It's been a tough week of preparation for the Carson High boys basketball team.
That's because the Senators will play the two biggest games of their season so far against teams that provide two distinct challenges. On Friday, Carson (14-6, 4-0 in the Sierra League) will host Reno at 7 p.m.
Then on Saturday, the Senators will travel to Hug in a potential meeting of unbeaten teams in league play for a 5 p.m. game. But Carson must first beat Reno at home for that game to have any chance of being a battle of unbeatens.
The Carson girls basketball team also has a big weekend. Carson (4-0 in league play) will host Reno, which has one loss in league play, at 5:15 p.m. Friday. The Senators will then travel to Hug for a 3:15 p.m. game Saturday.
For the Carson boys, they will face a team in Reno that features a strong inside game with Northern Nevada's premiere player, 6-11 David Padgett. Less than 24 hours later, Carson will have to switch gears against the Hawks that like to run and gun.
"This week basically we're preparing for two teams that are about as different as can be," Carson coach Bruce Barnes said.
Carson led Reno by eight points in the fourth quarter before losing to the Huskies in overtime at its own invitational.
"That was a game where we were feeling each other out," Barnes said. "Obviously this game is 10 times more important than that one."
The key to the first meeting was Reno received scoring from other players other than Padgett. Barnes said the key will be to contain Reno's other weapons. "David's going to get his," Barnes said.
Unlike Reno, Carson likes an up tempo game. "Their strength is our weakness and our strength is their weakness," Barnes said.
It figures that Reno needs the win much more than Carson since it already has two losses in league play. The Huskies lost to Wooster on a last second shot and were beaten by Hug, 93-87 in double overtime.
"I don't know if it will be a knockout," said Barnes if his team can give Reno its third league loss. "I think stranger things are to come. We're very fortunate to be 4-0 and I think Hug is, too."
Barnes noted that Reno could just as easily be undefeated in league as well and that Hug needed overtime wins over the Huskies and Douglas to stay unbeaten in league play.
The Reno game is also important to Carson because it's at home. "You need to hold home court if at all possible," Barnes said.
Barnes said the key is just to qualify for the playoffs. He noted an upset such as a No. 4 seed beating a No. 1 seed from the other league isn't just possible, but likely. "I bet you, it probably happens," he said.
There won't be much time for rest for Carson's players after the Reno game. Barnes said he plans to hold one final practice on Saturday morning to prepare for Hug.
Hug is more similar to Carson, but the Senators can slow it down if needed while the Hawks like to always keep the tempo full throttle.
"We kind of let the game dictate what we're going to do," Barnes said. "If there is an advantage, we tend to slow it down. I don't know if they're intent on doing that."
"They shoot the ball pretty well," Barnes also said about Hug. "They shot the ball extremely well against Reno."
Barnes said the two keys to the Hug game will not to be beaten on the boards and to take care of the ball, so point guard Adam McKenzie will play an important role as will Vince Inglima and Ryan Buttner on the boards.
"Actually we'll have to send all five guys to the glass," Barnes said. "That might hurt our fast break a little bit. They send everybody to the offensive glass."
Another strength that Hug has, much like Carson, is depth. "They don't drop off a lot," Barnes said. "They can pound you on the glass. They're just very athletic."
CARSON GIRLS
Carson will have a chance to take charge of the Sierra League race against Reno on Friday. The Senators have already beaten Douglas, while the Tigers have give Reno its only league loss.
"It's going to be a good one," Carson coach Paul Croghan said. "One of those wars that we expect when we play them. They're one of the teams that we have to contend with.
"We've had a good week of practice and we're looking forward to the challenge."
The girls game will also be a contest between Reno's size and Carson's quickness.
"They've got a lot of size, which is nothing new for us to be the shortest team on the court," Croghan said.
Croghan said Ciarra Christian is almost fully recovered from her ankle injury.
"I'd say she's close to 100 percent," he said. "She's almost back to normal. She gives us some quality minutes."
Croghan said Christian's ball handling lessens the responsibility for one of the Senators' top players, Erin Stieber, allowing Stieber to concentrate on other aspects of her game.
Charles Whisnand is the Nevada Appeal Sports Editor.
