The Carbon High School girls’ basketball team finished the 2016-17 season in fourth place, after earning a place in the semifinals of the 3A State Tournament for the third year in a row.
The Dinos played for third place on Saturday against Morgan High School, and lost in a close game, 47-45. The Dinos suffered a heartbreaking loss in the semifinal game on Friday, losing to Juan Diego Catholic 53-50.
In the semifinal game, the Dinos took a 50-49 lead with less than one minute remaining in the game, after a steal by Lindsey Blanc and pass to Chandelle Nichols for a two-point basket, the sixth lead-change of the fourth quarter alone. However, Juan Diego took a one-point lead with 37 seconds remaining, and after an offensive foul on the Dinos, added one more point to the lead. Another foul against the Dinos, and one of two free throws made by Juan Diego, put Carbon down by three points with nine seconds remaining in the game.
The Dinos came up with the rebound on a missed free throw shot by Juan Diego and drove down the court, needing three points. The Dinos put up a few shots under the basket, but missed each of them and time expired, sending Juan Diego to the State Championship game.
The Dinos had a dominant start to the game, with a strong presence on both offense and defense and led 12-6 after the first quarter. However, the Dinos began to rush down the court and force plays in the second quarter, and Juan Diego tied the game at 18, and sank a free throw towards the end of the second quarter. The Dinos went into halftime trailing 19-18.
The Dinos worked their way back into a lead in the third quarter, tying the game at 26 and 30 before taking a 31-30 lead. Carbon went into the final period with a slight 37-34 lead.
Carbon led through about half of the fourth quarter, before Juan Diego tied the game at 41 points, and the game proceeded into a back-and-forth battle from there.
Lindsey Blanc, a senior for the Dinos, did all she could in attempt to get the Dinos to the championship game, scoring 23 points, including 10 from the free throw line. Mckenna Sorenson, also a senior, put up eight points for the Dinos. Junior Kelsey Sorenson contributed 10 before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
Carbon had previously won in the quarterfinals against Desert Hills High School, who was ranked number one in the state. The Dinos beat the Thunder of Desert Hills by 15 points, with a score of 59-44, thanks in large part to Sorenson’s 17-point performance, including three three-pointers.
The Dinos held a small lead after the first quarter, 11-10, but began to pull away in the second quarter, with 24 points, compared to the Thunder’s 13. Despite being outscored by two points in the third quarter, the Dinos held on in the fourth to claim the win.
Carbon finished the season 19-5 overall and 7-1 in Region 12 play.
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