Confident Inglima has lofty goals

There isn't a hint of cockiness in Vince Inglima. But that doesn't mean that he lacks in confidence or doesn't have lofty goals.

Inglima, a 6-4 senior, who is one of the leaders for this year's Carson High boys basketball team, has high aspirations for the team and himself.

"Our goal is to win zone," said Inglima about the Senators winning the Northern 4A tournament this season. "I think we have a really good chance to win zone. I think the way we're playing now, we can go a long way."

After finishing his high school career, Inglima would like to go on to play in college -- at a Division I school. While Inglima isn't receiving a sniff from any Division I schools now, he said don't count him out.

"I definitely want to play college basketball somewhere," Inglima said. "It sounds overconfident, but I believe I can play Division I basketball."

Inglima has received notice from top community college programs, Yakima, Wash. and West Valley (Calif.). He has also received interest from top Division III programs Chapman (Calif.), Lewis and Clark (Ore.) and Puget Sound (Wash.).

But since Inglima's goal is to play at a Division I school, the community college route is the most logical way for him to go. West Valley normally sends several players to Division I every year. Inglima, though, is still weighing his options.

"Right now I'll probably go to a junior college," he said. "But it's all wide open. I haven't made any decision, yet."

One advantage that Inglima has is his all-around game. Since entering high school he has grown from 5-5 to 6-4, which has essentially forced him to play virtually all the positions on the floor.

"I was just a little runt," said Inglima, who has also gone from 125 to180 pounds.

Inglima has gone from playing guard to more of a post player this year, although he has an inside-outside game. In college, Inglima will likely be an off guard or small forward.

"It's helped me out a lot because when I was younger, I played outside all the time," said Inglima about his experience. "I believe it will help me to have that all-around game."

Inglima has helped lead Carson to first place in the Sierra League this season. Inglima started last season for the Senators, but was more of a role player.

"Last year, I didn't play a big role," he said. "This year, I've come in more as more of a leader right now.

"But right now, we're playing great basketball. Our team has come together."

With Adam McKenzie running the point, Ryan Buttner's outside shooting and players like Ryan Henry providing key supporting roles, Inglima hasn't had to carry the load alone.

"Everybody knows what they're supposed to do and they' coming out and doing it," Inglima said.

"I'm just filling the role on the team that I need to fill this year. I've got to do what the team needs. That's just how it goes."

Inglima said he also knows while the team's goal is to take zone, it won't be easy. "Zone should be a lot of fun," he said.

If Carson wins the Sierra League, a possible showdown with defending zone champion Galena in the first round looms.

"Right now we can't look that far ahead," Inglima said. "Every game's going to be tough."

That was demonstrated on Tuesday when Carson sustained its first league loss, falling to 8-1 in league play after a dramatic 67-64 loss at Douglas. Carson has a tough three-game stretch to finish the regular season against Wooster, Reno and Hug.

"Every day they get bigger," Inglima said. "We just have to keep stepping up to the challenge.

"The whole league up and down is really tough this year. I think we have the team to do it. It's going to be really tough."

Carson stepped up to the challenge when it was able to beat the Sierra League's second and third place teams, Reno and Hug, in the same weekend.

"Those were the two biggest games we've had," Inglima said. "A lot of people didn't think that we could come out with two victories. That gave us a lot of confidence."

Inglima has also gained a great deal of confidence since returning to school after he took a year off between his sophomore and junior years to tour Europe.

But while his life was enriched, if anything the experience was a disadvantage as far as his basketball was concerned. "I didn't play at all during that time," Inglima said.

Inglima said returning to the court wasn't easy. "It wasn't a lot of fun," he said. "A lot of my friends graduated last year. But I really love this year's team.

"I was definitely out of shape.It was just getting back into the flow of basketball. It got easier as I went."

Besides, Inglima said he couldn't pass up the chance to go to Europe.

"I learned about a lot of cultures," he said. "You don't get a chance like that very often, so I figured I should take it. I don't know if I'll ever get back, but I sure want to."

Charles Whisnand is the Nevada Appeal Sports Editor.