Carson boys basketball team has had a strong second act

During its 17-game season-ending win streak, Carson High’s boys basketball team has demonstrated its ability to be a good second-half team.

Against Reno last weekend, Carson trailed by five and relied on a huge third quarter to take the lead en route to a 51-45 win. In the two regular-season battles against Galena, Carson faced deficits of 10 and eight points, respectively, before rallying to win.

The Senators average 13.4 points in the third quarter and 15.4 in the fourth. A shade more than 50 percent of the Senators’ points come in the final two quarters.

Carson coach Carlos Mendeguia said it’s a combination of making adjustments and being in good shape.

“It’s a little bit of that (making correct adjustments) and being well conditioned. We work hard in practice, and because we are in good shape I think it helps in the fourth quarter of games.”

And, there was always a certain amount of coolness even in the worst of times. Chalk that up to chemistry. The Senators may not have the overall best talent, but they play the best together. Nobody executes in the half court better than Carson, and the players always talked about the trust they had in each other.

THE PERFECT LEAGUE MARK

Based on the talent Carson High had coming back this year, winning the Sierra League title wasn’t a huge surprise.

Going through undefeated at 16-0 was a different story, however.

“In reality, probably not,” said starting swingman Jace Keema when asked about the undefeated record. “Coming in we had confidence that we would be pretty tough given who was coming back. With everybody coming back we knew there would be certain expectations. We knew we were going to win league.

“We had quiet confidence in what we could do.”

The Senators didn’t have much time to savor their first regional title since 1995. They were back in the gym getting ready for Coronado on Monday after winning the title Saturday night.

“It feels great,” reserve guard Cody Azevedo said. “It still hasn’t sunk in. It probably won’t until they hang the banner in the gym.”

ROOTER BUS

The school is trying to set up a rooter bus, but athletic secretary Kathy Taylor said it would be a no go if more students don’t sign up. The school would cover the cost of game admission ($5) if students ride the bus both ways.

Carson High students are supposed to wear white for the game on Thursday.

STATE SCHEDULE

Action gets under way at 3 p.m. Thursday with the Reno girls going up against Centennial. The Huskies lost to Centennial by 35 points in nonleague play. The Reno boys take the court at 4:40 against the defending champion Bishop Gorman Gaels. At 6:20, the Bishop Manogue girls take on Liberty. Carson plays Coronado at 8 p.m. to wrap up play.

The Division I girls final is scheduled for 6:20 p.m. on Friday and the boys tip at 8.

The Division III tourney gets under way Friday at 11 a.m. at Lawlor with West Wendover meeting White Pine’s girls. At 12:40, the Lovelock boys play The Meadows, and at 2:20 Incline meets Agassi Prep. Yerington wraps up the action at 4 p.m. against Mountain View.

The 1A tournament starts at Reno High on Friday at 3 p.m. with Spring Valley facing the Fallon girls. At 4:40, Desert Pines meets South Lake Tahoe’s boys team, at 6:20 the Faith Lutheran girls meet Lowry, and at 8 the Elko boys face Clark.

There are six championship games scheduled for Saturday starting at 11 a.m. with the Division III girls. The final game on Saturday will be at 8 with the Division 1A boys.