| Bryan Stewart receives a pass in the paint. Stewart had the majority of the Dinos’ points in overtime and led Carbon to a 56-53 win at home. |
When it came right down to it, Carbon needed to win.
In order to retain a chance at the region tournament, the Dinos had to take a second game from Delta to position themselves ahead of the Rabbits in region eight standings.
In Tuesday night’s home game the Dinos were able to do so, although the collective heart rate of the Carbon coaching staff and crowd was significantly raised in the process.
Carbon had several leads throughout the game, but the team could not put the obstinate Rabbits away.
With only a few seconds remaining, Delta had a two point lead.
After a quick time out, Carbon missed a shot that would have tied the game.
Luckily, Dino senior Bryan Stewart came up with a crucial offensive rebound and putback to tie the game at 47 and send it into overtime.
Four minutes later, Carbon had been carried to a 56-53 win on the shoulders of Stewart.
“Stewart stepped up big in the fourth quarter and overtime for us,” head coach Ted Bianco commented. “The bench also gave us some great defense.”
According to Bianco, turnovers by the Dinos were what kept the game close.
“If we wouldn’t have turned over the ball so often we would have won in regulation,” he stated. “But they played well and I was proud of them all.”
Carbon now depends on two scenarios to seal their region eight bid.
Either the Dinos need to beat the number one ranked team in the state on Friday, the Lehi Pioneers, or Emery needs to beat Delta.
Bianco said despite the tentative play of the Dinos in the first matchup between the two teams, he is hopeful of Carbon’s performance in the weighty game.
“With this win, I think we’re gonna come out as a different team and we’re gonna give Lehi all they can handle,” he predicted.
The boys game begins at 7 p.m. at Carbon on Feb. 13 and will be preceeded by the girls varsity game at 5:30 p.m.