Carson boys advance to finals

Charles Whisnand

The Carson High boys basketball team did its best impression of a Clint Eastwood movie. It was a case of the good, the bad and the ugly.

In a spirited game that had plenty of twists and turns, Carson outlasted a solid Paradise, Calif., team for a rollicking 60-59 win on Tuesday in the Capital Classic. The Senators advanced to today's championship game where it will play McQueen, a 67-56 winner of Elko, at 6 p.m. today. Paradise and Elko will play in the third place game at 4:25 p.m.

In other games on Tuesday, Vallivue, Idaho, beat Central Valley of Shasta Lake, Calif., 72-46 and Wooster defeated Spring Creek 60-48. Spring Creek will play Central Valley at 1:15 p.m. and Wooster will face Vallivue at 2:50.

Carson coach Bruce Barnes warned his team to expect a tough battle against Paradise even though Paradise wasn't all that impressive in a 50-39 win over Wooster on Monday. "They didn't play really as well as they played tonight," Barnes said.

The Senators had to overcome a controversial technical foul on Barnes that led to a seven-point play and a 10-point lead for Paradise. But Carson also benefitted from a Paradise technical foul in the fourth quarter in its comeback.

Michael Maehl, who scored 20 points, hit a three-pointer that helped give Paradise a 53-48 lead. Adam Hougton began the comeback with a jumper that helped Carson close to within 53-52. Jeff Hurzel then drove to the basket and was fouled hard on the play in which Paradise was also called for a technical.

Hurzel injured his ankle and while he was able to return, he was unable to shoot the free throws. Murph Gardner came in to sing 1-of-2 foul shots and Rory Wunsch made 1-of-2 of the technicals to give the Senators a 54-53 lead.

Paradise took a 55-54 lead on Blair Eddy's layup, but Jason Alcasas was fouled and he sank two free throws to give Carson a 56-55 lead. Wunsch stole the ensuing inbound pass and scored on a layup to make it 58-55.

Maehl scored on a drive and was fouled to cut Carson's lead to 58-57. But Maehl failed to convert the three-point play and Alcasas made two more foul shots after being fouled. The Senators intentionally gave up a two-point basket for the final margin.

Carson had a huge advantage at the foul line as it was 19-of-29 while Paradise was just 2-of-5.

The Senators fell behind 22-15 in the second quarter. "I think that our kids didn't come out with much energy in the first half," Barnes said. "I think they learned something."

Carson went on a 12-0 run to take a 27-22 lead behind the play of Bacon and its bench, which was a key to the Senators' rally, Barnes said. "That was nice to see," he said.

Bacon scored 10 points in the second quarter on two three-pointers and 4-of-4 foul shooting. Drew Anderson also hit a key jumper during the run.

But a strange play in the third quarter swung the game back in Paradise's favor. Carson led 29-28 when Paradise was called for a moving screen. But Paradise was still credited with a three-pointer on the play that made it 31-29.

Barnes showed his displeasure with the call by waving his arms in disgust and was promptly hit with a technical. "All I did was that," Barnes told the official, repeating the gesture.

Paradise made 1 of the 2 technicals and after retaining possession hit a three for a seven-point play. The sequence came during a 13-0 Paradise run that gave it a 39-29 lead.

Brian Welch broke the run with a three and hit another three to cut the deficit to 43-37. Alcasas scored on a drive to cut Paradise's lead to 46-44 after three quarters.

"McQueen is playing very, very well," said Barnes, commenting on today's matchup. "They are just handling everybody that they're playing. They're as good of a McQueen team that I've seen in a while.

"We haven't played a team quite as physical as McQueen so that will be a tough test for us. In a championship game there should be no excuse to come out flat. I don't think we'll come out flat. We'll have to play very well."

Alcasas and Wunsch each scored 14 points, Bacon scored all 10 of his points in the second quarter and Welch added 10 points.

MCQUEEN 67, ELKO 56

McQueen led 20-9 after one quarter, 36-22 at halftime and 51-35 after three quarters. The Lancers had four players in double figures: Calen Evans (16), Dustin Rosness (12), Jake Albin (11) and Brian Green (10). Kevin Sandall scored 15 points and Brady Charles added 12 points for the Indians. Elko star guard Ryan Klekas was held to seven points.

VALLIVUE 72, CENTRAL VALLEY 46

Zac Taylor led Vallivue with 17 points. Ryan Rafferty scored 12 points for Central Valley.

WOOSTER 60, SPRING CREEK 48

Joey Golau scored 19 points and Jake Rasner added 10 points for Wooster. Daniel Reule scored 15 points for Spring Creek.