RENO -- As bad as the Carson Senators felt after their 63-61 loss to Rancho on Wednesday in the first round of the NIAA/4A State Championships, it didn't compare to how Ryan Henry felt about the agonizing loss.
"The last couple of weeks have been torture for me," said Henry, who suffered a season-ending injury in Carson's 76-69 win over Douglas on Feb. 4. "I've just had to sit there and watch."
Henry was the Senators' only returning starter from last year's Sierra League championship team and was their second leading scorer this season before getting injured. The initial diagnosis was that he could be back in the lineup if Carson qualified for state. Well, the Senators ended up qualifying but that initial diagnosis was far from the truth. After a second doctor visit, it turned out that he had broken the second metacarpal in his left hand and would miss the rest of his senior season.
Since then, Henry has been splitting duties as a part-time cheerleader and part-time scorebook guy.
Wednesday's two-point loss was even more punishing for the 6-foot shooting guard to watch because the Senators almost pulled out the win despite a sub-par shooting night. Carson was only 19-of-51 from the field and Henry figured he might have been able to hit a couple shots.
The Senators had a chance to tie it in the final seconds, but Andy Bohm's jumper from behind the free throw line bounced in and out. Carson (18-11) trailed by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter.
"We put up a good fight like always," Henry said. "I thought our team played well. We missed a lot of shots we usually make. It's just one of those things. I'm proud of how we played. I wish I could've been out there to help, though."
Carson was making its first appearance in the state tournament since 1996.
Notes....Reno High center David Padgett and Cheyenne forward Lorrenzo Wade were among the 100 finalists announced on Feb. 18 for the McDonald's All-American Game to be held March 26 at Cleveland's Gund Arena.
Padgett, who averaged 27 ppg and 14 rpg this season for the Huskies, is expected to become the first Nevada player since Freddy Banks in 1983 to make the final roster, which will be announced Feb. 27 on the 3 p.m. edition of ESPN's Sportscenter.
Wade, who has led the Desert Shields to a 29-1 record, is averaging 16.7 ppg this season. Padgett has signed with Kansas and would be the first Northern Nevada player to be selected for the prestigious game. He has already accepted an invitation to play in the EA Sports Roundball Classic on March 11 at the United Center in Chicago.
