The Carbon Dinos finished winless in three games at the Steve Hodson Cancer Classic Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Cedar City.

“We went down there and played some really good competition against Canyon View, South Sevier and Panguitch,” said head coach Kyle Wilson. “We are still struggling to put a full 32-minute game together. We have to learn from this weekend, and learn quick.”

Opening the tournament Thursday against the host school Canyon View, the Dinos were doomed by a slow start in a 69-40 loss.

Ryan Gagon was one of three Dinos to reach double-figures after posting a team best 13 points in the loss. Senior Jordan Vasquez and junior Derek Hillam both scored 11, while Ty Anderson contributed four.

Brantzen Blackner helped the Falcons keep a steady pace in the second half, outscoring Carbon in both the third and fourth quarters. Blackner recorded a monstrous game-high 35 points, while connecting on four of the team’s eight three point makes.

“I thought we played decent defense in the first quarter, and let a few things get away from us in the second quarter,” Wilson said. “It’s hard to make up a deficit and comeback against a good basketball team like that.”

The Dinos returned to the court the following day, but suffered a similar outcome in a 56-37 loss to the South Sevier Rams.

Trailing 38-31 at the break, the Dinos were outscored 18-6 in the final eight minutes of play. Turnovers played a role in the setback as South Sevier finished the contest with 12 total steals, seven of which came from Kaetz King.

“We played pretty well for three quarters, but things got away from us in the fourth quarter,” said Wilson. “I don’t know what happened down the stretch. We just couldn’t seem to fight back and pull it together.”

Gagon led a balanced scoring effort with a team-high 10 points in the second loss of the trip. Ryker Smith finished with eight, and Vasquez ended with six. As a team Carbon connected on six shots from the three-point, compared to 11 for South Sevier.

The weekend road trip came to a close with a 73-51 loss to Panguitch, the defending 1A State Champions, Saturday afternoon.

Carbon struggled to slow Panguitch down offensively as the Bobcats hit nine shots from the three-point. Free throws also played a factor as Panguitch finished 20-29 at the line, while Carbon converted just six of nine attempts.

“My guys fought hard, but some things just really didn’t go our way,” Wilson said. “We need to change what needs to change, and apply it in practice this week to get ready for the region game on Friday.”

Vasquez led the Dinos in defeat with 20 points, including four makes from beyond the perimeter. Gagon contributed 13 points, and Hillam ended with 10.

The three losses move Carbon to 3-10 overall on the season, but the team remains 2-1 in Region 14 play. With the non-region slate now complete, the Dinos will return to the court on Friday against Maeser Prep in the first of three straight road games.

**Photo courtesy of ETV10 News