Strong start lifts Canton past East Windsor for tenth victory

Canton’s Mitch Cormer gets to the basket in Wednesday night’s NCCC win over East Windsor. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

EAST WINDSOR, January 24 – Luke Brown had a team-high 16 points including four three-point shots while Ryan Enns added 13 points as the Canton High boys basketball team beat East Windsor, 61-48 Wednesday in an North Central Connecticut Conference contest.

The Warriors (10-1, 8-1 NCCC) outscored the host Panthers by 13 points in the first quarter and eight points in the third quarter to grab control of the contest.

“We got off to a great start and had solid first and third quarters,” Canton head coach Craig Archambault said. “I thought we matched up well to (East Windsor’s All-NCCC guard Marcus) Goss and made things difficult for him as he is a great player.”

It was Goss who, as a freshman, beat Canton with a buzzer-beating three-point shot to win the NCCC Tournament championship in March 2016.

On Wednesday night, Goss scored a team-leading 16 points for the Panthers (7-4, 5-3 NCCC) but it wasn’t enough.

“Overall, everyone contributed and I thought our offensive execution showed a great deal of improvement,” Archambault said. “We are working hard at valuing the ball, executing, and getting great shots on the offensive end.”

Canton’s Luke Brown had a game-high 16 points in Wednesday night’s win over East Windsor. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

Matthew Ross scored eight for Canton while Mitchell Cormier and Grant Lange each added seven points.

East Windsor cut the lead to one point early in the first quarter but Canton scored 10 points in the final 2:05 of the first quarter to pull away thanks to four points from Cormier on back-to-back baskets, a three-pointer from Jack Mansur and a three-point goal from Brown at the buzzer to close out the first quarter.

With the win, Canton remains tied for second place in the league with Hartford Classical (9-1, 8-1 NCCC). Both are trailing Rockville (10-2, 9-0 NCCC). The Warriors host Classical on Friday night in Canton beginning at 7 p.m.

Canton’s Grant Lange (30) looks to make the pass in Wednesday night’s win over East Windsor. (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

Canton 61, East Windsor 48
At East Windsor
Canton (61) Michael Sullivan 1 0 2, Luke Brown 5 2 16, Jack Mansur 2 0 5, Ryan Enns 5 3 13, Grant Lange 3 0 7, Tim Keating 1 0 3, Matthew Rose 4 0 8, Mitchell Cormier 3 1 7, Jack Rose 0-0-0, Thomas Amrose 0-0-0 Totals 24 6 61
East Windsor (48) Marcus Goss 6 1 16, Tyler Wheeler 3 0 7, Jordan Garner 2 0 6, Roberto Stewart 2 1 5, Jeff Rodrigue 3 3 11, Damion Emiliano 1 0 2, Jalen Irving 0 1 1 Totals 17 6 48
Canton (10-1)                    20  7  17  17  — 61
East Windsor (7-4)             9  9  11  19 – 48
Three-point goals: Brown (Ca) 4, Mansur (Ca), Lange (Ca), Keating (Ca); Goss (EW) 3, Wheeler (EW), Gardner (EW) 2, Rodrigue (EW) 2

Wednesday’s results
Canton 61, East Windsor 48
Granby 64, Bolton 35
Classical 83, Coventry 59
Rockville 52, Suffield 42
Northwest Catholic 60, SMSA 43