NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: CANTON RALLIES PAST NP-LIBERTY TO CLAIM TOURNAMENT TITLE (December 31, 2025)

Northern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — A third quarter rally allowed Canton to top NP-Liberty, 43-35, to claim their Christmas Tournament Title during girls’ hoops action Tuesday.

NPL led 22-18 at the half, but Canton out scored them 15-4 to take control of the game, then held them to nine points in the fourth to secure the victory.

“It feels really good considering we had two very competitive games,” Canton coach Ryan Van Noy said. “Sullivan County played us extremely tough last night, Liberty is a monster to prepare for because of Litzelman, and two get those two wins, I think moved us forward quite a bit because we learned a lot at halftime.”

Warrior Cailyn VanNoy was named MVP, and she finished with 20 points, four assists, and three steals, while Stella Rockwell added 12 points, four assists, and four steals.

Lydia Roupp had seven points, four boards, with two steals, as Cheyanne Fitch, and Alexis McRoberts had two points each. McRoberts added four boards, and three steals, as Fitch finished with two steals.

Brenna Van Noy notched four assists, and two blocks, as Daveian Crowley had five boards, and two steals.

Haley Litzelman had 24 points to lead NPL.

Three balls from Rockwell, and Cailyn Van Noy were the only buckets Canton got in the first quarter, while four different Mounties scored to give them an 11-7 lead after one.

In the second quarter NPL hit three 3-balls - two by Litzelman - but Canton matched them in points for the frame, thanks to four points from both Cailyn Van Noy, and Roupp.

“We had to slow down offensively,” Van Noy said about his team’s first half. “I think we were trying to score 10 points in one possession, and we just were playing a little faster than I think we should have offensively. I think we slowed things down in the fourth quarter, especially, and I think that extended our lead. We just kind of believed in each other, took our time, saw where the defense was, made good decisions with the ball, and we made some shots, which always makes it a lot easier.”

Cailyn Van Noy went off for eight of her team’s 15 points, while Rockwell hit her third three of the contest in the frame. On the other side they held Litzelman to just one bucket as Canton took a 33-26 lead into the fourth quarter.

“We’ve put a lot of emphasis on our defense, and I thought, lsat night, our energy, and our engagement was down a little bit against Sullivan County,” Van Noy said. “So we put a lot of emphasis on that tonight, especially guarding Litzelman, and we rotated three people over on her, and actually four, because Stella guarded her a couple of possessions, but Stella, Cheyanne, Cailyn, and Alexis McRoberts did a fantastic job on her. And I think that got our offense going, too, because they started to struggle a little bit offensively.”

Litzelman took over in the fourth, netting all nine of her team’s points, but it wasn’t enough as Canton scored 10 of their own, including a 5-for-8 performance from the charity stripe.

Coach Van Noy believes having Roupp back in the line-up was a different maker this week.

“It’s huge because I honestly thought we were going to lose her for the year when she went down the last open gym before the season,” he said. “I honestly believe that the reason she did not tear her ACL is because she worked so hard in the summer in the weight room, and to get her back, and have a big turnout like she did, it speaks volumes for her team, and for her personally.”

Canton (7-1) hosts Wyalusing to start a big week next week, which also features games against NEB, and NP-Liberty, again.

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PHOTO PROVIDED & LANCE LARCOM

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