RENO - Carson High dictated the tempo for the first 16 minutes the last time it played Reno before letting the game get away from them in the second half.
This time, Carson couldn't dictate anything, and Reno took control from the outset en route to an easy 65-46 victory Tuesday night that was more lopsided than the final score indicated.
Reno emptied its bench with more than six minutes left, and Carson reeled off 14 straight points to make the score a little more respectable.
The loss dropped Carson to 4-7 in league play, and it will come down to Friday's game against arch-rival Douglas for the final playoff spot.
"For whatever reason, we came out flat in the first quarter," Carson coach Bruce Barnes said. "The energy wasn't there for what I consider a playoff-type game. At least the second group came in and played with some energy.
"I thought we practiced pretty well. I thought we were ready to go. If we don't establish a lead or are with four or six points you can't dictate anything. Reno came out focused and ready to play."
Reno opened the game with a barrage of lay-ups en route to a 15-2 lead midway through the first quarter. Of the Huskies' first seven baskets, six were lay-ups. The other was a three-pointer by Jeremy Lattin, which capped the surge. Reno ended the quarter with a 21-7 lead, as Carson was just 3 for 9 from the floor and turned the ball over nine times.
It was even worse in the second quarter. Carson turned the ball over seven more times and managed just one field goal in 10 attempts (4 for 19 for the half), a putback by Brian Welch, midway through the quarter. Reno drained four three-pointers in the quarter, including three in a row in the final two minutes of the half to take a 41-15 lead at the break. Lattin and J.J. Mulligan had five points each.
The lead reached a high of 32 in the second half, 61-29, before Carson went on its aforementioned fourth-quarter run. Murph Gardner and Brice Cook had three-pointers in that spurt. Crook scored eight of his team-high nine in that stretch.
So, it comes down to Friday's home game against arch-rival Douglas to decide whether the playoffs are in the Senators' future. Douglas won the first meeting between the teams.
One thing that could work in Carson's favor is it's season-opening upset of Hug. That could turn a tie-breaker in Carson's way depending on what happens Friday and Saturday. Douglas, because of the snow which postponed several games earlier this year, is in the midst of a four-game week. Douglas finishes at North Valleys on Saturday.
Darrell Moody can be reached at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281
