Carson junior Asa Carter drives in for a layup against Galena Saturday night.
The last game was a disappointment, but it certainly didn’t diminish what Carson High was able to accomplish this season.
The Senators, who started two sophomores and a junior 90 percent of the time this year, compiled an impressive 18-8 record and a share of the Sierra League title along with Galena.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this team,” CHS coach Carlos Mendeguia said after Saturday’s 61-46 loss to Galena in the regional championship at Morse Burley Gym. “We exceeded my expectations. We won a league championship, got the No. 1 seed for the playoffs and made it to the regional finals.”
“I’m proud of this team,” senior forward Cameron Price said. “The whole team was like a family. We came out and played hard, and never gave up. We gave 110 percent the whole game. We always left it all on the floor.”
Indeed.
When teams played Carson they knew they had been in a game because of the aggressive, physical defense the Senators brought to the floor. The Senators won with defense, and it had to be that way because there were games where the shooting wasn’t there, and when the offense was off the defense needed to step up.
“We gave great effort on defense all year,” Mendeguia said. “The effort was there all year.”
LOOKING AHEAD
On paper, Carson should be one of the best teams in the league in 2016, although the scoring of Price and the point guard play of Kyle Steele will be missed. The team will also miss Dilyn Rooker’s leadership and toughness on defense.
Mendeguia was asked where Carson needs to get better.
“Guard play,” he said quickly. “You have to have really good guard play. Kyle (Steele) was a three-year starter. Jared Rooker needs to work hard during the summer, and I expect him to jump into that spot. We’ll also be looking at Cody Azevedo and some JV guys. They all have to put in the work over the summer.”
SHORT BENCH
The Senators used just seven players in Saturday’s game, and Mendeguia said that was by design.
Rooker and Jace Keema were the only subs.
“We had a hard enough time containing them (with our regular guys), and we get much smaller when we go past our seventh player,” Mendeguia said.
Mendeguia went on to say the match-ups were tough enough, as the Grizzlies had four players 6-5 or better in their seven-man rotation.
EXPERIENCE VS. YOUTH
Galena was a senior-laden team. Starters Noah Peck and Dillon Voyles and sixth man Zach Williams will return next year along with four reserves.
Conversely, Carson had just three seniors and will return nine next year, including starters Tez Allen, Asa Carter and Jayden DeJoseph.
BLOCKING MACHINE
Galena, unofficially, registered seven blocks in the win over Carson.
“It’s hard to get (much) inside against them,” Price said. “You’ve got to pump fake in the air, and we didn’t do a very good job of that.”
