| Patricia Smith stalks the Carbon court. She led the team in rebounds. |
You would think that after so many last second wins Coach Carlson would be used to it by now, but you would be wrong. After Tuesday night’s overtime win Carlson remarked, “I wish it wasn’t this close. I don’t know if I can survive any more of these!”
North Sanpete was in position for a victory over the Dinos when, with 3 and one-half seconds on the clock, they fouled Carbon. Two free throws later Carbon had stolen the win, 36-35.
As has been their pattern most of the season, the Dinos let themselves play from behind for the first half of play. A slow first quarter put them in a three point hole which they didn’t climb out of until the second half. In the third, they found themselves up by one, but neither team wanted to take charge of the game and at the end of regulation it was knotted at 32.
Scoring was scarce in the OT period. In the final seconds of play, the Hawks were up by one point. All they needed was a bit of clean defense to stop Carbon from scoring, but they fouled instead. For the second time in two games Patricia Smith found herself at the line facing two critical free throws. Showing no fear, she drained them both to secure the one point Carbon victory.
It was ironic that free throws decided the game. The Hawks went to the line for a whooping 23 shoots compared to Carbon who were awarded only six. The difference was that while the Dinos hit 5 of 6, North Sanpete hit only 9 of 23.
It was that difference in foul calls that also had two Dinos in foul trouble before the end of the game. Both Ericka Potts and Megan Garvin had to sit out in the fourth because each had four fouls. It was the first time all season that Carbon has had to deal with players in foul trouble. Garvin eventually fouled out in OT.
Julia Potts led the team with 11 points. Garvin added eight despite her foul trouble. Julia Potts and Patricia Smith led the team in rebounds as well.
With the win, Carbon has secured at least a second place finish in region eight play. It gives them home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs. They will meet the number three seed from region 11. That team has yet to be determined.
With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Carbon will be gunning for a win against Emery and a shot at the number one seed. Carlson stated that the rest of the week the team will work hard at being prepared to break the Emery press. It is what gave the team fits in the last match up. Carlson summed it up. “If we remember we have nothing to lose and play that way, we can beat Emery.”
The Emery match up will be at Carbon High on Thursday night. Tip off is at 7 p.m.