With this being the final day of Spirit Week at Carson High, I fully expect the stands to be jammed for tonight’s game against Damonte Ranch. Anything less than a full house would be a mjor disappointment.
It was nice to see the big student turnout for the game at Douglas, but I was preplexed at the small student turnout for the game against Manogue last Friday, and that game was for first place.
The fans who have been absent are missing out. This is a special group. It has a nice mix of youth and experience. The squad is 9-2 in league play entering tonight’s game with a chance to sweep the season series against the 5-6 Mustangs.
The goal right now is obviously to finish no worse than second which would mean a first-round home game in the playoffs. Carson is 5-1 at home entering the Damonte game. The only home loss was 36-33 against Spanish Springs.
The regionals are at Carson, and if the students would understand what kind of effect they can have on the game IF they decide to show up, the Senators will be tough to beat on their home floor.
I’ve never quite been able to figure out the Carson student body. The support for non-football teams seems so inconsistent at times.
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One thing is apparent this year in Northern Nevada boys basketball. There is no dominant team; nobody that can win by 30 or 40 points any time they take the floor.
Carson, under the watchful eye of coaches Carlos Mendeguia, Dick Lee and Jeremiah Gray will be the hunted team the last five games of the season. Honestly, the Senators could easily have been 11-0. Carson’s league losses have been by a total of four points.
Manogue, which lost to Carson, 45-38, and Galena, which lost to Carson 63-51, are the two toughest games left on the schedule. Manogue is on the road and Galena is at home.
As I look at this team, I see two areas in vast need of improvement, 3-point shooting and eliminating careless turnovers.
Only Jayden DeJosph and Kyle Steele have more than 10 3-point field goals this season. DeJoseph, the rangy sophomore, has the best long-distance stroke on the team and he needs to look at shooting the 3 more often. Steele, meanwhile, needs to get his confidence back shooting the ball. Carson had 17 turnovers against Douglas, and if the Senators are going to make headway in the playoffs, they need to treat each possession as if it were their last. When you are concentrating on defense and usually scoring in the 40s, every possession is vital.
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This is a program that’s only going to get better. Carson has just three seniors — Cameron Price, Steele and Dilyn Rooker. Price, when he keeps his composure, and he’s done better of late, has been tough inside. He’ll be a tough guy to replace.
DeJoseph, Tez Allen and Asa Carter are a nice trio to build around next year. Jace Keema and Ian Schulz figure to play a lot more next year along with Jared Rooker, who must get physically stronger by next year.
