NTL BOYS' BASKETBALL: CANTON HOLDS ON TO BEAT NP-LIBERTY ON THE ROAD (2023-01-31)

Northern Tier Sports Report
LIBERTY — Canton’s divisional comeback continued on Tuesday as they defeated NP-Liberty 56-50 in NTL Small School boys’ basketball action. The win moves them into a first place tie with Sayre on top of the standings.

The Redskins pulled out a 56-49 win over NEB, with both teams now at 6-6 in the league to lead Division-II.

Weston Bellows led the way again for Canton, with 25 points, 20 of them in the second, and 13 in the fourth quarter. He was 8-for-13 from the field - 4-for-7 from 3-point land - and 5-for-5 from the charity stripe. 

Bellows also had four boards, three assists, three blocks, and two steals.

Kyle Kapichok had 14 points and five rebounds for the Warriors, while Hunter Brackman had three 3-balls for nine points, to go with four assists.

Ben Fitch had four points, five boards, and three assists, as Austin Allen had two points, eight rebounds, and three assists. Wesley Castle chipped in with two points.

Derek Litzelman led NPL with 22 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, while Daniel Sherant added 11.

It was bombs away in the first quarter as the two teams had as many 3-balls as 2-point field goals. Brackman had two 2-pointers, while Kapichok also had six points to give Canton a 14-8 lead at the first horn.

The two teams played even in the second, scoring 12 points apiece. Kapichok led Canton with four points while Brackman and Bellows both hit 3-pointers, to give the Warriors a 26-20 lead at the half.

NPL rallied in the third behind six points from Litzelman, while four other players also got their names in the scorebook. That was good enough to cut it to 37-33, as Bellows carried the Canton offense with seven points.

In the final frame the Bellows took over with two 3-pointers and a 3-for-4 performance from the free throw line. Kapichok also chipped in with four points, as Fitch hit two free throws to secure the win for them.

Canton (9-8) will travel to CV on Thursday for another big divisional game.

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PHOTO CAPTION: Canton's Wesley Castle goes up for a lay-up...PHOTOS BY JOE CARREON