The Carbon Dinos started the season with a hot 4-0 record before cooling off with five-straight losses. The current losing streak places the Dinos with a 4-5 overall record and a No. 12 ranking in the 3A Classification RPI.
Carbon opened the season on Nov. 16 with a road contest with the Delta Rabbits. Zeke Willson scored 19 points, backed by five threes, to lead Carbon to a 61-44 win. Willson also grabbed six rebounds. Cole Cripps finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, just short of a double-double.
A second-straight road game at Union featured a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double for Cole Cripps. Chet Anderson added 20 points and three rebounds in a 58-51 win for the Dinos.
The Dinos made their return home against North Sanpete for their home opener. Braxton Stevenson produced 24 points and eight rebounds in a 16-point, 74-58, win over the Hawks. Cole Cripps stayed consistent with another 17-point, nine-rebound game.
Mason Vasquez and Braxton Stevenson hit clutch free-throws with seconds left in the fourth quarter to secure a 60-59 Dino win over the Juab Wasps. Stevenson finished the game with 19 points, five rebounds, and four steals. Zeke Willson went 3-6 from the three-point line to finish with 13 points in the game.
The first weekend of December meant a Dino trip to a tournament in Richfield. Grantsville was the first foe the Dinos were tasked with. Braxton Stevenson’s 14 points and four rebounds were not enough as the Cowboys smashed the Dinos 40-61. Cole Cripps finished with 10 points and six rebounds.
Day two of the tournament in Richfield saw the Dinos take on the Enterprise Wolves. Carbon had no answer for the Wolves as the Dinos fell 48-66. Zeke Willson hit another five threes to finish with 15 points. Chet Anderson contributed with seven points and five rebounds.
The Dinos returned home to face a tough South Summit team. Ashton Ferguson had 14 points, 4-5 from three-point range, and six rebounds in a back-and-forth battle. Unfortunately, the Dinos were unable to take control of the game and fell 61-69. Braxton Stevenson finished with 13 points, five rebounds and four assists.
The South Sevier Rams made the trip to Carbon High School to take on the Dinos. Chet Anderson and Braxton Stevenson combined for 42 points, 21 each, but the Dinos were unable to pull away as the Rams won 54-66.
The last game of the 2022 calendar year was a trip to Uintah as the Utes overwhelmed the Dinos, 43-60. Braxton Stevenson finished with 17 points, eight rebounds and three assists. Cole Cripps also produced 10 points and four rebounds.
“We knew we had a difficult schedule,” said head coach Jared Butler. “We know what streaks like this can do to a team. Our guys are working hard, and we’re not out of it yet.”
Braxton Stevenson leads the Dinos with 16.1 points per game. Chet Anderson follows close behind with 11.3 per contest. Cole Cripps holds down the boards for Carbon with 6.4 rebounds per game. Braxton Stevenson averages 5.6 rebounds per contest. Mason Vasquez dishes the ball out for an average 4.6 assists per game. Stevenson contributes another 2.4 per game.
The Dinos will next take the court on Jan. 4 in a non-region matchup with American Leadership. The game is scheduled for 7:00 pm from Carbon High.