The Carson High girls basketball team took a while to work out the cobwebs from a two-week break, but once it did, the Senators were able to pull away for a win in the Sapphire division of the West Coast Jamboree in Pittsburg, Calif.
Carson came back to beat Paloma Valley of Temecula, Calif., 50-36 to advance to today's 4 p.m. quarterfinal game. The Senators fell behind 8-1 and trailed 13-5 after one quarter as it had just one field goal in the opening period.
"We were kind of rusty," Carson assistant coach Ron Tamori said. "Our press finally wore them down. We finished strong. We dug quite a hole, but we were able to come out of it."
Christa Casci hit one of her two three-pointers to give Carson its first lead 33-30 to end the third quarter. The Senators then used their press, outscoring Paloma 17-6 in the fourth quarter.
Carson trailed 8-1 with three minutes left in the first quarter, with the only point coming on a Brandi Vega free throw. Abby Rankl scored Carson's first basket and Christa Casci hit two foul shots as the Senators trailed 13-5 after one quarter.
Casci scored two baskets and fed Vega for a basket to make it 17-11. Kaitlin Burroughs then scored on an assist from Vega and Morgan Nuckolls scored to pull Carson to within 22-20 at halftime.
After Carson fell behind 28-22, Vega scored two baskets to tie the game 28-28. In the fourth quarter, Danielle Peacon scored off of Burroughs' inbound pass and Casci made a steal and a layup to push the score to 44-33. Vega scored the last five points for the final margin.
Vega hit 10-of-13 points on her way to scoring 13 points, Casci had 14 points, Peacon scored 11 points, Burroughs had six points and Anna Macquarie added seven rebounds. Carson advanced to a 4 p.m. quarterfinal game today.
In addition on Tuesday, Carson's Gina Bianchi won the ball-handling contest held for all the teams in the event.
CARSON JVS 50, FALLON 28
Carson won its opener at the State Farm Tournament. Tiffany O'Day scored 14 points, Yvonne Hollett had eight points, Loretta Cagle hit her first ever three-pointer in high school on her way to scoring seven points, Krista Mattice had 6 ponits and Karli Dodge added 5 points. Carson (7-2) will play at 1:30 p.m. today against Truckee at Damonte Ranch.
CARSON FROSH 43,
FALLON 7
Amanda Otto scored eight points and Caroline Montiel added six points in the State Farm event. Carson advanced to play North Valleys at 1:30 p.m. today at Damonte Ranch.