Northern Tier Sports ReportATHENS — A slow start for Canton doomed them in their 67-55 loss to Athens in NTL boys’ basketball action Friday.
The Wildcats led by five after the first quarter, and just kept adding to the lead from there. They were helped by a big free throw shooting edge - 9-for-15 compared to Canton’s 1-for-4 - and had more 3-pointers 4-2.
Isaiah Niemczyk continued his strong play as of late for the Warriors, leading them with a game high 19 points, while Caiden Williams chipped in with 14 points, 10 of them in the second half.
Tyler Jannone finished with 11 as Cooper Kitchen scored seven, while Brendan Matthews and Conner Foust had two points apiece.
Athens had four players in double figures, led by JJ Babcock’s 18. Tucker Brown scored 14, Troy Pritchard netted 12 and Mason Lister added 11.
The Wildcats led Canton 16-11 after the first quarter, as Niemczyk had nine of the Canton points. He got more help in the second as five different Warriors scored, led by Kitchen’s five points, though Athens extended their lead to 35-28 at the half. Brown had seven points for the Wildcats as Babcock netted six.
Athens had their best quarter offensively in the third, scoring 21 behind six fro Pritchard and four from Lister and Babcock.
Jannone and Williams had six each for Canton as they tried to hang with the Wildcats, but still found themselves down even more, 56-45.
Canton held Athens to a game low 11 points in the fourth, but only scored 10 themselves to take the loss.
The Warriors travel to NP-Mansfield Saturday with a 6 p.m. start.
CUTLINE: Canton’s Caiden Williams goes up for a shot against Athens…PHOTOS BY MATT PATTON.
