Busy week ahead for Canton boys, who seek to snap two-game losing streak

Canton’s Rieley Hoffman (3) and the Warriors have three games this week beginning Tuesday. Canton hosts East Granby Wednesday night at home.

CANTON, Feb. 2 – After winning eight of nine games to earn a berth in the CIAC Class S tournament for the third straight year, the Canton High boys basketball team has lost consecutive games. The Warriors (8-4, 6-4 NCCC) look to get back on the winning track with three games this week.

Canton travels to Stafford (5-7, 4-6 NCCC) on Tuesday, hosts East Granby (3-9, 3-9) on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. and concludes action this week with a road game at Enfield (7-6, 5-6 NCCC) on Friday night.

It’s been a challenging two weeks for the Warriors. A 42-37 loss to Suffield on Friday, Jan. 23 snapped a four-game losing streak. And the Warriors let a potential victory slip away in a 53-52 loss to Granby (8-3, 8-1 NCCC) a week later on Friday.

It’s never easy against Granby. Canton led the Bears by five at halftime, 30-25 and by three after three quarters, 38-33. In the fourth quarter, Canton led by six points with 2:40 remaining in the game, 44-38. But the Bears wouldn’t quit.

David Eke drained a three-pointer to trim the Canton lead to three points. But Canton still led by four, 48-44 with 1:08 remaining. Granby freshman Jaiden Delaine hit a three-pointer with 44 seconds remaining to cut the Warrior lead to one, 48-47.

Canton extended the lead again to four but Delaine hit another three-point shot to once again cut the lead to one, 52-51. Granby’s Connor Field stole the ball and was fouled with 12 seconds remaining. He hit both foul shots to give the Bears their first lead of the game, 53-52. Canton missed a three-point shot at the buzzer.

Eke led all scorers with 20 points including four three-point shots. Delaire had eight points and his two huge three-point shots. The Bears drained eight three-point shots in the game. Ben Eke had 15 points and two treys.

For Canton, Cameron Lange had 16 points and two three-point shots while Cam Daley chipped in with 13. Ben Sullivan had eight, including a pair of three-point shots.

Against Suffield, the Warriors led by two after three quarters but Suffield outscored Canton in the final eight minutes, 16-9 to earn the win. Lange again led the Warriors with 16 points while Daley scored 10. Sam Flynn led Suffield with 19 points.

NOTE: The home game against Ellington on Jan. 27 that was postponed due to snow will be played on Tuesday, Feb. 19 in Canton beginning at 7 p.m.