Fresh off a 76-13 throttling of Ben Lomond to open the 2025 state tournament, the Carbon Dinos made the long trip to Kamas to take on the No. 3 seeded South Summit Wildcats. A game defined by defense took two overtime periods to decide as a last-second free throw elevated the Wildcats to a 51-50 double-overtime victory over the Dinos.
Carbon shocked South Summit to open the contest, holding a usually potent Wildcat offense to just three points in the frame. A balanced scoring effort from Jacie Jensen and Harley Hopes helped lift the Dinos to an early 10-3 advantage after one.
With the playoff nerves out of the way, both teams were able to gain more footing offensively. South Summit senior Emma Broadbent put on an incredible display in the paint, willing the Wildcats to a double-digit quarter. Carbon would go blow-for-blow with South Summit, holding a 19-13 lead as both squads entered the halftime break.
Jensen would be the story of the second half for the Dinos, taking over for Carbon and engaging in a clash of titans with Broadbent. The Juggernauts traded shots like a heavyweight championship bout. The defense continued to be aggressive on both sides, as again, the Wildcats won the quarter by one, entering the final frame trailing Carbon 29-24.
Shots continued to fall for both teams as neither squad wanted to be eliminated. A late run by South Summit put them up by two with 10 seconds remaining.
Enter Jacie Jensen.
The senior received the inbound as the clock continued to wind down, initially faking a three before backing down a defender into the high post. A fake pivot got the defender to bite as Jensen spun right before taking a shot from 10 feet out. She hit nothing but the net as the game was tied with six seconds left.
A last-second shot from the Wildcats would bounce harmlessly off the side of the rim as the game entered overtime tied 37-37.
Jensen continued her offensive outburst in the first OT period, scoring all six of the Dinos’ points. However, each time Jensen scored, Wildcats senior Mariah Bowen answered back on the other end. As time expired in overtime the teams were still deadlocked 43-43.
Moving to a second frame of overtime the teams would continue to battle. Jensen would pick up her fifth foul on a charge call and have to exit the contest, leaving room for Becca Swasey to pick up the scoring load as she scored all of her points when the lights were shining brightest.
Unfortunately, the clock would strike midnight for the Dinos sooner than they expected as a free throw from Broadbent with two seconds left gave South Summit a one-point 51-50 lead. A half-court heave from the Dinos fell just short as the Wildcats avoided the upset.
The contest featured another balanced scoring effort for Carbon, with nine different players finding the bottom of the basket. Leading the way was Jensen with 23 points, behind her was Hopes with seven, Bailey Curtis and Bailey Johnson each had five, Swasey closed with three, Malia Smith, Elsie Morley and Natalie Cartwright had two and Sage Vea ended with one.
With the loss, the Dinos’ season comes to a close, with a final record of 7-18 overall and 4-10 in region play.
Castle Country Radio would like to congratulate the Lady Dinos on their fantastic season and wish the graduating seniors the best of luck in their future endeavors.