2025 Carson Senators Boys and Girls Basketball Previews

2025 Carson Senators Boys Basketball Preview

By: J. Ray Dockter

Head Coach: Ty Golden, 4th Season as Head Coach at Carson HS

2024 Record: 7-20 OVERALL, 2-14 League

Key Returners: Jaren Thornburg, Kylan Jackson, Isaac Chambers, Kale Thompson, and Ethan Cook

OVERVIEW: The Carson Senators enter the 2025-26 season with determination and a renewed sense of identity under Head Coach Ty Golden, now in his fourth season leading the program. While the Senators have continued to develop under his direction, the team is eager to reestablish consistent success after several challenging years; the program has not experienced regular, sustained success since the 2016-17 season when they won a zone championship under longtime Coach Carlos Mendeguia. With a roster blending returning veterans and improved depth, the team is focused on laying the foundation for a breakthrough campaign built on accountability, competitive drive, and unity.

Offensively, the Senators plan to play aggressively by pushing the tempo while playing speed and purpose, as well as making early, aggressive attacks into the paint to create high-percentage shots to earn trips to the free-throw line. The coaching staff is confident in the team's ability to run this style thanks to a roster featuring multiple ball handlers, giving them the versatility to initiate offense from several positions and maintain fluid movement throughout possessions. Defensively, the Senators will rely heavily on their man-to-man principles, applying consistent ball pressure and using active hands to disrupt rhythm and force opponents into difficult decisions.

Coach Golden believes strongly in the character and connectedness of this year's group, noting that their progress and ultimate success will hinge on how well they meet the standards of personal and team accountability established within the program. The Senators return three starters from last season who bring leadership, experience, and stability to the lineup, while the team's deep rotation of players four through eight provides versatility, matchup flexibility, and meaningful minutes across the board. With a blend of seasoned talent and emerging contributors, the Senators enter the season motivated to take a significant step forward and reassert themselves as a competitive force in the region.

Without further ado, here are Coach Golden's answers to our questions we asked him last month...

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Offensively?

Offensively we want to get to the paint early in the shot clock by pushing the ball up the floor. We have multiple ball handlers who can put pressure on the rim and get to the free throw line.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Defensively?

Defensively we will primarily be man to man. We continue to emphasize ball pressure and need to improve in that area.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Style of Play?

We have a very united group that is willing to share the ball, play with pace, and pressure our opponents on the defensive end.

What Is The Key To Your Team’s Success This Season?

Our success will be defined in how we measure up to our standards of Personal and Team accountability, creating a united locker room, the will to prepare to win, and striving for competitive excellence.

Who Do You Feel Are The Teams To Beat In The North?

There are so many great things to say about each team in our league. They are led by great coaches and have great athletes. League games will be a battle every night!

What Is The Best Part About Coaching High School athletics?

The relationships you build with the kids and coaching staff as we work together to become our best selves both on and off the court.

2025 Carson Senators Girls Basketball Season Preview

By: J. Ray Dockter

Head Coach: Sam Golden, 2nd Season as Head Coach at Carson HS

2024 Record: 9-16 OVERALL, 5-11 League

Key Returners: Abbi Drysdale, Makayla Rabideau, Natalia Armstrong, Ashlan Smokey, Claire Billings, and Emjae Salanoa

OVERVIEW: The Carson Senators enter the 2025-26 season with clarity, confidence and elevated expectations under Head Coach Sam Golden, now in her second season leading the program. After a year of laying foundational culture and implementing new standards, the coaching staff believes this year's team is ready to take another meaningful step forward. Despite returning only one starter from last season, the Carson Senators are energized by the depth, balance, and competitiveness emerging from their roster, which the staff believes is solid from player one through eight heading into the early part of the season.

Offensively, the Senators aim to operate with a high-tempo attack built on movement, spacing, and quick decision-making. Coach Golden wants her players pushing the pace, sharing the ball, and hunting for the best shot each time down the floor, not just the first available look. Defensively, the team's strategic focus is clear, they want to slow opponents down, force them out of transition, and make them try to beat the Senators in a half-court setting. The Senators defensive effort will be shaped by communication, discipline, effort and pride on every possession.

To support that vision, the Senators will lean heavily on the program's defined keys to success: Coach Golden said "[Having] a deeper bench, [team] unity, culture, and simplicity (will help the Senators having success on the floor this season)." Even with limited returning starters, the combination of emerging contributors, increased depth, and collective buy-in gives the staff confidence that this team can compete at a high level throughout the year. With improved versatility, [as well as] a strong defensive mindset, and an offense built on unselfish, high-quality basketball, the Senators enter the season eager to grow, challenge themselves and make a statement within league and regional play.

Without further ado, here are Coach Golden's answers to our questions we asked her last month...

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Offensively?

A less structured offensive system as opposed to a set playbook. We're focusing on hunting the most efficient shots as opposed to one certain look.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Defensively?

We try to start each practice with the same game intensity. We hope to slow teams down and make them beat us in a half court set.

What Can We Expect From Your Team This Season... Style of Play?

You'll have to see. [I] can't give everything away.

What Is The Key To Your Team’s Success This Season?

A deeper bench, unity, culture, and simplicity.

Who Do You Feel Are The Teams To Beat In The North?

Spanish Springs and Reno.

What Is The Best Part About Coaching High School athletics?

The kids growth and their memories they make. They'll remember them forever.