Haley Garver drives to the basket in a game against Damonte Ranch on Tuesday.
Damonte High broke open a close game with a 21-6 third-quarter surge en route to a 54-36 win over Carson in the Sierra League opener for both schools Tuesday night at Morse Burley Gymnasium.
Carson dropped to 2-5 in league play, while Damonte improved to 5-2.
The Senators had trouble throughout the game finishing at the basket, and their 26 turnovers didn’t help matters.
“We need to make layups and our shots from close in,” Carson coach Melissa Larsen said. “And, we weren’t running our offense. We were standing around. Damonte ran its offense. I thought we played pretty good defense.
“Even when it was close in the first half, we didn’t do a good job of running the offense.”
The game was tied at 8 after one and at 12 midway through the first half.
The Mustangs scored eight of the next nine to take a 20-13 lead with 1:47 left in the half. A free throw by Bri Alvarez and a 3-pointer by Haley Garver at the buzzer made it 20-17.
Carson went 0-for-10 and turned the ball over 11 times in the fateful third quarter. The Mustangs outscored Carson, 15-3, over the final 5 1/2 minutes to essentially put the game out of reach.
Megan Carlson and Kyra Bruesewitz scored 16 apiece and Morgan Waller added 13 for Damonte.
Ivy Pembrook led CHS with six points.
Douglas tramples Colts
MINDEN — Four players combined to score 44 points Tuesday night as the Douglas High girls basketball team cruised to a 52-29 Sierra victory against Wooster at Randy Green Court.
Douglas (3-4 league, 6-9 overall) jumped out to a 14-9 first-quarter lead and never looked back en route to its fourth straight win. With three straight league wins, the Tigers have now taken over sole possession of third-place in the Sierra standings.
Hannah Carr scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half while Maddy Lowe and Janae Blue Horse scored 11 each to lead the Tigers. Hailey Hughes also scored 10 points to go with 12 rebounds and five blocked shots.
Wooster (1-6 league, 2-9 overall) was led by Alannah Boston with 10 points and Leilani O’Daye with nine.
Sierra Lutheran falls
Brynna Hansen scored five points to lead Sierra Lutheran in its 43-18 loss to Smith Valley.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Douglas cruises
MINDEN — Fourteen players reached the score column as Douglas scorched Wooster for an 81-36 Sierra League victory Tuesday night at Randy Green Court.
Michael Johnson scored 12 points to lead the attack, while Josh Meza and Zach Kellar added 10 each on a night when the Tigers shot 51 percent from the field and rang up a season-high 81 points.
Meza connected on a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter to help stake the Tigers to an 18-9 advantage.
Douglas (5-2 league, 6-9 overall) pushed its margin to 41-18 at halftime and went up 55-21 after Kellar converted a steal into a breakaway dunk with 4:38 to go in the third quarter.
Eight players contributed assists, led by Tanner Williams with four and Dylan Hinks with three.
Douglas faces a key test Friday night at Galena.
Virginia City rolls
SILVER CITY — Virginia City had another strong defensive effort in picking up an impressive win on the road, beating Silver Stage 37-25.
Colt Hess scored 21 points and Tristan Steele added seven points for the Muckers.
JV GIRLS BASKETBALL
Sierra Lutheran wins
Kristen Iverson scored eight points and Alyssa Rowe and Taylor Davison each added five points to lead Sierra Lutheran to a 32-25 win over Smith Valley.
Carson overpowers DR
The Senators got 32 points from Haupu Ku’Ulei to post a 62-41 win over Damonte Ranch.
Abbey Paulson added nine and Lauren Lemburg eight.
Carson is 9-6 overall and 4-3 in conference.
JV BOYS BASKETBALL
Senators win easily
RENO — Trent Robison and Lakoda Smokey scored 12 points apiece to lead Carson to a 55-39 win over Damonte Ranch.
Derek Barry added 11 for CHS, which improved to 7-8.