NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: NEB PULLS AWAY FROM CANTON (2021-01-14)

BY LANCE LARCOM
Northern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — Northeast Bradford overcame some sluggish play to pick up their second win of the season, taking down Canton, 43-17, here Thursday in NTL Small School girls basketball action.

Playing their third game in four days, all on the road, has had an obvious effect on NEB coach Ben Beebe’s girls.

“We really had a lack of intensity tonight,” Beebe explained. “But these girls, even though we’re young, they’re talented, and they can pick it up when they need to.”

Canton played even with the Panthers through most of the first quarter, with Courteney Weiskopft scoring five early points for the Warriors.

But back-to-back threes by Northeast’s Maisie Neuber and Lauryn Jones late in the quarter pushed the Panthers ahead 12-6.

An 8-0 Northeast run to start the second quarter — aided by two Kayleigh Thoman jumpers, a nice feed from Jones to Neuber for a score, and a bucket by Julia Brown — pushed the Panther’s lead to 20-6.

Canton ended the first half with a 6-4 spurt, and entered the break down, 24-12.

Canton coach Casey Aylesworth was happy with his team’s effort, especially in the first half.

“I thought our defensive pressure was really good. Northeast is a great team, top two or three in the entire league for sure.”

It would be the Panthers’ who turned up the defensive pressure in the third quarter, limiting Canton to two baskets by Reagan Kelly — four of her team-high 10 points for the night.

Five Panthers scored in the quarter, pushing NEB’s lead to 37-16.

Liberal subbing by Northeast in the fourth quarter didn’t limit their defensive intensity, as they held Canton to a single free throw by Kelly, while baskets by Katie O’Connor, Thoman and Jones provided the 43-17 win for the Lady Panthers.

Beebe was optimistic after watching his team perform well in less-than-ideal conditions.

“We have another road game next, and, we are playing a very tough schedule this year — Bloom and Loyalsock, not to mention some very good teams here in our own league,” he explained, “I’m proud of the girls. We’re very young, but tough.”

Neuber led all scorers with 12 points for NEB, while Thoman had nine and Jones added seven points. O’Connor netted six points, while Aleena Beebe added five and Brown rounded out the scoring with four points.

For Canton, Kelley scored 10, Weiskopft had five, and Jazmyn Hickok added two points.

NEB travels to Wyalusing Saturday for a 1 p.m. tip-off, while Canton travels to North Penn-Mansfield for a 1:30 p.m. tip.

CUTLINE: NEB’s Maisie Neuber throws a pass against Canton…PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM