Canton’s Rieley Hoffman drives to the basket for two of his 14 points in Tuesday night’s 60-47 win over Avon at the Thomaston Bank Holiday Festival.
BURLINGTON, Dec. 29 – It’s just the third game in the season but it was a special one for the Canton High boys basketball team.
It’s been a long time since the Warriors have beaten Avon in boys basketball. The Falcons have prevailed in 13 straight games dating back to 2007.
On Tuesday night, it was an evening for the Warriors. Senior Cameron Lange scored a game-high 20 points on baskets in the lane and from the perimeter with a pair of three-point goals as Canton dominated in a 60-47 victory in the Thomaston Bank Holiday Festival. Seniors Rieley Hoffman had 14 points while Jake Schaetzel added 11.
Canton (2-1) swept both of their games in the festival. On Monday night, the Warriors were even more dominant in a 46-24 win over Lewis Mills.
“It felt like a conference championship game because we’ve always wanted to be beat Avon,” Hoffman said. “This is one of biggest games of the season.”
This is one of the few Canton teams to beat Avon in the last 20 years. The Warriors beat Avon a decade ago in the 2006 CIAC Division IV tournament and once the following year in 2007. Before that, Canton hadn’t won since 1996.
“This feels incredible,” Schaetzel said. “We’ve had this game circled on our calendar forever. We had a feeling this was our year. We came in and took care of business. It was a great one.”
Canton’s Rieley Hoffman, left and Cameron Lange close in on Avon’s Bryant LaChance in Tuesday night’s game in Burlington.
Avon (1-3) had an early 7-3 lead but a 7-0 run with baskets from four different players put Canton ahead to stay. Canton’s Luke Brown capped off the run by stealing an inbounds pass and exploding to the rim for a basket.
Avon cut the Canton lead to four, 24-20, late in the second quarter on a three-point basket by Darby Comas. But Canton quickly six points to push the lead back to 10. A nice spin move from Schaetzel gave Canton a basket, Hoffman drove strong to the basket for another two points and Schaetzel was in position under the basket to put a loose rebound back in.
Lange and Hoffman helped the Warriors pull away in the third quarter. Lange scored 12 points in the quarter as Canton turned a nine-point halftime lead into a 21-point lead. Lange, a 6-foot-2 forward, scored in the lane over Ian McDonald. He hit two free throws and he drained a pair of three-point shots from the deep corner.
“I can’t do anything by myself,” Lange said. “I have to be found by my teammates, by the guards and everyone. I’m just trying to fit into the team scheme of things and do whatever I can to help the team win.”
Canton’s ability to move the ball around the perimeter and the movement from their players on the floor open up opportunities for the Warriors. “Everyone gets a touch,” Schaetzel said. “That is how we get open looks and knock down the shots.”
Their ability to play solid defense and rebound also allowed them to control the game. At one point in the third quarter, Canton didn’t allow a second shot to Avon on six consecutive possessions.
“This was a great win, especially for our seniors,” Canton coach Craig Archambault said. “I told them that I put this on the schedule for them to give them one more shot (to win). It feels good.”
Avon’s Ian McDonald (4) battles with Canton’s Jake Schaetzel (20) for a loose ball Tuesday night.
Avon was led by sophomore Charlie Reiss with 10 points. Jordan Williams, Jordan Bailey and Ian McDonald had seven points each. “Canton is a team driven by seniors,” Avon coach Kris Pedra said. “They’re experienced and well coached. We have a younger squad right now. There will be some bumps in the road and we understand that. But we’ll get through it. We have to build on this and work on it in practice.”
This is Avon’s first year in the Central Connecticut Conference after more than 30 years in the NCCC, along with Canton and Granby. The Falcons return to the floor Monday night when they host Hartford’s No. 2 Weaver High, the defending Class M champions, at 7 p.m., followed by a home game on Thursday night against a strong Simsbury squad.
Canton returns to the floor Tuesday, Jan. 5 when they travel to Coventry. Canton returns home on Friday, Jan. 8, when they host Windsor Locks at 7 p.m.
NOTES: It wasn’t a true tournament with all four games scheduled in advance. Granby also went 2-0 in the tournament with a hard-fought 48-44 decision over host Lewis Mills (2-2) on Tuesday night. The Bears held off Avon on Monday in a 65-58 victory. Granby nearly coughed up a 19-point lead. Avon cut it to one in the fourth quarter but the Bears held on down the stretch.
Canton 60, Avon 47
At Burlington
Avon (47) Jordan Williams 2-2-7, Jordan Bailey 2-3-7, Ian McDonald 3-1-7, Charlie Reiss 3-2-10, Darby Comas 2-0-6, Henry Schrencengost 1-0-2, Bryan LaChance 1-2-4, James Chanty 2-0-4, Justin Olsen 0-0-0, Riley Welter 0-0-0. Totals 16-10-47
Canton (60) Luke Brown 4-0-9, Rieley Hoffman 4-6-14, Jake Schaetzel 3-5-11, Cameron Lange 9-2-20, Cameron Neeley 1-0-2, Azon Click 1-0-2, Ethan Burke 0-0-0, Adam Eytan 0-0-0, Ryan Enns 0-0-0. Totals 22-13-60.
Avon (1-3) 7 14 8 18 – 47
Canton (2-1) 12 18 18 12 – 60
Three-point goals: Brown (C), Lange (C) 2, Williams (A), Reiss (A) 2, Comas (A) 2
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