Darrell Moody: CHS students finally show some energy

It was nice to see an actual crowd at a high school basketball game Friday night against Douglas.

A friend of mine who had no rooting interest in the game was impressed with the energy in the gym. My only wish is it could be that way for every home game.

Carson students get with the program. Your team just won a league title for the first time since 2003. That deserves your attendance and support. I could certainly see and understand a lack of support if the team had a losing record.

Carson broke a long drought when it won this title, and could break a longer one if it can win the region. According to CHS records, Carson last won a region title in 1995.

The Senators are 16-7, and they play arguably the best defensive basketball in Northern Nevada. The Senators are able to do that because they have been great at dictating tempo to the opposition.

The Senators have been great at wearing down their opponents with their discipline on offense. On most possessions, Carson will take no shot before its time. It may not be a lot of fun to watch, but the end result is all that matters.

This year could be the start of a nice little run for Carlos Mendeguia & Co. Carson has just three seniors — Dilyn Rooker, Kyle Steele and Cameron Price. The team will return three starters next year — Asa Carter, Jayden DeJoseph and Tez Allen — and top reserve Jace Keema along with back-up point guards Jared Rooker and Cody Azevedo, off guard Kyle Krebs and forwards Eddie Duarte and Ian Schulz.

Throw in Greg Wallace, who was actually on the varsity at the start of the season before going down to JV, and you have a solid corp of players. I would hope Wallace comes up to varsity for the playoffs, because his athleticism could come in handy.

Carson hosts fourth-place North Valleys on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Senators dealt the Panthers a 64-52 loss back on Jan. 6 without Price, who was serving a suspension after being ejected in the Reno game.

This is a game Carson should win if it plays consistent basketball, especially with Price underneath. With Price, Allen and DeJoseph, the Senators are long underneath, and the trio does a good job of blocking shots and influencing shots as the Douglas Tigers found out Friday.

There are a few things that need to improve if Carson is going to extend its season past this coming week.

Carson needs Steele to end his shooting slump. He was a true threat last year from the 3-point line, but he seems to have lost his confidence. I think when the outside shots aren’t going, try to attack the basket and concentrate on being a good distributor.

DeJoseph needs to shoot the ball more. He has a great stroke, and he has to develop a shooter’s mentality. Carson needs him to score, and you have to shoot the ball to do that last time I checked. DeJoseph does take shots within the framework of the offense, however, and that’s something that young players don’t often do.

I like what I see from Allen.

I know he has had a few lapses, but he’s strong around the basket on both offense and defense. He’s been steady.

Carter needs to continue to do what he’s doing, which is score 10 to 12 a game and play pressure defense. He’s arguably the best two-way player I’ve seen this year.

This is playoff basketball. Students set aside the homework for 90 minutes and get some school spirit. You can make a difference.