STATE BOUND! Carson wins OT thriller

SPARKS — The third time was a charm.

After being rebuffed twice in the regional finals, the Carson Senators finally broke through and are headed to next week’s NIAA State Championships following Friday’s 51-38 overtime win over Galena at Spanish Springs High School.

The win was Carson’s 16th straight and upped the Senators’ overall record to 24-5 heading into today’s regional final (6 p.m.) against Reno at Spanish Springs. Carson’s last regional title came in 1995. The last time CHS reached the state tournament was 2003.

“It was a culmination of a lot of hard work in the spring and summer, and all the hard work the guys put in during the season,” Carson coach Carlos Mendeguia said. “We had three goals this year, and we’ve accomplished two. We have one more to go (the regional title). We’d like to hang that banner.

“We are battle tested. We’ve been down by 10 and down by eight before. The kids have a calm demeanor. They know how to deal with adversity.”

This one didn’t come easy, and lived up to all the pre-game hype. Carson swept the season series, winning 60-54 and 43-41.

“We knew it was going to be this type of game,” said junior forward Tez Allen, who scored seven points and held Zach Williams to six points.

“It was kind of like the series against Bishop Manogue last year (two double overtime wins).”

This one was tied 30-all after three and 38 at the end of regulation. The Senators got a putback from Jace Keema with 1:13 left and a tip-in by Asa Carter with 10.2 left, tying the game. Carter never had full control of the ball off Allen’s missed shot. It bounced around the iron before falling through. Dillon Voyles missed a shot at the buzzer.

“We were trying to run a stagger for Asa and another for Jayden,” Mendeguia said, explaining his strategy for Carson’s last play. “If we missed the shot we told the kids to crash the boards. We had four guys going after the ball.”

“I don’t know how he did it (made the tip),” Allen said.

The overtime belonged to Carson. The Senators went on a 13-0 run in the four-minute extra period. The Grizzlies were hurt by the absence of Noah Peck, who fouled out with 1:16 left in regulation. He led Galena with 15 points.

Carter, who led all scorers with 17 points, opened the overtime by taking a feed from Cody Azevedo and making a lay-up. He was fouled on the play and made the free throw. Scott Grady, who missed a one-and-one in regulation, bricked two free throws with 2:48 left. Carter took another pass from Azevedo and turned it into a lay-up to make it 43-38 with 2:28 left.

“One was a backdoor and one was a wheel play,” said Carter, who was injured on the last play of regulation when he ran into Derek Kline who was setting a screen. “I didn’t see it (the screen). I just ran right into it.”

After a turnover, Allen hit two free throws. Following a missed field goal, Allen scored on a lay-up to extend the lead to 47-38 with 1:28 left. Stick a fork in the Grizzlies. They were done.

Mendeguia praised the play of Azevedo, who has played well since starting against Galena in the last meeting. Mendeguia said that experience gave Azevedo some self confidence and gave the coaching staff confidence in him.