SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - Since the new millenium, no team has dominated the South Tahoe High Vikings like Carson.
Carson's mystique over the Vikings was in full swing on Saturday when the Senators rallied from a 15-point second-half deficit to take a three-point lead with a little more than 3 minutes remaining.
But without star guard Conor Freeman, the Vikings didn't become another victim in the onesided series. South Tahoe used two key turnovers and a go-ahead basket by senior center Joel Keegan to escape with a 50-47 boys' basketball victory, ending the Carson's 11-game mastery over the Vikings.
"I call Carson the vampires because you have to kill them like four times," said STHS coach Derek Allister.
The victory (15-9, 8-4) propels the Vikings into the Northern 4A regional tournament for the first time since Tom Orlich left the program following the 1999-2000 season. Carson (4-8), meanwhile, was left to reflect on what might have been in a season of tough defeats.
Carson seemed to be in control when Zach Weismann scored on a drive to the basket while being hacked by Keegan. Weismann, however, who struggled at the foul line, missed the charity toss and the Senators led 47-44 with 3:18 to go.
Enhancing the Senators chances of winning at that point was the absence of STHS guard Freeman, who fouled out with a little more than 5 minutes remaining.
But the Vikings didn't wilt under pressure without their senior guard.
The Senators missed a chance to increase their lead, and STHS reserve Michael Anstett's steal and subsequent pair of free throws trimmed Carson's lead to a point. The next big play for STHS was turned in by K.J. Allister, son of the Vikings' head coach. K.J. forced a held ball near midcourt with 1:46 left and the Vikings' were awarded the ball on the alternating possession.
K.J. missed a long three-point attempt and Carson had a chance to restore a three-point lead.
But Jack Jacquet missed a pair of free throws, and Keegan made the Senators pay by converting a half hook from 10 feet for a 48-47 STHS lead.
Carson didn't get a chance to go ahead as K.J. came up with another steal. With the clock ticking under 20 seconds the Senators trapped Vikings' reserve Vince Capellino in the baseline corner. Coach Allister called a time-out, setting up an inbound pass to Keegan, who found Anstett along underneath the basket. Anstett declined a reverse layup attempt and dribbled outside and passed to Jared Wood, who was fouled with 8.7 left.
Wood, who made four crucial foul shots the night before in a 53-48 win at Douglas, calmly sank both free throws to put the Vikings ahead 50-47.
Kevin Brush, who sank a pair of trifectas earlier, went for the tie but his three-point attempt only found rim. Keegan came down with the rebound but missed two free throws with .4 left.
The second miss didn't allow Carson enough time to get off a desperation shot.
Afterward, Carson coach Bruce Barnes was at a loss to explain why the Senators have beaten the Vikings like a drum until Saturday.
"I don't have the answer. I wish I did, because I would have used it," Barnes said. "He's a good coach and has them well-prepared. It's just one of those things, for whatever reason."
The Senators, after scoring a disappointing six points in the second period, swung the momentum early in the second half by applying full-court pressure and trapping in the half court. A 10-foot baseline jumper by K.J. put the Vikings ahead 30-15 at the outset of the third quarter, but Carson stormed back on the strength of the three-point shooting of Brush and Adam Houghton. Houghton hit two threes and Brush made another as the Senators pulled within 37-33 with :45 remaining in the quarter.
"They are a very physical team, and the one thing about Bruce's teams those guys never giveup, they never stop," coach Allister said.
But when the Senators finally got the lead and pushed it to three points, Barnes elected to call off his press.
"We accomplished what we wanted ... the lead," Barnes said. "After that we just needed to play straight man-to-man defense and not give up any threes. At that point, it we would have gotten a stupid foul, it would have stopped the clock and it wouldn't have benefitted us."
Houghton led the Senators with 14 points, while Brush and Weismann netted 10. Wood led South Tahoe with 17 points.