NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: CANTON OPENS SEASON WITH ROAD WIN (2021-01-12)

By LANCE LARCOM
Northern Tier Sports Report
WESTFIELD — The Canton Lady Warriors traveled to Cowanesque Valley Tuesday night and came away with a season-opening, 34-24, win over the host Indians.

While it was Canton's first action on the season, CV has had lopsided losses to Athens and Williamson to start its year.

Canton coach Casey Aylesworth took advantage of the available game film to get a look at CV before their match-up, but ultimately had some simple goals for his team.

“I definitely saw some little things that can help,” Aylesworth explained, “But in the end, it doesn't really matter who we play.  We have to take care of the basketball and win possessions.”

Taking care of the ball would be a struggle for both teams here Tuesday.

After trading turnovers on each team's early possessions to start the game, sophomore Molly Ward recorded the Warriors first points of the season, knocking down three of four free throws in two trips to the line.

Both teams showed signs of this being early in their seasons, as both coaches used time outs early to settle their squads.

After a long jumper from sophomore Aislyn Williams, senior Reagan Kelly swiped one of her five steals on the night and laid it in, pushing Canton's lead to 7-0.

CV's Jana Quick ended the run with a free-throw, with Kelly answering at the other end with a free throw of her own to make it 8-1.

Renee Abbott gave CV its first bucket of the game on a nice in-bounds pass from Abby Ackley, before Williams would push Canton's lead to 12-3, hitting back-to-back runners in the lane.

Ackley banked in a runner of her own to end the quarter, with Canton up 12-5.

Both teams had issues controlling possessions in the second quarter. Canton's full-court press kept CV on its own side of the court for most of the quarter, and helped the Lady Warriors rack up 19 steals on the night.

Sophomore Emmie Tymeson hit one of three jumpers she'd can in the quarter, and Kelly scored on a baseline drive to extend Canton’s lead.

 Lay-ups by CV's Ruby Sherman & Ackley, along with a free throw by Ackley, would end the half with Canton leading 20-12.

Coming out of the locker rooms, both teams struggled to score. A pair of baseline runners by Williams accounted for Canton's scoring in the period, while Ackley had a putback good for the Indians, and Mackenzie Sunue banked in a hook shot, leaving Canton's lead at 24-16 as they started the fourth quarter.

The Warriors opened the last frame with a 6-0 run, on a steal & lay-in by Ward and two long jumpers by senior Courtney Weiskopf.

CV answered with a 6-0 run of its own, on two lay-ups by Ackley and on a nice Ackley feed to Logan Hamilton for two.

Canton added to its lead on a putback by Ward, as well as two free throws from Carolyn Thoren.

The Indians managed two late buckets, one each from Ackley and Hamilton, leaving Canton with the 34-24 win.

 Moving forward, Aylesworth will be looking to add to the things his team did well tonight.

“I am looking for the girls to play under control.”

Williams led all scorers with 12 points, while collecting six rebounds, four steals, and two blocks.

Tymeson had six points, while Ward and Kelly each had five points.  The duo also controlled the paint, as Kelly grabbed 13 rebounds and Ward had 10.

Weiskopft had four points for Canton, and Thoren rounded out the scoring with two.

Ackley lead CV with nine points, and Hamilton had 8,.

Canton, 1-0, will host NEB on Thursday.

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