Solid defense helps Warriors hand Granby their first NCCC loss of season

Canton’s Jack Rose drives to the basket for two of his 13 points in Wednesday night’s win over Granby. (Photo courtesy Paul Amrose)

CANTON, January 9 – After losing three of their last four games including one game in overtime, the Canton High boy basketball team took care of business in the final minutes of Wednesday night’s North Central Connecticut Conference contest.

The Warriors (4-3, 3-2 NCCC) sank five of six free throws in the final two minutes to beat Granby, 46-41. The only miss in that stretch came with 30 seconds remaining when Chris Tenczar missed the second of two free throws.

Teammate Jack Rose grabbed the rebound and scored to put the Warriors up by eight points with 30 seconds remaining, 43-35. The Bears immediately came back and hit a three-point shot but Canton hit three more free throws to secure the victory.

Grant Lange had a game-high 14 points for the Warriors while Rose scored 13 points. James Shelansky scored 12 to lead Granby (4-2, 4-1 NCCC), who scored a season-low 41 points. The Warriors gain a bit of revenge for a 49-37 loss to Granby on December 21.

Canton used solid defense to take a 15-8 lead after one quarter and extended that lead to nine points, 24-15 at halftime. The Bears had a tough time getting to the basket and when they did, many shots were contested.

The Warriors scored a big basket in the final seconds of the third quarter when Rose took an inbounds pass in the low post from Thomas Amrose, who was inbounding the ball, and scored at the buzzer.

Granby did cut the lead to four points, 34-30 with three minutes remaining but couldn’t get any closer.

Canton returns to action on Friday night when they travel to Coventry for a 7 p.m. start. Canton lost to Coventry on a basket at the conclusion of overtime last week, 60-59. Granby will visit Somers on Friday night.

Canton celebrates after beating Granby for the first time this season. (Photo courtesy Paul Amrose)

Canton 46, Granby 41
At Canton
Granby (41) Elliyas Delaire 3 0 8, Rowan Heinze 1 3 6, James Shelansky 3 5 12, Peyton Large 2 0 4, Parker Hansen 2 1 5, Ryan Gemme 2 0 6. Totals 13 9 41
Canton (46) Burke 1 3 6, Chris Tenczar 0 1 1, Matt Rose 2 0 4, Jack Rose 5 3 13, Grant Lange 4 4 14, Ryan McGoldrick 1 1 4, Thomas Amrose 1 2 4. Totals 14 14 46
Granby (4-2)                                    8  7  7  19 – 41
Canton (4-3)                                   15  9  7  15  — 46
Three-point goals: Delaire (G) 2, Heinze (G), Shelansky (G), Gemme (G) 2; Burke (Ca), Lange (Ca) 2, McGoldrick (Ca)

NCCC boys basketball standings