Possible play-in game set for Monday

RENO - With their 52-43 victory over the Wooster Colts on Tuesday, the Carson Senators boys basketball team assured themselves of a postseason berth.

The only question yet to be answered is which team Carson will play first in the playoffs.

NIAA assistant director Donnie Nelson said Thursday that if Carson loses to Reno and North Valleys is able to beat Damonte Ranch on Friday that the Senators3 and Panthers would meet Monday at Damonte Ranch High School in a play-in game.

The game would start at 7 p.m.

The winner of the possible Sierra League matchup would become the No. 4 seed and advance to meet High Desert League champion and No. 1 seed Galena on Wednesday in the first round of the Northern 4A regional playoffs.

The Senators, 7-6 in league play and 14-12 overall, are currently alone in fourth place and will attempt to render the matter academic when they travel to play the Huskies at Reno High School.

In spite of graduating seven seniors last year the Senators have improved on last season's 11-17 record and will attempt to upset the Huskies and even their season series.

The Carson-Reno game begins Friday at 7 p.m.

First-place Reno (12-1, 22-5) took a 66-45 win over the Senators on Jan. 23 at Morse Burley Gym and is the defending Class 4A state champion.

For its part, fifth-place North Valleys (6-7, 14-11) - which split its two games with Carson - hosts the last-place Mustangs (1-11, 3-20). In its preseason rankings Sports Illustrated rated Galena as Nevada's No. 1 team. The Grizzlies (11-0, 17-9) have played several nationally ranked teams this season and will host either Carson or North Valleys.