Canton secures tournament bid as Archambault wins 100th career game

Head coach Craig Archambault makes a point during a game last season. Archambault is the third coach in team history to win 100 games.

BOLTON, January 23 – The Canton High boys basketball team had four players in double figures as the Warriors beat Bolton, 59-50 on Tuesday night to clinch a spot in the CIAC state tournament for the seventh straight season.

Canton (8-4, 7-2 NCCC) will be playing in the CIAC Division IV state tournament beginning in February. Not only did the Warriors tie a program with their seventh straight postseason berth but seventh-year coach Craig Archambault became just the third coach in team history to win 100 games.

The win gives Archambault a career record of 100-54 with a .649 winning percentage – the best in team history. Bill Mudano (173-155 from 1974-88) and Eric Deegan (128-115 from 2002-12) were the other Canton High coaches to surpass 100 wins.

Grant Lange led the Warriors with 14 points while Josh Burke scored 11 and Jack Rose and Ryan McGoldrick each added 10 points. Canton hit eight 3-point shots in the game.

Thanks to a pair of three-point shots from Lange and one from McGoldrick, Canton led 12-4 after one quarter. The Warrior lead was nine at the half, 23-15. Burke had six of his 11 points in the third quarter as Canton extended their lead to 15 points, 33-18.

After a few turnovers in the fourth quarter, Bolton (4-7) was able to cut the lead to eight points, 55-47, with 55 seconds remaining but that is as close as they would get.

Bolton makes a living from three-point range but the Warrior defense made life difficult for the Bulldogs. Canton took advantage of a height advantage in the second half with the Rose brothers playing well. Matt Rose had some nice assists from Tenczar for easy layups in the second half.

John Tyrell led Bolton with 16 points while Aiden O’Brien added 14.

Canton, which has won five of their last six games, returns to action on Friday night when they host East Windsor beginning at 7 p.m. at the high school.

Canton coach Craig Archambault urges on Grant Lange (30) in a win over East Granby to win a share of the 2018 NCCC championship.

Archambault’s teams have qualified for seven straight post-season berths. That only happened one other time in team history that dates back to 1921. Deegan led the Warriors to seven straight postseason appearances from 2005-11.

Under Archambault, Canton has had five straight winning seasons including back-to-back 20-5 seasons in 2017 and 2018 when Canton won back-to-back NCCC titles. He is the first Warrior coach with back-to-back 20 win seasons.

Archambault reached 100 wins faster than any other coach in team history. It took Deegan 177 games to win 100 in March 2009 while it took Archambault 154. It took Mudano 183 games to reach 100 wins in December 1981. Archambault is the 16th coach in team history.

Canton 59, Bolton 50
At Bolton
Canton (59) Josh Burke 3 3 11, Chris Tenczar 1 3 6, Matthew Rose 4 0 8, Jack Rose 3 3 10, Grant Lange 5 2 14, Ryan McGoldrick 3 2 10. Totals 19 13 59
Bolton (50) John Tyrell 7 1 16, Aiden O’Brien 4 3 14, Michael Barrett 4 0 8, Sam Pagani 1 0 2, Chris Olson 3 1 7, Cal Bulley 1 0 3. Totals 20 5 50
Canton (8-4)       12  11  17  19  — 59
Bolton (4-7)          4  11  11  24  – 50
Three-point goals:  Burke (Ca) 2, Tenczar (Ca), J. Rose (Ca), Lange (Ca) 2, McGoldrick (Ca) 2, Tyrell (B), O’Brien (B) 3, Bulley (B)

NCCC boys basketball