The Carson boys basketball team finds itself in a position where it has not much margin for error.
Carson lost to Wooster 51-43 on Saturday at home to fall to 4-6 in league play. The Senators finish next week at Reno High on Tuesday and at home against Douglas on Friday. The Senators would likely still clinch a playoff spot if they can at least knock off the Tigers.
Against Wooster, the Senators couldn't overcome a slow start and a cold shooting night. The Senators used a strategy to shut down Wooster star Joey Golaw and make the rest of the Colts beat them in the two teams first meeting, a 50-45 Carson win at Wooster.
Carson again used the same strategy and it was effective as the Senators held Golaw to 14 points. Seven of those points came at the beginning of the third quarter and three of those points came from the foul line at the end to help put the game away.
But the Senators couldn't take advantage from the field and also didn't take full advantage from the foul line as they hit 20-of-31 foul shots in an extremely physical game. Kevin Brush and point guard Adam Houghton fouled out for Carson.
The Senators fell behind 8-1 and didn't hit a field goal until Brian Welch scored on a baseline drive with three minutes, 10 seconds left in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 8-5. But Wooster went on an 8-0 run to take a 16-5 lead before Brush hit a three-pointer to close the game to 16-8 after one quarter.
The Senators trailed 18-9 early in the second quarter when it appeared they had overcome adversity to turn the game around. Despite the physical game in which a lot was let go, Houghton was called for a touch foul, his third, and had to sit out the last seven minutes of the first half.
Jack Jacquet converted a three-point play after he scored inside and was fouled to make it 18-12. At the end of the half, Carson went on a 7-0, capped by Welch's three and Jake Jeffers' basket to close the halftime deficit to 26-24. Tilor Smith and Jeremiah Teeter came in during that span to provide valuable minutes in shutting down Golaw.
Golaw, though, briefly broke free to give Wooster a 33-26 lead and the Colts went on to lead 39-30 after three quarters.
Then came a questionable call in the first minute of the fourth quarter. Brush appeared to have scored on a drive to the basket to make it 39-32. But even though the Wooster player was standing underneath the basket, Brush was called for a charge. The basket was waved off and Brush fouled out, picking up his fifth foul.
Kyle Bacon, though, almost single-handedly brough Carson back, scoring the Senators' next eight points, hitting a three during the stretch, to cut the lead to 43-39. Carson was able to close to within 46-43 before Wooster put the game away from the foul line.
Bacon scored 14 points and Welch added 11 points.
CHS FRESHMEN 53, WOOSTER 34
All 15 players scored in the win for the Carson freshmen boys basketball team (19-3, 9-0). Will Holbert scored eight points, Markus Adams had seven points and Jordan Miller, Mitch Hammond and Adam Haney all added five points.