FALLON - In a rematch of a 31-point blowout on Jan. 15, the Carson boys basketball team struggled early against the Greenwave.
Fallon jumped out to an 11-7 first-quarter lead, but the Senators kept their cool to come out with a 54-47 Sierra League win Tuesday.
With the win, Carson stayed one game ahead of Douglas for second place in the Sierra League. The Senators improved to 11-2 in league and 17-7 overall. Fallon drops to 2-11 in league and 6-17 overall.
Carson benefited from a slew of turnovers in the third quarter to outscore the Wave 19-12 and take a 13-point lead into the fourth quarter. However, Fallon wouldn't go down easy and clawed its way back from a 19-point deficit.
"We had a couple turnovers and some missed layups (in the first half)," Carson coach Bruce Barnes said. "Fallon came to play, it's that simple."
Both teams struggled from the floor early, but Carson heated up in the second behind senior Patrick Smith and sophomore Andrew Johnson. Each scored four points as the Senators ended the quarter on a 7-0 run.
Brennan Shaffer led the Senators with 13 points, Smith added 10 and Johnson chipped in with seven. Miles Adams, Brent Perazzo and Tyler Hubbard each had eight points for Fallon.
In the third quarter, Carson amped up its full-court pressure and forced the Wave into numerous turnovers. Unlike the first half, the Senators wouldn't let open shots and easy opportunities hold them back.
Smith hit a pair of buckets and Carson went on another 7-0 run behind a 3-pointer from Brian Barnes.
"I think midway through the second quarter our second group came in and got us over the hump," said Barnes. "In the third quarter, we picked it up and were able to get some easy buckets in transition."
Up 53-34 in the fourth quarter, Carson let off the gas and Fallon made its move. The Wave went on a 7-0 run, including a 3-pointer from junior Miles Adams, and sliced the lead to eight on a 3 from Dylan Tedford.
However, the Senators used efficient passing to prevent Fallon from fouling and were able to run out the clock.
"We had tons of opportunities in the first half," Fallon head coach T.W. Cunningham said. "They got in our shorts and made us work. We made a ton of bad decisions."
Carson will end the regular season at home against Douglas on Friday. The winner will claim second place in the Sierra League and the loser will clinch third.
Fallon closes with a home contest against Wooster.
FALLON 66, CARSON 58
FALLON - The Fallon girls basketball team needed a win against Carson to stay in the playoff hunt and got it on Tuesday.
The Lady Wave held on for a 66-58 overtime win against the Senators.
Carson trailed 45-36 in the with 4 minutes left in the fourth quarter, but a furious rally sent the game into the extra frame. Carson junior Whitney Nash hit four consecutive of free throws, and senior Gina Bianchi hit a short jumper to pull the Senators within three.
Fallon pulled ahead 48-44, but Nash hit a 3 to cut the lead to one and tied the game at 51-51 with a 3-pointer with 16 seconds left.
"Our kids battled, they came back and fought through it," Carson head coach Todd Ackerman said. "When we get going, we can shoot it. When you can hit a couple 3s, you can cut the lead in a hurry."
However, Fallon opened overtime with an 8-2 run to go up 59-53 and the Senators couldn't make up the difference. Bianchi cut the lead to 62-58, but Fallon scored the final four points to stay in a tie with Douglas for fourth in the Sierra League.
With the win, Fallon moves to 5-6 in league and 10-10 overall. Carson falls to 8-5 in Sierra League play and 15-10 overall.
Carson ends its regular season Friday at home against Douglas. The Lady Wave finishes with Wooster in Fallon.
"We had a lull for a little bit," Fallon head coach Chelle Dalager said. "We still had our key players in ... all the kids came out to play."
Ackerman, though, wasn't satisfied with the officiating as he felt several calls in the fourth quarter were questionable. Fallon hit 9 of 12 free throws while Carson went 7 of 8 from the line.
For the game, Fallon went 25 for 36 from the line and Carson shot 11 of 18.
"You get home cooking out here," Ackerman said. "We're up 4-1 in fouls and the next thing you know, we're down 9-4. You get no help."
Fallon jumped out to a 12-8 first quarter lead. Carson tied the game late in the second quarter after Bianchi hit a 3 and junior Elayna Shine hit a layup. Fallon senior Khaliah Brown hit a pair of free throws to give Fallon a 23-21 halftime lead.
In the third quarter, Carson took the lead on a short jump shot from Nash with 3:09 remaining, and sophomore Elizabeth Matley gave Carson the lead heading into the fourth with a layup.
"I think we just realized that this is all we got left," Fallon senior Sara Parsons said. "We got two games left, so let's go all out."
Bianchi had a game-high 22 points and Nash added 19, including three 3-pointers for Carson. Parsons led the Lady Wave with 19 points, Brown added 18 and junior Lena Wolf chipped in with 16.