BY MIKE HOUSER
Nevada Appeal Sports Writer
After traveling across the country for a three-game tournament in Boca Raton, Fla., the Carson Senators boys basketball team will look to take advantage of one more nonleague tournament to sharpen up for its Sierra League season.
The Senators, 5-4 overall and 1-0 in the Sierra League, play Sparks in the first round of the 34th annual Lyons' Host Capital Classic tonight at Morse Burley Gymnasium. Tip-off is 7:30 p.m.
Carson is coming off three losses in the St. Andrews Invitational, but ninth-year coach Bruce Barnes said it was a good learning environment for the Senators.
"We played three very different teams," Barnes said of the road trip. "A couple of them mirrored teams in our league. The players experienced adverse situations: They were tired and away from home. Things like that bring kids together. For six days they were away from their families, friends and other distractions.
"They were able to bond, and it was a reward for the time they put in."
Barnes said the St. Andrews Invitational and the Capital Classic serve as an opportunity for him to switch lineups and give players on the bench a chance to gain some much-needed experience.
"We want to see what each guy brings to the table," Barnes said. "The guys coming off the bench, the effort's been there " I have no problem with the effort " but all of our guys on the bench haven't played much in varsity games.
"The younger guys, it's an adjustment for them. By the end of preseason play, we'll need them to be ready to step in."
Hopefully, Barnes said, Carson can build some momentum in this tournament.
"These are important games to start a trend," Barnes said. "I'd like for us to win our tournament, get to the championship and get better each game."
Barnes said though Pat Smith, Paul Cagle III and Uriel Duran are doing well in the post, he is looking for them to produce more.
"We have to be able to get easy baskets now and again," he said. "We can't rely on jump shots. That was evident in Florida. We didn't shoot the ball very well. When we're not shooting well, we need to get high-percentage baskets."
In other games, Reed plays Fallon at 3 p.m., Hug will meet Damonte Ranch at 4:30 and Lowry takes on Central, of Santa Rosa, Calif., at 6