Senators break Colts in season finale

Senators break Colts in season finale

BY DARRELL MOODY

Appeal Sports Writer

RENO - The Carson boys basketball team took out its frustration over missing the Northern 4A playoffs out on Wooster Friday.

A 19-2 surge, spanning the final four minutes of the third quarter and the first two minutes of the fourth quarter, carried the Senators to a season-ending 62-47 win at Craig Congdon Gymnasium.

Carson finished the league season with a 5-9 Sierra League record.

"It's always good to end the season with a win, to send the seniors out with a win," Carson coach Bruce Barnes said. "We lost three conference games by six points, which was tough to swallow."

Carson, led by junior forward Paul Cagle, enjoyed a double-digit lead for nearly nine minutes of the first half. Cagle scored five points in each of the first two quarters to give the Senators a 33-23 lead at the half.

At the outset of the second half, the Senators had a stretch they would love to forget. Carson turned the ball over on four of its first five possessions, and then went a combined 0-for-3 on the other two trips downcourt.

Wooster took advantage of that as Daniel McCauley had a basket and free throw while David Torres - who was held to only eight points - and Eric Marshall added baskets to trim the Senators' lead to 33-30 with 5 minutes, 7 seconds left.

Carson freshman Brian Barnes finally ended the drought with a basket that led to a quarter-ending 10-2 run and a 43-32 advantage. Zack Rispin and Caleb Carter each contributed a three-point play in the surge.

Wooster went 0-for-4 and turned the ball over three times in that stretch.

The Senators kept the pressure on at the outset of the final period. Senior David Eller, who scored 11 points, scored to start the fourth quarter and, after a turnover, Carter scored on a lean-in.

Wooster turned the ball over again, and Carson senior Rob Valerius scored in the lane. Another turnover led to an Eller field goal, and Valerius completed the game-deciding surge with a free throw to make it 52-32 after Marshall was nailed for a technical foul.

'We pressured them on defense and we shot the ball well," coach Barnes said. "We had a good start to the fourth quarter."

Carson built the lead to 58-32 before the Colts went on a belated 13-2 run to make it 60-45 with less than two minutes remaining. Carlos Cota knocked down two 3-pointers, while James Williams scored two baskets.

A big key to the game was Carson holding Torres, who went for a double-double the last time the teams met, to just eight points and 10 rebounds.

"We figured out how to play big guys," coach Barnes said. "We doubled him. We knew he was the go-to guy. We tried to get him out of rhythm."

Brian Barnes and Cagle led Carson with 12 points apiece.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281