NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: CANTON EDGES NEB IN BACK AND FORTH CONTEST (2025-02-04)

Northern Tier Sports Report
CANTON — In the first meeting Canton was mercy ruled by NEB, but the Warriors bounced back on Tuesday, handing the Panthers their first Small School loss this decade with a 45-41 win during NTL girls’ hoops action.

“Tonight was a big night for our Canton Warrior girls basketball program,” said Canton coach Ryan VanNoy. “Northeast Bradford has been on top of the mountain for a long time and Ben Beebe keeps them there year in and year out. Getting a win tonight this late in the season against a great team is huge for us. We were mentally engaged on both ends of the floor for four quarters. I’m so proud of our girls and how we’ve responded to a couple of tough losses. We rebounded the ball very well tonight and we made our free throws down the stretch, which was the difference. We knew they were gonna come out with more intensity in the second half and we handled that pretty well. We had some big contributions from Stella Rockwell, Dana Wesneski, Lex McRoberts and Lydia Roupp. Everybody stepped up tonight and did the small things that it takes to be successful against a very, very good team. It’s a great night to be a Canton Warrior.”

It was back and forth all night with Canton taking a 22-21 lead at the half. They held NEB to just four third quarter points to go up 32-25 going into the fourth.

NEB responded with 16 points in the final frame, taking a 37-35 lead with 2:20 left to play, but Canton out scored them 10-6 the rest of the way to nab the win.

Kendall Kitchen had a double-double of 14 points, and 11 boards, to go with four assists, and three steals, as Cailyn VanNoy notched 12 points, seven boards, five assists, and two steals.

McRoberts had seven points, nine rebounds, and three steals, with Wesneski getting seven points. Roupp chipped in with five.

Becca VandeMark led NEB with 10 points, four steals, and three assists, as Lilah Hughes had eight points.

Leah Beebe finished with seven points, and three steals, as Lillie Maynard had six points, nine boards, four steals, and three assists.

Kara Dughi added six points, Mallorie Maynard had four points, and five steals, with Aurelia Kolesar getting two steals.

NEB held a 12-11 lead after one behind four points from Dughi. McRoberts paced Canton’s second quarter push with four points as they out scored NEB 11-9 to take the 1-point lead at the break.

Kitchen, and VanNoy had four points each in the third as the Warriors took their seven point lead into the fourth quarter.

NEB responded as Beebe netted five of her seven in the frame, while VandeMark scored four, but Canton did just enough at the free throw line - 7-for-12 - to get the win.

NEB won the JV game 54-20. Syd Howland had 24 points to lead the Panthers, with Dughi netting 10.  

Lilly Jackson scored seven for the Warriors.

Canton (12-7) inches closer to a home playoff game, now just .01 points behind Southern Columbia, as they travel to NP-Liberty on Friday.

NEB (14-5) will look to clinch their sixth straight league title on Friday with a win over Sayre.

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PHOTOS BY TINA MAYNARD

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