NTL BOYS' BASKETBALL: SECOND QUARTER STRUGGLES LENDS TO CANTON'S FIRST LOSS (2021-01-18)

By LANCE LARCOM
Northern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — Canton entered its game with Wellsboro Monday night at 3-0, fresh off of a first-quarter 28-point explosion and win over small school rival NEB.

It would be the second quarter here, however, that would prove to be the Warriors’ downfall, as they were outscored 25-10 in the frame and fell to the Hornets, 72-64.

A back-and-forth first quarter included a 7-0 run by the Warriors, aided by one of T.J. Jannone’s four three-pointers on the night, and a bucket by Isaiah Niemczyk.  Those two points by the Canton junior would be his only of the half, however, as foul trouble forced him to sit.

Wellsboro would answer the run with a pair of Darrynn Callahan jumpers, and drew to within 15-13 on a Drew Manning 3-pointer to end the quarter.

The Warriors and Hornets traded baskets early in the second quarter, until a 10-0 run by Wellsboro extended their lead to 34-22. Peyton McClure hit three 3-pointers for the Hornets, and scored 13 of his game-high 21 points in the quarter, leading Wellsboro into the half up, 38-25.

Canton coach Brock Kitchen knows, against a quality team like Wellsboro, one quarter can make all the difference in a game.

“We had one bad quarter,” Kitchen said. “Not necessarily offensively, we just couldn’t get stops.”

Coming out of the break, Canton’s Caiden Williams and Niemczyk would help the Warriors chip away at the Hornets’ lead, as the juniors scored 10 and nine points, respectively, in the frame.

However, McClure helped secure the Wellsboro lead, knocking down two more 3-pointers, and Callahan added four of his 19 points on a pair of jumpers in the lane, giving Wellsboro a 55-47 lead entering the final eight minutes.

Jannone started the final quarter off with a 3-pointers, drawing Canton to within 55-50.

It would be as close as the Warriors would get.

Wellsboro scored seven unanswered points, aided by five Callahan points, and the Hornets outscored Canton the rest of the way, 17-14, giving them their first win on the season.

Wellsboro coach Steve Adam’s was happy with his team’s play, and optimistic moving forward.

“We’re still trying to get into shape,” Adams explained. “But beating a team like Brock has here, in our second game of the season, after how we lost the first one?  That’s a big step. I’m proud of the boys.”

McClure lead Wellsboro with 21 points, including five treys, and Callahan added 19 points, while Liam Manning scored 14, Connor Adam’s had nine and Isaac Keane chipped in with six points.

For the Warriors, Niemczyk led the way with 20 points — 18 in the second half, while Williams had 18, Jannone added 12, and  Kitchen chipped in with seven points.

Canton (3-1) will visit Wyalusing (2-0) on Wednesday in a key Division II match-up.

CUTLINE: Canton’s Isaiah Niemczyk goes up for a shot against Wellsboro…PHOTOS BY LANCE LARCOM