The Carson High School girls basketball team celebrates after beating Douglas on Senior Night. For the seven Senator seniors, it marked the first win over the Tigers in their career.
Photo by Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage.
For the seven seniors of Carson High School girls basketball, Friday night was a chance to beat Douglas for the first time in their career.
The Tigers had won the previous seven meetings, dating back to Feb. 14, 2020 – one month prior to the beginning of the pandemic.
Friday night, the Senators knocked off Douglas, 48-41, thanks to two key runs.
“Liberating,” said senior captain Camryn Galloway of the team’s first win over the Tigers in nearly five years.
Carson (5-11) was already locked into the No. 7 seed for the upcoming Class 4A North regional tournament and will travel to No. 2 Reno (14-2) Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip.
(Camryn Galloway lifts up for a mid-range jump shot against Douglas Friday night. Galloway had eight points in the Senators’ 48-41 win over the Tigers. / Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. | InstaImage)
BLOCKING TH PUSH
Midway through the third quarter, Carson and its seven seniors may have started to taste a win after Clarissa Quintana passed to Ana Cazares for a deep two.
Cazares’ lone bucket of the contest put Carson in front, 33-21.
Douglas scored 10 of the next 11 points to stall any thoughts of early spoils, getting within one possession, 34-31.
In the final minute of the third, the Tigers had a drive to the hoop to get within a point, but Carson senior Lauren Finnerty emphatically swatted the Douglas shot attempt off the gym wall.
Sophomore Abby Drydale followed with a block of her own moments later.
Carson closed the third quarter on a mid-range jumper from Galloway courtesy of an assist from Emjae Salanoa, pushing the lead back to five, 36-31.
The Senators scored the next 11 points and opened up a 47-31 edge with less than three minutes to play in regulation.
The remaining time ticking away only delayed the celebration.
“It’s feels really good,” said senior captain Lauren Finnerty. “I think we wanted it so bad and we were just so determined to win.”
The game-sealing run started with a Quintana triple, extending Carson’s lead to 39-31.
Freshman Natalia Armstrong showed off her right hand with a drive from half court and finish at the rim to go up 10.
Ashlan Smokey sunk a mid-range jumper and Finnerty followed with a bucket from the elbow thanks to an assist from Armstrong.
The final field goal of the scoring run was a coast-to-coast drive and layup at the rim from Finnerty.
Postgame, the seniors praised the crowd, welcoming the loudest atmosphere of the season.
“I think the energy, especially with the student section really gave us energy,” said Galloway.
The group wraps up the regular season on a high note, finishing the year 9-15 and 5-11 in league play.
“I think this has been our best season yet,” said Finnerty.
“We’ve grown so much. We’ve grown a lot with each other,” said Quintana.
Finnerty, Galloway, Quintana, Cazares, Alondra Carillo, Dahlia Keating and Ashley Waiksnoris will graduate in the spring.
It’ll be a tough opening round for Carson in next week’s regional tournament. Reno bested the Senators, 51-20 and 62-36 in their two meetings this season.
Class 4A NORTH REGIONAL FIRST ROUND
MONDAY
No. 9 McQueen (0-16) at No. 8 Galena (2-14)
WEDNESDAY
No. 7 Carson (5-11) at No. 2 Reno (14-2), 7 p.m.
No. 6 Douglas (6-10) at No. 3 Reed (13-3), 7 p.m.
No. 5 Damonte Ranch (7-9) at No. 4 Bishop Manogue (10-6), 7 p.m.
Winner of 8/9 at No. 1 Spanish Springs (15-1), 7 p.m.
(The Class 4A North girls regional tournament bracket)