BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
Last year was a breakthrough season for Canton girls’ basketball, now they’re hoping to take the next step this season as they work for a league title.
“Our goal is always to win an NTL title,” said Canton coach Ryan Van Noy. “We will plan, prepare, and put forth our best effort.”
They took a big step forward last year when they handed NEB their first Small School loss this decade.
“Over the summer we put in a lot of work that will transition into this season,” said returning guard Cailyn Van Noy. “We’re very excited to get started.”
Along with VanNoy they return three other starters in Lydia Roupp, Danah Wesneski, and Alexis McRoberts, along with senior Daveian Crowley, who missed all of last season with an injury.
“We had a fantastic season last year, and that carried over into our summer work,” coach Van Noy said. “The girls have a solid understanding of what we are trying to do at both ends of the floor. We’ve been able to focus more on individual skill development which should make our team better.”
Van Noy was a triple-double threat last year with her ability to score and pass, along with having good size for a guard.
McRoberts proved to be one of the better rebounders and defenders in the league, and a big reason they beat Southern Columbia in the first round of districts a year ago.
Wesneski and Roupp provided shooting, while Rockwell brought energy off the bench.
One player that won’t be coming back is their leading scorer Kendall Kitchen, one of the bigger holes to fill this off-season.
“It’s not a great feeling,” McRoberts said. “Kendall not only was great on the court, but was a great teammate and a great leader for us. Being a young team coming in, having her kind of there and then not there anymore is definitely not a good feeling.”
Coach Van Noy knows it’ll be tough to replace a 1,000 point scorer who also defended the other team’s best player, but he believes they can do it as a team.
“Kendall is tough to replace,” he said. “If you needed a basket she’d get it. If you needed a steal, she would get it. However, Danah Wesneski and Stella Rockwell have both had great off-seasons. They have gotten a lot stronger and their outside shooting is much more consistent. We also get Daveian Crowley back from injury this year, which will be a huge addition to what we already have. Lydia Roupp and Chey Fitch have both had great off-seasons, as well. Lex McRoberts has some big game experience now, and is very comfortable on a basketball court. Balanced scoring is tough to stop, and with Cailyn Van Noy’s ability to see the floor and distribute the ball, scoring could come from anyone on any given night.”
They also bring in a big freshman class that balloons their roster to 20, making them one of the biggest teams in the league.
“For the first time since I’ve coached here we are able to split JV and varsity practice,” coach Van Noy said. “This has definitely elevated the competition in practice.”
Cailyn believes these girls will make a difference on the court.
“Lindley has been working very hard,” she said. “Brenna’s been working hard. Really, all of them can step up and do what they need to do.”
They made it an emphasis to get stronger and more athletic in the offseason.
“We’re looking to try some new defenses, and other things that can throw teams off,” explained Cailyn.
Offensively they’ve been working on their shooting in order to space the floor as Kitchen was their best floor spacer.
They’re hoping all this adds up to knocking off NEB, plus making another playoff run.
“I think if we just keep working hard, and put the time and effort into the gym, we can conquer anything together,” said McRoberts.
ROSTER
Daveian Crowley (12)
Emma McGee (12)
Alexis McRoberts (12)
Stella Rockwell (11)
Danah Wesneski (11)
Cheyenne Fitch (11)
Cailyn VanNoy (11)
Lydia Roupp (11)
Fayth Kilbourn (11)
Kambriea Howard (10)
Kendall Petrowski (10)
Lydia Mead (10)
Lily Jackson (10)
Hannah Walters (9)
Lindley Sechrist (9)
Brenna VanNoy (9)
Isabella Roupp (9)
Lucy Proseus (9)
Raya Preston (9)
Amelia Pepper (9)
SCHEDULE
Dec. 5 vs Sullivan County at NPL Tournament
Dec. 6 at NPL Tournament
Dec. 10 vs Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Dec. 12 at Troy, 7 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Meadowbrook Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Dec. 17 vs NPM, 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 vs CV, 7 p.m.
Dec. 29 hosts Tournament
Dec. 30 hosts Tournament
Jan. 7 vs NEB, 7 p.m.
Jan. 9 at NPL, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14 vs Williamson, 7 p.m.
Jan. 16 at Sayre, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Athens, 7 p.m.
Jan. 22 at Towanda, 7 p.m.
Jan. 24 at Montgomery, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 27 vs Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Jan. 29 at CV, 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 at NEB, 7 p.m.
Feb. 5 vs NPL, 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 vs Sayre, 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 at Williamson, 7 p.m.
