Carson High senior captain Lauren Finnerty rises up for a jumper against Dayton in the season-opener Tuesday night. Finnerty was a first-team all-region selection for the Senators last winter.
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.
Carson High School girls basketball enters a new chapter under first-year head coach Sam Golden this winter.
The Senators have already showcased some of the major differences fans should expect on the floor this fall in a 60-12 win over Dayton on Tuesday.
Defensive tenacity will be an early-season emphasis for the Senators, as quick hands and good ball movement highlighted Game 1.
With plenty of returning players, including seven seniors, Golden thinks the team’s overall athleticism will work in its favor.
“I think this team is really athletic. So, we really focus on transition,” Golden said on episode 158 of the Appeal’s “Behind the Bench” podcast.
The Senators’ new head coach sees a high ceiling with a group that’s been energetic in practice.
“I think the sky is the limit. You see all the potential that this team has, I believe that they could surprise … and be a dark horse in the league,” said Golden. “I think they could have a lot of success, but it just depends kind of how they come together.”
LINEUP LOOK
Lauren Finnerty will be a captain this winter as she enters her senior season.
The first team all-region selection last season has been the straw that stirs the drink the last three seasons for the Senators and this winter won’t be any different.
Last season, the 5-foot-11 small forward scored 397 points — which led Class 4A North — averaging 15.9 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.5 steals per game.
“I still want to lean into her and rely on her because she’s a huge piece of our success, but I also want to work through her,” said Golden. “There are a lot of pieces around her that I think people are going to be surprised about this year.”
The other team captains will be senior forward Cam Galloway and sophomore guard Emjae Salanoa. Galloway had 39 rebounds and five blocks last winter while Salanoa posted 42 points and had 47 boards and 12 steals.
Guards Dahlia Keating and Clarissa Quintana both return after averaging 4.7 and 3.3 points per game in 2023-24.
Two more seniors, Ashley Waiksnoris and Alondra Carillo, averaged around three points per game a season ago.
“Dahlia and Alondra (are) really commanding and running the backcourt for us,” said Golden.
Lillian Turner will return for her junior season alongside her sister, Grace, who is a sophomore.
Junior Abby Drysdale is also on the roster after transitioning over from volleyball. Carson will have a deep bench this season with 15 players on the varsity roster, including a trio of freshmen.
One of those freshmen, Natalia Armstrong, flashed some of her skills early on against Dayton with a steal and a nice finish.
Ashlan Smokey and Claire Billings are the other two freshmen on the varsity roster.
On offense, Carson wants to play inside-out, with paint touches being a priority possession to possession.
Defensively, man-to-man will be the team’s first choice, but expect to see some zone thrown in as the season goes on.
(Carson High sophomore Emjae Salanoa drives baseline against Dayton on Tuesday. Salanoa, a sophomore, has been named team captain this winter after playing varsity as a freshman. Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage)
CLASS 4A NORTH EXPECTATIONS
Golden is a Spanish Springs graduate so she has some familiarity with the team she thinks could the top opponent in the Class 4A North.
“I think everybody knows for years they have been the team to beat. I think they showed that, too, this (past) weekend in scrimmages,” said Golden. “They are very established in what they do, but then it is so hard to say. I think the league is really wide open.”
With a lot of potential unknowns, Golden is hoping that the rest of the league will overlook the Senators.
“I hope people underestimate us because we will get them on their heels,” said Golden.