Youngsters help defending state champion Canton girls win season opener

Canton senior Belle Magna tied her own career-high of 15 points as the Warriors won their first game of the season Tuesday night.

CANTON, Dec. 12 – Two players that started in last March’s Class S championship game for the Canton High girls basketball team didn’t play in Tuesday night’s season opening contest with Hartford Magnet Trinity College Academy (HMTCA).

Senior center Sarah Bowman and sophomore guard Abby Charron watched from the sidelines due to injuries. But it was no problem on this evening as the Warriors got contributions from throughout the lineup in a 65-41 victory over HMTCA, which was making its North Central Connecticut Conference debut in the contest.

“We got some tremendous contributions from many new faces,” Canton coach Brian Medeiros said.

Sophomore Lauren Eschenbrenner led the way with a game-high 16 points, including four three-point shots. Sophomore Grace Treacy had a career-high 11 points while sophomore Allison Celmer had eight points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Belle Magna, the only senior in the starting lineup for the Warriors, had 15 points, tying her own career-high.

Canton, the two-time defending Class S champions, returns to action on Friday night when they travel to Rockville for a 7 p.m. start. Rockville and HMTCA are the two newest members of the NCCC this season. The Warriors return home on Tuesday, Dec. 19 when they host Stafford.

The Warriors play 16 games in the league but have four challenging non-league contests on the schedule, including three on the road.

Canton hosts Avon on Friday, Dec. 29 at 6 p.m. The Warriors have road games at Conard in West Hartford on Thursday, January 18 at 6:45 p.m., at Notre Dame-Fairfield on Saturday, January 20, at 1 p.m. and at Farmington on Monday, February 12, to close out the regular season.

Canton 65, HMTCA 41
At Canton
Canton (65) Belle Magna 7 1-1 15, Lauren Puglielli 1 0-0 2, Allison Celmer 3 2-2 8, Grace Treacy 5 0-0 11, Lauren Eschenbrenner 6 0-3 16, Morgan Walzak 0 1-4 1, Gabbie Schinkel 1 1-4 3, Allie Delsanto 1 0-0 3, Paige Brown 3 0-0 6. Totals 27 5-14 65
HMTCA (41) T. Wiggins 0-0-0, N. Rosado 6 2-2 15, C. Gayle 2 2-6 6, J. Collwood 4 2-5 11, L. Satchell 2 2-2 7, S. Crowell 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 8-15 41
HMTCA (0-1)  10    8  14    9  — 41
Canton (1-0)    14  18  15  18  — 65
Three-point goals: Rosado (H), Collwood (H), Satchell (H), Treacy (C), Eschenbrenner (C) 4, Delsanto (C)