The Carson High boys basketball team split two games on Wednesday at the Las Vegas Prep Classic, coming back to rout Las Vegas 78-51 after losing to Kelly Walsh of Wyoming 58-51.
Carson trailed 26-18 at halftime against Kelly Walsh before coming back to tie the game with three-and-a-half minutes left. Kelly Walsh then hit a three-pointer to retake the lead.
The Senators trailed by two with 40 seconds left before Kelly Walsh put the game away at the foul line. After not taking a free throw in the first half, Kelly Walsh hit 17-of-24 foul shots in the second half.
Carson was 14-of-27 from the line in the second half. Kevin Brush led the Senators with 10 points.
"It was a real physical game," Carson coach Bruce Barnes said. "They hit some free throws down the stretch.
"We could not buy a basket in the first half. I thought our effort was there in the second half."
Carson (6-6) built a 43-24 lead at halftime against Las Vegas and never looked back. Rob Valerius and Bryon Wilson each scored 16 points for the Senators. Wilson hit four of Carson's five threes.
"We played pretty well," Barnes said. "We shot the ball pretty well. That was the best shooting game we've had."
Carson continues play in the tournament today against either Palos Verde of Southern California or McLane of Fresno, Calif.
DOUGLAS 68, HIRAM JOHNSON 50
The Douglas High boys basketball team picked up an impressive win over Hiram Johnson of Sacramento at the Rancho Cordova Tournament. Douglas coach Rob Streeter said Hiram Johnson was the type of team with quickness that applies pressure that gave his team problems to begin the season.
"We handled it extremely well," said Streeter about how his team handled Hiram Johnson's pressure. "I was very pleased with that. I'm very pleased with the progress we're making."
Nine of the Tigers' 10 players scored. Jeff Nady scored 19 points and Keith Olson added 13 points. Streeter also praised the play of point guard Michael Gransbery, who scored nine points.
Douglas led 40-21 at halftime and held off a mini-rally in the third quarter in which Hiram Johnson was never able to reduce the deficit below double figures. The Tigers will play in the semifinals today against the winner between host Rancho Cordova and Capital Christian.
OREGON CITY 79, GALENA 61
Galena lost the battle of wills in another high-powered tournament in Gillette, Wyo., against Oregon state power Oregon City from Portland.
The Grizzlies trailed just 41-40 at halftime, but Galena coach Tom Maurer knew the pace favored Oregon City.
"It was all transition points," Maurer said. "My style is to keep it in the 40s and their style is to get into the 80s."
Luke Babbitt scored 30 points and Eric Maupin added 10 points for Galena, which continues play in the tournament today. "It's a phenomenal tournament," Maurer said.
CARSON FROSH 64, DAYTON 26
Kyle Stone had an impressive, unconventional double double with 12 points and 12 steals in the win for the Carson freshmen boys basketball team at the State Farm Classic. Also for Carson, John Nuthall scored 11 points, Steve Fowzer, Tyler Smith and Nick Peternell all had six points, Tom Preston had five points, Jeff Butler had four points and eighth rebounds, Calvin Case had four points and Matt Parmenter, Tyson Pontes and Wade Smith all added two points. Carson will play at 10:40 a.m. today at Damonte Ranch.