SPARKS - Losing before your conference opener isn't what coaches like to see.
Unfortunately, the Carson High girls' basketball team will carry a two-game losing streak into Tuesday's Sierra League opener against South Tahoe after dropping a 61-54 decision Saturday at the Spanish Springs Invitational,
The loss dropped Carson to 4-2 overall.
Carson coach Todd Ackerman said there are a few things he'll be focusing on and cleaning up in Monday's practice in preparation for South Tahoe.
"They usually play a 2-3 zone, so we'll be working on our zone offense," Ackerman said. "McQueen ran a 1-3-1 and we haven't seen that much. We see more man than anything else. I'm frustrated that we didn't recognize things as the game went on."
At times, the Senators' looked lost at the offensive end with players on the wrong side of the court which made it tough for the Senators to get into any sort of rhythm.
The Senators shot only 34 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 19 times. Despite trailing 49-35 after three quarters, thanks to a 12-2 McQueen run, the Senators never quit. They stormed back and got it to within four, 58-54, with less than a minute remaining.
"We started attacking the basket," said Ackerman, who got a little irritated when several layups or putbacks were missed. "We got some good shots. Eliza hit a couple of keys shots and Whitney had a 3-pointer."
Featured in that comeback was an 11-4 run. Eliza Matley scored two baskets in a 26-second span to make it 54-47 with 4:08 left in the game. Matley had a chance to cut even more into the lead but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 situation. She got her own rebound and missed a follow shot.
McQueen missed a shot on its next possession and Gina Bianchi, who led all scorers with 20, followed in a Natalie Stevens miss to make it 54-49. After the teams traded turnovers, Katy Hufford got the Lancers' lead back to seven with 2 minutes, 33 seconds remaining.
A basket by Stevens and a 3-pointer by Whitney Nash (11 points) made it 58-54. Carson went 0-for-2 and turned the ball over once in the final minute.
"We have a small team," said Joe Bischopink, McQueen's head coach. "They did a good job on the boards."
What McQueen lacked on the boards, it more than made it up for with its physical, aggressive defense.
"I didn't want it to be as physical as it was," Bischopink said. "We came back from playing in Fresno and the play there is way more physical. I think it rubbed off on us. Ultimately it helped."
On the 12-2 Lancer run ending the third quarter, Carson went through a stretch with four turnovers on four possessions.