Carson boys fall in triple overtime

RENO - The Carson Senators and Hug Hawks played the kind of game Tuesday that deserved to have some kind of championship up for grabs.

But all that was at stake was a league victory and pride - and there was plenty of that in Hug's 88-82 triple-overtime thriller at Hug High School.

With Hug alumnus and current University of Nevada starting point guard Armon Johnson on hand to watch his old team, the Hawks overcame a 12-point, third-quarter Carson lead and slugged it out the rest of the way to take the win.

Just as their respective teams raised the stakes as each overtime period came and went, Carson coach Bruce Barnes and Hug coach Brian Voyles upped the ante in describing what kind of game they'd just seen.

"It was a good game. It was a good high school basketball game," Barnes said.

Voyles offered a bit more enthusiasm in his assessment.

"That was a great high school basketball game," he said. "That was phenomenal - phenomenal."

Johnson, who came in to watch the game during the second quarter, took it a step further.

"It was crazy. Both teams came out hard," he said. "Nothing's changed with Carson - they still bring it. It was neat to see some players step it up in overtime - like Courtney Gardner."

Gardner scored eight of his 20 points in the combined three overtimes, while Michael "Duke" Williams added a team-high 31 points and Brian Bennett chipped in 15 to help the Hawks win their Sierra League opener and improve to 6-10 overall.

Caleb Carter led all Carson scorers with 21 points, followed by Paul Cagle with 17, Rob Valerius (16) and Matt Rutledge (14), as the Senators fell to 0-2 in league play and 7-8 overall.

"We had a very poor third quarter - we had a little bit of everything," Barnes said. "We gave up nine offensive rebounds in the third quarter. Everyone has to buy in on helping us defend the defensive glass. You don't do it and things go bad."

Carson was also hit with nine personal fouls in the period and Barnes was slapped with a technical.

Carson had a stellar first quarter, burying 9-of-10 shots from the floor, including three 3-pointers. All five starters - Rutledge, Valerius, Carter, Cagle, and David Eller - got on the board, as did freshman Brian Barnes off the bench.

The Senators took a 24-13 lead after one and was up 38-26 at the half. But Hug came out swinging in the third, going on a 22-11 run to draw within 49-48 by the start of the fourth.

"I thought Carson did a tremendous job of capitalizing on our mistakes in the first half," Voyles said. "At halftime the kids decided it was more important to not want to lose than win. That's the kind of toughness we're building on. It's a nice thing to bring it out."

In a span of 51 seconds, Hug turned a 51-48 deficit into a 53-51 lead on a basket and free throw by the high-flying Williams and a layup by Gardner.

The teams traded the lead three times before Carson went up 59-55 with 3:12 left in the fourth quarter. Carter converted four free throws - including a pair on a technical by Voyles - and Valerius added one from the charity stripe.

Rutledge found Cagle for a layup and a 61-57 lead with 1:56 remaining in regulation, but Hug went on a 6-2 run to tie it at 63-63 going into the first OT.

Hug took the lead in all three overtime periods and Carson never led again. The Senators tied it 81-81 on a three-point play by Carter, but Gardner's drive put the Hawks back on top to stay.

"One of the positives for us is we never gave up and competed for three overtimes," Coach Barnes said. "We had opportunities in (all three) overtimes to win, but we didn't. We were in the game and we battled till the end.

"We were 17-of-30 in free throws. We've struggled at the free throw line two games in a row. You win or lose games at the free throw line. We've got to get better."

Next up for Carson is a home game against league rival Damonte Ranch Friday at Morse Burley Gym, beginning at 7 p.m.

"Winning home league games is a must," Barnes said. "If you can steal one on the road, that's great; but ones at home are a must."