This one was close for exactly 47 seconds, and then it got ugly really fast.
Carson ended the first quarter with 26 straight points en route to an easy 59-15 nonleague girls' basketball win over Incline Thursday night at Morse Burley Gym.
The Senators, who hadn't been in action for nine days, played well at both ends of the floor against the 2A Highlanders (2-5), who were playing their third game of the season against a 4A school. Carson shot 43 percent from the floor and its stifling press forced 40 turnovers that led to 37 points.
Carson coach Todd Ackerman said it was important to get a game in before the team leaves for Las Vegas on Wednesday.
"Wayne (Nash, former CHS assistant and current Incline head coach) thought they were going to be pretty good," Ackerman said. "We got a lot of kids playing time. We got a chance to work on a few things."
"There is a big difference between 2A and 4A," said Nash, whose team played without one starter. "Carson was just fast and strong. I've been trying to bring (our) level of play up which is why I scheduled these games."
The best thing Carson did was play defense. At one point, Carson forced 11 straight turnovers where the Highlanders didn't even get up a shot, and the Senators converted on every one of them which accounted for the big first-quarter surge. Carson led 30-2 after the first quarter.
"We've been working on that," Ackerman said. "We were a little in getting to spots."
"Their press took us completely out of the game," Nash said. "They forced us to go left. We weren't used to the speed they have."
Carson also shot the ball well that first quarter, going 12-for-20 for 54 percent, including three 3-pointers by Eliza Matley (20 points) and one by Kaitlyn Holmes.
"We were strong shooting the ball," Ackerman said. "There were a couple of games where we were 3-for-17 beyond the arc. It was nice to see us hit a few. We did shoot the ball well tonight, and we have to continue to shoot the ball well."
With such a big lead, Carson seemed to have a letdown in the second quarter, missing its first eight shots from the floor.
Carson went scoreless for more than 4 1/2 minutes until Emily Collins (8 points) ended the drought with her first basket of the game. Carson ended the half with a 7-2 run, taking a 37-8 lead into halftime.
Matley got hot again in the third quarter, scoring seven points as the Senators led 50-12 after three. The game was played in running time for the final 4:18 after Matley's layup made it 54-13.
Elena Thurman scored a career-high 10 points, while Savannah Smith added eight. Elise Nelson led Incline with eight points.
VARSITY BOYS
Carson edged in double overtime
LAS VEGAS - The Senators concluded play in the Las Vegas Shootout with a 56-52 double-overtime loss to Wilson High-Oregon.
Carson dropped to 3-8, and will play Dec. 29 (5:30 p.m.) at home against Reno.
The game was tied at 48 at the end of regulation and at 52 after the first overtime. Carson failed to score in the second overtime.
The Senators had a chance to win at the end of regulation and at the end of the first overtime, but came up empty both times.
Rafe King scored a career-high 35 points, while Dylan Sawyers added seven and Sage Smith six.
Carson coach Carlos Mendeguia said his team shoot poorly from the line (17-33).
JV GIRLS
Carson rolls over Incline
Three Senators scored in double figures in an easy 55-5 win over Incline Thursday at Morse Burley Gym.
Gina Peacock led the way with 16 points, while Carly Bachmann added 12 and Kayla Aikins tallied 10. Natali Salas chipped in seven and Abigail Greene six.
Carson is now 6-2 entering next week's State Farm Tournament at North Valleys.
