Senators fall to Coronado, 53-43, in state semifinal
Submitted by Brett Fisher on Thu, 02/25/2016 - 10:32pm
The Carson High Senators fell behind in the second quarter of Thursday night's NIAA State Semifinal boys basketball playoff game against Coronado High of Las Vegas, and were unable to overcome the deficit in a 53-43 loss that marked an end to arguably their best season performance in 20 years.
Carson held a four-point, 13-9, advantage at the end of the first eight-minute frame after having overcome a four-point deficit to open the game. It went on a 4-0 run to even the score before Coronado broke the tie. But Carson battled back again to tie the game at 9-9 with a minute to play in the opening period before scoring four more points to grab the lead.
The start of the second period was a struggle for both teams to make field goals. But Coronado nailed a three-point basket at the three-minute mark to go up by six points, 19-13, before the half. By the break, Coronado held a five-point, 21-16, advantage.
Then in the third period, the Cougars began to widen their lead considerably, from nine to 15 poins for a 35-20 advantage going into the final period of play.
Carson High was able to close to within seven points of the Cougars, trailing 48-41, with a little over a minute to play. But that was as close as the Senators would get.
Thursday's loss at Lawlor Events Center in Reno halts a 17-game win streak the Senators successfully forged this season, including an unbeaten 16-0 record in the Sierra League and a 3-0 record during the regional playoffs.
The Carson Senators beat the Reed Raiders handily at home in the quarterfinal opener before besting league rival Galena in the regional semifinals and finally defeating Reno High for the Northern Division I Regional Championship, their first since 1995. Carson reached the NIAA Division I State Tournament this season for the first time since 2003.
