This run was fun while it lasted it.

Reality almost ceased to exist at Morse Burley Gym when the Carson High girls basketball team went on a 12-0 run against Sierra League frontrunner Galena to turn a 16-point deficit into just a four-point disadvantage in the fourth quarter. But Galena was able to hold off CHS for a 44-36 win, ending the Senators' hopes of a miracle finish.

Galena also likely ended any chance for Carson (16-9) to finish second in league and thus earning a first round home game in the Northern 4A playoffs. Manogue defeated Douglas on Friday to improve to 10-2 in league and unless something unforeseen happens, the Miners will finish second.

CHS (8-4) in league will clinch third with either a win at Fallon at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday or a victory at home next Friday against the arch rival Tigers. A third place finish will likely mean a trip to Reed for the first round of the playoffs.

"We started feeling good," said CHS coach Todd Ackerman about the fourth quarter run that made the game really interesting. "It's amazing what happens. With our effort we hung around."

While Ackerman said his team certainly isn't into moral victories, he did say. "I think the girls feel good about themselves. They know they can play with people."

Galena led 38-22 early in the fourth quarter when Gina Bianchi and Whitney Nash hit back-to-back three-pointers to begin the run and pull Carson to within 38-28. Yvonne Hollett, playing for the first time after missing two games with an ankle injury, then hit a jumper from the right corner just inside the three-point line to pull CHS to within 38-30.

When Elayna Shine hit a three, the Senators had pulled to within 38-34. Nash scored on a backdoor on a pass from Shine to pull CHS to within 40-36, but the Grizzlies were able to hold Carson off. In the first meeting between the two teams, Galena raced out to a 16-0 lead and this time it jumped out to a 7-0 advantage before Nash hit a three to cut the deficit to 7-3. Natalie Stevens hit a baseline jumper to pull Carson to within 9-6 but Galena went on to lead 17-8 after one quarter.

Hollett came in for the first time when she started the second quarter and scored on a pass from Shine to pull Carson to within 17-10. But Galena controlled the rest of the half and led 29-13 at halftime and 31-13 early in the third quarter. Carson was just 5-of-26 from the floor in the first half.

Nash hit a three to pull the Senators to within 33-22 before Galena took a 36-22 lead after three quarters.

"We slowed them down, which we really wanted to try to do," Ackerman said. "We made them do a few things they don't want to do. We did everything we wanted."

That included containing Galena's talented and versatile post player, Emily Burns, thanks in large part to Kate Schulz. "We did a nice job on Burns," Ackerman said. "Kate did a nice job. Kate's quick enough to stay with her. We made it tough on her."

Bianchi scored 10 points, Nash had nine points and Stevens added six points for CHS.