Carson girls runs win streak to five games

Carson High used two big scoring runs to easily subdue Damonte Ranch 53-37 in a Sierra League girls basketball game Tuesday night at Morse Burley Gym.

The win gives Carson a 1-2 record in league and 5-2 overall. It was Carson's fifth straight victory.

Carson coach Todd Ackerman has seen a big difference in his team lately, but that's not surprising because the Senators are on a hot streak.

"I think so," said Ackerman when asked if his team is playing with more confidence. "There wasn't any hesitancy in what we did. The officials let both teams play, and we came out real aggressive. We played good on-ball defense; got our hands on a lot of balls."

The first of the aforementioned scoring runs bridged the first and second quarters. Emily Collins swished a 3-pointer to snap an 11-all tie in the waning seconds of the opening quarter to jump-start the 12-0 surge.

Elizabeth Matley scored and then Whitney Nash dropped in seven straight points after three Damonte mistakes to make it 23-11. Damonte's Ashley Duke ended the Damonte drought with a basket, but two free throws by Carson's Natalie Stevens, a field goal by Elayna Shine and a 3-pointer by Savannah Smith helped the Senators to a 30-16 halftime lead.

That's when Carson went into a little tailspin, failing to score in the first four minutes of the third quarter. Carson went 0-for-4 in the span, as Damonte scored six straight points to slice the lead to 30-22.

"We got some god shots," Ackerman said. "We missed a couple of close shots and we took a quick ill-advised shot."

Carson, or rather Eliza Matley took control.

Matley, who led Carson scorers with 11 points, hit back-to-back baskets to start the 11-0 surge and then added a 3-pointer to give the Senators a 41-25 lead after three. Matley scored her final basket of the game to start the fourth quarter, stretching the lead to 18, 43-25.

"Last week (at the tournament) she was settling for the jump shot instead of looking at driving to the basket," Ackerman said. "I talked to her about it. We talked about using a ball fake."

The discussion obviously paid off.

"I started listening to what coach Ackerman was telling me," Matley said. "He was telling me to watch the defense to see what they were doing. If they came up to you then drive the ball past them. If they stayed back you could shoot it from outside."

Matley also was a force defensively. She picked the pocket of her Damonte opponent three different times.

Ten of Carson's 14 players scored. Tiana McAllister-Daggs and Natalie Stevens finished with eight, while Nash added seven.

Carson returns to action Friday in a non-conference game against a team from Alaska. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.