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Briggs has a career-high 37 points to help Canton get past Kolbe

Canton’s Emily Briggs has her hand up for a pass from teammate Abby Charron (12) in Friday night’s win against Kolbe in Ansonia. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

ANSONIA, Dec. 30 – Canton All-State senior Emily Briggs had a game to remember on Friday night against Bridgeport’s Kolbe Cathedral in the Leah Rondon Basketball Classic.

Briggs had a career-high 37 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to help Canton earn a 59-54 victory over Kolbe in the second game of the benefit event. Bethel beat Windsor Locks, 44-37 in the opener.

All proceeds from the tournament will go to a scholarship fund honoring Leah, who was six when she was hit by a car playing with friends in Ansonia in August 2015 and died. Her wagon rolled into the street.

Abby Charron added 12 points for Canton (3-2) while Sarah Bowman scored four points. Gracen Kerr scored 19 for Kolbe (2-3).

Canton’s Emily Briggs had 37 points against Kolbe, the third most in a single game in school history. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

Neither team could pull away in this game. Kolbe’s biggest lead was three while Canton’s largest lead was six. A jumper from Kolbe’s Trinity Bravo with 2:50 remaining in the game gave Kolbe a two-point lead, 52-50.

But Canton responded when freshman Grace Treacy drained a three-point shot to put the Wariors back in front with 2:25 remaining. A jumper by Kolbe’s Naomi Harris with 2:07 left in the fourth quarter gave Kolbe a one point advantage, 54-53.

Briggs hit a jumper with 1:45 left to put Canton back in front, 55-54. She sank four foul shots in the final 28 seconds to secure the contest for Canton. Briggs scored 12 of Canton’s 18 points in the final eight minutes of action. 

Briggs’ performance is the third highest single game performance in school history. Sarah Benedetti holds the girls record of 44 points in a CIAC Class S tournament game against Platt Tech-Milford in 2010. Alena Jasinski scored 40 in a win over East Granby in 2006.

Kolbe’s Naomi Harris tries to block the path to the basket for Canton’s Leah Eshenbrenner in Friday night’s game in Ansonia. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

It was the first contest for the Warriors since Tuesday night’s 47-38 loss to Suffield in the first round of the Canton Holiday Classic. Briggs had a game-high 14 points in that loss while Abbe Skinner scored 13.

Thursday night’s consolation game with Tolland was postponed because all evening activities for Tolland students were cancelled due to snow. School officials are trying to reschedule the game.

Hall did meet Suffield in the Canton Holiday Classic championship game Thursday evening with Hall handing Suffield (6-1) their first loss of the season in a 54-40 victory. Amber Raisner scored 19 points to lead Hall (6-1) along with six rebounds and four steals. She was named the tournament MVP.

Hall’s Lexi Gellerman (12 points, 8 rebounds) and Suffield’s McKenzie Rusczyk (13 points) were also named to the all-tournament team.

Bill Brewster contributed to this report.

Canton 59, Kolbe Cathedral 54
At Ansonia
Canton (59) Abby Skinner 1 1 3, Emily Briggs 10 17 37, Sarah Bowman 1 2 4, Abby Charron 4 4 12, Grace Treacy 1 0 3. Totals 17 24 59
Kolbe Cathedral (54) Gracen Kerr 8 0 19, Arysel Flores 1 2 5, Trinity Bravo 4 6 15, Naomi Harris 2 3 7, Shiniya Stancil 3 2 8. Totals 18 13 54.
Canton (3-2)            11  18  12  18 – 59
Kolbe (2-3)              11  15  13  15 — 54
Three-point goals: Treacy (C), Kerr (K) 3, Flores (K), Bravo (K)

Canton Holiday Classic

Semifinals
Suffield 47, Canton 38

At Canton
Suffield (47) McKenzie Rusczyk 5 2 14, Kelly Carucci 1 5 7, Bella Plano 2 0 6, McKenzie Sullivan 3 5 11, Erin Carucci 2 0 5, Erin Sheridan 2 0 4. Totals 15 12 47
Canton (38) Abbe Skinner 5 2 13, Abby Charron 2 0 4, Emily Briggs 6 2 14, Grace Treacy 1 0 3, Sarah Bowman 2-0-4. Totals 16 4 38
Suffield (6-0)         13  14  12    8 – 47
Canton (2-2)           8    7    7  16 – 38
Three-point goals: Rusczyk (S) 2, Plano (S) 2, Carucci (S), Skinner (C), Treacy (C)

Hall 50, Tolland 47

Championship: Hall 54, Suffield 40
Consolation: Canton vs. Tolland, TBA

Since 2009, the Collinsville Press has been providing award-winning coverage of sports and news in the Farmington Valley and across Connecticut.

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