The Carson High boys basketball team picked up its biggest win in recent memory late Wednesday night in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic.
But the Senators couldn't maintain the momentum as they lost twice on Thursday.
Carson knocked off Shadow Ridge 69-68, beating a club that entered the game with a 13-1 record and was considered one of Southern Nevada's top three teams along with Valley and Canyon. On Thursday, the Senators lost to Fullerton, Calif., 66-49 and Sacramento Mira Loma 70-62.
"The best win we've had in probably two years," said Carson coach Bruce Barnes about the victory of Shadow Ridge. "It was a big win for us."
The Senators were originally supposed to play Rancho, but a change in the schedule put them against Shadow Ridge. There was also a power outage where the game was play at Las Vegas High, pushing the game back.
Carson trailed 32-28 at halftime and overcame a four-point deficit in the last 40 seconds. Zach Weismann, who scored 20 points, pulled the Senators to within one. Then after Carson forced a turnover, Paul Cagle scored the game-winner inside off of an inbound pass from Holbert with five seconds left.
"Everybody played very well," Barnes said. "They pressed us for 32 straight minutes. They were a very athletic team. They pressed us, the trapped us everywhere."
Barnes said point guard Matt Rutledge, Weismann and Holbert were among the players who played a key role in handling the pressure. "It wasn't any one guy," Barnes said. Barnes added the effort was "the best overall team game we've had."
Holbert and Cagle each scored 17 points. "I thought Will had his best game of the year," said Barnes, who added Holbert was strong on the boards. "He was very active last night."
Against Fullerton, Cagle scored 15 points and Caleb Carter and Weismann each added 10 points. "We didn't shoot the ball very well," Barnes said. "They just outplayed us."
Cagle scored 17 points and Weismann and Holbert each added 12 points against Mira Loma. Carson will continue play in the tournament at 4 p.m. today against Legacy.
CHS FROSH 86, DAYTON 26
David McMasters scored 14 points, Jeff Davies had 12 points, Shane Mooney and Slade Siciliano each had 10 points, Beau Bickel had nine points, Pat Smith had seven points, Caelan Sanders had six points, Uriel Duran and Ian Witter each had four points and Brennan Shaffer, Ian Gunn and Josh Peacock all added two points for Carson in the State Farm Tournament. Carson will continue play at 2:15 p.m. today against Fallon at Damonte Ranch.