Defense helps Canton get past Suffield and maintain first place lead in NCCC

Tim Keating (33) drives to the basket for two of his team-high 13 points in Friday night’s win over Suffield. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

SUFFIELD, January 27 – The Canton High boys basketball allowed just two field goals in the final nine minutes of the game to beat Suffield, 56-38 on Friday night and remain in first place in the North Central Connecticut Conference.

The Warriors (10-2, 9-1 NCCC) drained eight three-point goals and had a balanced attack. Luke Brown and Tim Keating scored 13 points each while Grant Lange had nine points. With the win, Canton maintained its ½ game lead over SMSA (10-2, 8-1) and Hartford Classical (9-2, 8-1).

Canton had a one-point lead in the second quarter before Lange drained a pair of three-point shots to help Canton extend its lead to five points. Suffield cut the lead to one with 3:28 left in the second quarter but Canton went on a 7-0 surge in the final three minutes of quarter to take a 27-20 halftime lead. Jack Mansur drained a three-point shot with 1:10 left in the half.

Canton had an 11-point lead early in the third quarter before Suffield rallied with a 12-3 surge to pull within two points, 34-32, on a three-point shot from Matt Emma with 1:25 left in the third period. Three-point shots from Josh Mudano, Dave Danek and Emma fueled the Wildcat rally.

Canton’s Ethan Burke tries to elude a Suffield defender in Friday night’s win on the road. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

But Canton’s Luke Brown drained two three-point shots in the final 55 seconds of the quarter including one with 0.5 of a second remaining to extend Canton’s lead to eight points, 40-32.

The Warriors gave up just two field goals and six points in the fourth quarter to beat Suffield for the second time this season. It’s the first sweep of the season series with the Wildcats since 2008.

Game three of Canton’s four-game road trip continues on Monday when the Warriors renew a long rivalry with Gilbert (1-10) at 7 p.m. in Winsted. The series dates back to 1926 and the Warriors have won the last four contests in the series.

Canton travels to Ellington on Tuesday before coming back home to face Windsor Locks on Friday, Feb. 2.

Canton’s Ryan Enns gets tight coverage in Friday night’s win over Suffield. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

Canton 56, Suffield 38
At Suffield
Canton (56) Luke Brown 4-2-13, Jack Mansur 2-0-6, Ryan Ennis 2-3-7, Ethan Burke 2-1-6, Nicholas Amrose 1-0-2, Tim Keating 5-3-13, Grant Lange 2-3-9, Mitchell Cormier 0-0-0, Josh Powell 0-0-0, Jack Rose 0-0-0. Totals 18-12-56
Suffield (38) Josh Baskin 3-0-6, Ben Nigro 5-0-10, Jared Lobo 3-0-6, Matt Emma 1-1-3, Dave Danek 1-0-3, Ty Vinick 1-0-2, Josh Mudano 2-0-6, Evan Craig 0-2-2. Totals 16-3-38
Canton (10-2)                        13  14  13  16  — 56
Suffield (8-4)                          10  10  12    6  — 38
Three-point goals: Brown (C) 3, Mansur (C) 2, Burke (C), Lange (C) 2; Danek (S), Mudano (S) 2

NCCC standings
As of Friday, January 27