 18 to help put Carson (22-7) on track to its first Northern 4A semifinal appearance since 1996. Galena ended its season with a 13-14 record.
"It was a very ball game. It was just kind a matter of wills, of who could go out and run their stuff," Carson coach Bruce Barnes said. "They wanted to do certain things and we wanted to do certain things, so it was going to be a matter who broke out first, and we were able to get the tempo going fast like we wanted to do. And that's what basically won the game, that and our defense."
Adam McKenzie led a defensive effort that was geared toward containing Joe Heaton, Galena's third-year varsity veteran. Heaton scored 17 points, 13 of which came in the second half, but rarely had any open looks at the basket on a night when he was constantly hounded by McKenzie.
"The whole team played pretty good defense tonight," said McKenzie, Carson's senior point guard. "When he got by me, everybody was helping out, so it was a team effort."
Buttner agreed.
"I think our defense picked it up," Buttner said. "Whenever our defense gets going, our offense always comes right after it."
The first half saw five lead changes, but the momentum shifted in the final three minutes of the second quarter when Carson scored 11 unanswered points to turn a 26-22 deficit into a 33-26 halftime lead.
Inglima took a pass from Adam McKenzie and buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key to start the run. McKenzie hit a pair of free throws to give the Senators a 27-26 lead with 2:38 left in the period. McKenzie fed Ricky Correlli for a layup on the press break, Buttner converted one of two free throws and McKenzie buried a 3-pointer from the right side off an assist from Inglima to make it 33-26.
"That probably was the game right there. That little burst of energy and it showed our guys what they could do. It gave us confidence more than anything," Barnes said.
It also set the tone for the rest of the game because Galena never came any closer than four points again.
"I think we got them playing faster than they wanted to play and we were getting some transition baskets, and the key is, once you get up a little bit, then they're forced to play a little faster than they want, and they're a ball control team, and when they're ahead they're tough, but when they're behind, they're uncomfortable," Barnes said.
In addition to Inglima and Buttner, Ricky Correlli had nine points and five rebounds for the Senators. McKenzie contributed 10 assists, seven rebounds and four steals.
Dalton Turnbow and David Robinson scored 10 points each for Galena.
The Senators play McQueen in the semifinals on Friday at 8 p.m. at Spanish Springs.
"I can't wait. These games are awesome. The people, the atmosphere. I love it," Buttner said.
"They don't want it to end and so they're doing anything possible to keep it going," said Barnes about the seniors.
NORTHERN 4A REGIONAL TOURNAMENT
Carson 61, Galena 49
Galena12141211--49
Carson14191711--61
Galena (13-14): Thompson 1 0-0 3, Myers 2 0-0 5, Ferguson 1 0-0 2, Robinson 3 2-2 10, Zuccarini 1 0-0 2, Heaton 7 0-0 17, Turnbow 5 0-0 10,
Carson (21-7): McKenzie 1 2-2 5, Correlli 3 3-3 9, Henry 1 0-0 2, Inglima 12 2-2 27, Buttner 7 1-2 18.
3-point goals: Galena 7 (Heaton 3, Robinson 2, Thompson 1, Myers 1), Carson Buttner 3, McKenzie 1, Inglima 1). Team fouls: Galena 14, Carson 9. Fouled out: None. Technical foul: None.
Friday semifinals
Carson vs. McQueen 8 p.m.
Reed/Douglas vs. Hug, 4:40 p.m.