MINDEN - Once again, the Carson High boys basketball team was in position to win at the end. But again, the Senators fell short down the stretch as they dropped a 62-52 verdict against Colfax (Calif.) during second-day action Friday afternoon at the Carson Valley Classic.
Colfax scored nine unanswered points in the final 2 minutes, 27 seconds to break up a one-point struggle against the Senators in a game played at Douglas High.
Carson finishes up at the Douglas tournament with two more games today - against Reed at 11:30 a.m. in the Douglas gym, then against Lowry at 4 p.m. at Carson Valley Middle School.
For the Senators, Friday marked their second narrow setback in as many nights. Thursday, they fell short against a Laguna Creek (Elk Grove, Calif.) team that went 21-9 and reached the playoffs last season. This time, they lost to a Colfax team that went 22-9 and finished second in its Pioneer Valley League last season.
"I think the kids are disappointed in themselves and the coaches are disappointed because they just didn't have the same type of energy they did last night," Carson coach Bruce Barnes said.
The Senators especially seemed flat on the defensive end, he contended.
"Defensively, we were very bad today," Barnes said. "We weren't moving, we weren't helping out and we got beat off the dribble everywhere."
Ari Iventosch was especially effective for the Falcons with a game-high 25 points to go with four assists. The 5-foot-10 junior guard scored eight in the final four minutes, including a pair of 3-pointers that gave the Falcons leads of 47-41 and 60-52.
"The little kid (Iventosch) kicked our butts," Barnes said. "He runs the team well and scores points at the same time."
Brice Crook converted three free throws and Jeremiah Teeter sank two free throws with 1.2 seconds remaining as Carson only trailed 38-37 at the end off three quarters. In the fourth quarter, however, the Senators missed two opportunities to tie the score when they turned the ball over. And they only trailed 53-52 after Kyle Bacon hit one of two free throws with 2:38 left to play.
Unfortunately for the Senators, that was the last time they scored.
Jake Jeffers and Bacon scored 11 and 10 points respectively to lead the Carson offense (Bacon scored five in the fourth quarter). Steve Mandoki also had eight points and seven rebounds for the Senators.
Russell Stone had 11 points to go with seven rebounds for Colfax.
Notes: Carson enjoyed an advantage at the free throw line by shooting 15-for-23, and the two teams were even in rebounds with 24 each. Carson finished with 16 turnovers, 10 in the first half. Colfax shot 50 percent (11-for-22) from the field on its way to a 29-24 halftime lead. Carson shot 39 percent from the field in the first half (9-for-23). ... The Senators had two players injured during the game: Kevin Brush (eye) and Adam Houghton (Adam's apple).
Contact Dave Price at dprice@nevadaappeal.com or call 881-1220.
Carson Valley Classic
Box score
Colfax 62, Carson 52
Carson14101315-52
Colfax1811924-62
Carson (0-2): Teeter 0 2-2 2, Houghton 2 1-2 5, Bacon 4 1-2 10, Gardner 1 0-0 2, Jacquet 1 2-4 4, Brush 1 1-1 3, Crook 2 3-4 7, Mandoki 2 4-6 8, Jeffers 5 1-2 11, Totals 18 15-23 52.
Colfax (1-1): Iventosch 9 3-5 25, Stone 5 0-0 11, Gintry 1 2-4 4, Dorsey 1 1-2 3, Oliver 3 2-3 8, Ballenger 1 0-2 2, Harper 1 3-4 5, Mooney 2 0-0 4, Totals 23 11-20 62.
Three-point goals: Bacon 1; (Colfax) Iventosch 4, Stone 1.
Carson Valley Classic
Box score
Colfax 62, Carson 52
Carson14101315-52
Colfax1811924-62
Carson (0-2): Teeter 0 2-2 2, Houghton 2 1-2 5, Bacon 4 1-2 10, Gardner 1 0-0 2, Jacquet 1 2-4 4, Brush 1 1-1 3, Crook 2 3-4 7, Mandoki 2 4-6 8, Jeffers 5 1-2 11, Totals 18 15-23 52.
Colfax (1-1): Iventosch 9 3-5 25, Stone 5 0-0 11, Gintry 1 2-4 4, Dorsey 1 1-2 3, Oliver 3 2-3 8, Ballenger 1 0-2 2, Harper 1 3-4 5, Mooney 2 0-0 4, Totals 23 11-20 62.
Three-point goals: Bacon 1; (Colfax) Iventosch 4, Stone 1.