Derek Barry shoots a jump shot over a Reed defender on Tuesday night.
If Carson High could find a way to finish games, it would be 4-1 on the season.
Instead, the Senators are 1-4 after dropping a heartbreaking 54-52 decision to Reed in a Northern 4A boys crossover basketball game Tuesday night at Morse Burley Gym.
Three of the four losses have been by a combined total of four points. Carson opened the season with one-point losses to Fernley and Lowry, got blown out by Spanish Springs and then edged Hug last Friday for its only win.
“We’ve put ourselves in good position to win games,” said Carson coach Jordan Glover. “We are playing hard all 32 minuets. We are staying composed even when things don’t go our way. We don’t let things affect us; don’t turn one mistake into another.
“We have to learn how to finish games. We got sped up (offensively) a few times, but I don’t know what team doesn’t have that happen to them.”
Reed coach Joe Genung was just happy to escape with a win, his first in three Northern 4A games. The Raiders are 3-7 overall.
“We really needed that win,” Genung said. “We have played hard all season. We lost a couple of our best ball handlers, so we’ve had to adjust.
“Our young guys (sophomores Ridge Peterson and Trey Stevens) are stepping up big. They played well tonight.”
Stevens complemented a 17-point effort by Matthew Williams with 16 of his own, and Peterson chipped in a third-best seven.
Both youngsters made key contributions down the stretch, showing their poise.
After Carson cut Reed’s lead to 47-46 with 2:26 left on a free throw by Trent Robison (20 points), Stevens banged home a 3-pointer with 2:01 left to make it 50-46. Robison came down and missed on the ensuing possession, and then Peterson made a shot from close range to make it 52-46 with 1:12 left.
Carson had a couple of chances to cut into the lead on the ensuing possession. Lucas Van Brow missed two free throws, but Abel Carter (7 points) got the offensive rebound. He missed, but Robison kept the possession alive by getting the offensive carom. He was fouled and made one of two to make it 52-47.
Reed kept the ball out on the perimeter and Carson didn’t commit a foul until 19 seconds remained. Stevens made both free throws to make it 54-47, Reed’s biggest lead of the game. Derek Barry missed a 3-pointer, but Robison buried a 3-ball to make it 54-50 with 8 seconds left. Williams missed two at the line, and Barry popped in a bucket at the buzzer.
The first half was dominated by runs from both teams.
Carson had an 11-2 run to open the game, nine coming from Jonny Randall on three 3-pointers. Reed responded with a 13-0 run to close the quarter and grab a 15-11 lead after one. Stevens hit back-to-back 3s for the Raiders.
Carson used an 11-1 run to open the second quarter and take a 22-16 lead thanks to seven points by Robison. Reed closed the half with a 9-2 run for a 25-24 halftime edge.
Randall, after the fast start, managed just three more points over the final 28 minutes.
“He came out firing,” Glover said. “They did a good job of finding him (Randall); knowing where he was on the floor. He has to learn what to do when that happens.”
