Northern Tier Sports ReportMILLVILLE — Canton’s Ben Fitch poured in 26 points but the Warriors came up short at Millville in their boys’ basketball opener, falling 51-47 in a game of wild swings on Monday.
The Quakers led 18-4 after the first quarter only for Canton to rally back and tie it up at 24-24 at the half. Canton eked out a 33-32 lead going into the final frame, but he Quakers off a furious Fitch finish - he scored all 14 Canton points in the fourth - to pull out the win.
Millville finished with 40-10 advantage in free throws, hitting 22 of them, while the Warriors made four.
Lance Route added nine points, with Brayden Vroman scoring five. Talin Williams had three while Kevin Fleming and Gunnar Resavage scored two points apiece.
Tommy Kraintz led Millvilel with 20 points while Shane Johnson netted 12.
It was a rough start for Canton as their only first quarter field goal was a Route 3-ball. However, they rallied in the second, holding Millville to just six points off one field goal, while netting 20 themselves behind nine from Fitch.
In defensive battle that was the third quarter the Warriors had more field goals than Millville, 4-1, but the Quakers made up for it with free throws, going 5-for-6 while Canton was just 1-for-2.
Kraintz went off in the fourth for Millville, scoring 11 points while Johnson added six. That was enough for them to survive Fitch’s outburst, which included two 3-balls.
Canton (0-1) will host Wyalusing (0-2) Wednesday.
