SPARKS - When it comes to boy's basketball in Nevada, or any sport for that matter, it's widely known that 1A schools like Pyramid Lake don't have much of a chance to compete against 4A schools, such as Carson.
And that's exactly why Senator coach Bruce Barnes was concerned about playing the Lakers on Wednesday in the first round of the Rail City Holiday Tournament. Not because Barnes thought his team might lose but because he wasn't sure if the Senators would try to play beyond their ability against lesser competition.
"I figured that we'd be able to run our stuff well against them," Barnes said. "But we had to make sure that we played the way we're capable of and not doing things we normally wouldn't do."
In the first quarter, it was evident Carson wouldn't do what Barnes had feared.
The Senators (9-2) jumped out to a 27-8 first-quarter lead and increased that lead throughout the game to cruise past the Lakers 98-60 at Sparks High.
"That was one of our main concerns, we didn't want to come out flat," said Cody Longero, who led all scorers with 19 points.
Pyramid Lake shot only 30 percent from the field in the first half and missed all 11 of its three-point attempts. Its dismal shooting was a big reason the Lakers were down 46-18 at the break.
But perhaps the biggest reason for that lead was Carson's bench. Other than Chandler Allen, the bench players haven't been able to score much this season. Against Pyramid Lake, that all changed.
Richard Serralta recorded a double-double (11 points, 15 rebounds) and Ryan Henry added 10 points as the Senator bench scored 42 of the team's 98 points, easily their best offensive performance of the season.
"I thought they (the bench) did a great job and they actually increased our lead when they went into the game," Barnes said. "They fought through being tired because they weren't used to playing as much as they did."
Even the starters were happy they didn't have to play as much.
"The subs really stepped it up for us," Longero said. "They didn't let down at all and that's a good thing."
Vinnie Reymus scored 12 points and Ryan Buttner had 14 for Carson. Adam McKenzie, who added seven points, and Hartman filled in well at point guard for Jeffrey Young, who sat out the game because he was sick.
Today at 3 p.m. in the Senators second-round game at Sparks, the bench may have to play an even bigger role against Garfield (Seattle). The Bulldogs rolled to a 32-point win over Elko on Wednesday and were able to use their entire bench.
Garfield's starting lineup is dotted with Division I players, including 6-9 forward Anthony Washington, who's already signed with the University of Washington. But perhaps the Bulldogs best players are senior point guard Will Conroy and junior swingman Marcelus Kemp. Conroy is one of the state's top recruits and will sign in the spring. Barnes compares Garfield to Durango, a team that beat Carson 92-68 earlier this month in Las Vegas.
"They (Garfield) are bigger than Durango but athletically, the two teams are about the same," Barnes said. "To be in the game, we'll have to play well but it'll be a good test for us.
I just hope we don't get destroyed on the boards. Our perimeter game will be important, as far as setting screens and getting open looks. I think one advantage that we have is that with our shooters, one of their big guys will have to come out and guard them."
