NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: YOUNG CANTON BATTLES THROUGH TOUGH SEASON (March 2, 2026)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It was a tough season for Canton boys basketball, but not one without a few bright spots. The young team - they featured mostly freshmen - took a few hard knocks, but started to deliver them in the final weeks as they went from novices to veterans.

“It was a slow, but building year for our team,” said Canton coach Brock Kitchen. “Having to start three freshmen, and then having your 6th through 8th men being freshmen, too, is not something that most teams have to deal with. Our goal was to improve, and I feel we did that.”

Canton went 1-21 on the season, but that one was an important one. They beat Williamson (49-39) at home, besting a team that had beaten them twice on the season already.

Just before that they played playoff bound Sayre to a 36-35 loss at home, as well.

“I felt that the freshmen’s bodies wore down the last few weeks because they just were not physically mature enough to handle that length of a season,” remarked Kitchen. “I felt Ryder Route did a great job leading our young kids in practices, and in games. Monte Whitehead had a lot asked upon him, and I think accepted that.”

Route was one of the top 3-point shooters in the NTL, averaging 8.1 PPG and 1.4 SPG. He hit 36 3-pointers on the season.

The junior Whitehead had a strong all-around game, wearing many hats on the floor for the Warriors. He finished with 8.8 PPG, 5.9 RPG, and 1.0 BPG.

As for the freshmen, Kix Carr had 2.5 PPG and 5.7 RPG, Teyton Thompson averaged 2.8 PPG, and freshman point guard Drew Holton averaged 2.7 PPG.

Off the bench Jack Whitehead grabbed 1.9 PPG, and dished out 1.3 APG.

Continuity will be one of the positives for the Warriors going forward as they return four of their five starters.

“These kids need to put in the time in the weight room, that is priority number one,” said Kitchen. “We must get stronger and faster if we want to compete down the road.”

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