NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: CANTON LOOKING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP (2024-11-30)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
Canton girls’ basketball comes into this winter sports season with high hopes, backed by the return of much of last year’s team that earned a playoff berth.

“We had a great summer,” said coach Ryan VanNoy. “We played in the Elmira Summer League and took a van full of players to the Waverly Camp. Unfortunately, we lost Daveian Crowley for the year with a knee injury which is a huge loss for us. We are returning three starters in Kendall Kitchen, Alexis McRoberts, and Cailyn Van Noy.  Other players that saw significant varsity time include Lydia Roupp, Stella Rockwell, and Danah Wesneski. Chelsie Harris and Cheyanne Fitch will see varsity time this year as well. Emma McGhee is also returning from a year long knee injury. I really love the energy this team brings to practice. Instead of learning the offense, this year we hope to understand the offenses which should cut down on turnovers and improve our efficiency with the basketball.”

Kitchen is the big returnee as she put up 13.3 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.2 APG, and 3 SPG, along with often defending the other team’s best player.

“I’ve coached athletes on a few different levels and Kendall is one of the most competitive athletes I have ever coached,” VanNoy said. “It doesn't matter if it's winning a sprint, finishing a drill or selling hoagies for our fundraiser, she loves to compete. Her competitive spirit is contagious and if you don't practice hard, she will run right over you.”

Kitchen is gearing up for a big senior season.

“It’s fun to be back in the gym, and we all get along pretty well, so it’s really exciting,” Kitchen said. “We didn’t have one senior last year so we can just build off of everything that we did last year.”

Cailyn VanNoy is coming off a big freshman season where she averaged 9.4 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, and 3.3 SPG.

“I know I’m one of the underdogs still, but I’m really excited to get the season started, and how I hope for our team,” said Cailyn. “I focused a lot on my shot. I struggled last year shooting most of our season, so I worked on that, and hopefully I make some more this year.”

McRoberts came on mid-season after an injury, grabbing 5.4 RPG with 1.7 SPG, after not playing hoops since elementary age.

“She is a very strong, physical athlete and will be a scoring presence in the paint for us,” said coach VanNoy. 

He’s also looking to get more production across the board from the younger players.

“Lydia Roupp and Cheyanne Fitch both had great summers and are expected to bring more consistency at both ends of the floor in our forward positions,” coach VanNoy said. “Danah Wesneski, Stella Rockwell, and Chelsie Harris will have larger roles this year at the two guard spot. Cailyn Van Noy had a very respectable freshman year.  She needs to be a consistent threat on offense alongside Kendall Kitchen which should create some challenging matchups for our opponents.”

They’re hoping to challenge NEB in the Small School Division to get their first league title since 1983.

“We definitely are because they graduated a few people last year that were really key to their success,” Kitchen said. “We’re really hopeful that we can compete for one this year.”

They’re working on being aggressive on defense, and finishing their lay-ups on offense.

“We are focusing on trusting our teammates and developing a mental defensive toughness that we haven’t had in a long time,” said coach VanNoy.

The biggest thing Canton seems to have added this year is confidence.

“There are some very good teams, but I think with how much we’ve been working over the summer and in this previous season, I think we have a chance at anything that comes at us,” Cailyn remarked.

ROSTER

Kendall Kitchen (12)

Daveian Crowley (11)

Emma McGhee (11)

Chelsie Harris (11)

Alexis McRoberts (11)

Danah Wesneski (10)

Fayth Kilbourne (10)

Stella Rockwell (10)

Lydia Roupp (10)

Cheyanne Fitch (10)

Cailyn VanNoy (10)

Kendall Petrowski (9)

Lilly Jackson (9)

Lydia Mead (9)

Savannah Boyles (9)

SCHEDULE

Dec. 6 at NPL Tournament

Dec. 7 at NPL Tournament

Dec. 13 at Wyalusing, 7 p.m.

Dec. 16 vs Meadowbrook, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18 vs Troy, 7 p.m.

Dec. 20 at NPM, 7 p.m.

Dec. 27 hosts Tournament

Dec. 28 hosts Tournament

Jan. 3 at CV, 7 p.m.

Jan. 8 at NEB, 7 p.m.

Jan. 10 vs NPL, 7 p.m.

Jan. 13 vs Montgomery, 7 p.m.

Jan. 15 at Williamson, 7 p.m.

Jan. 17 vs Sayre, 7 p.m.

Jan. 21 vs Athens, 7 p.m.

Jan. 23 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.

Jan. 28 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30 vs CV, 7 p.m.

Feb. 1 at Sayre, 7 p.m.

Feb. 4 vs NEB, 7 p.m.

Feb. 6 at NPL, 7 p.m.

Feb. 10 vs Williamson, 7 p.m.  

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