Canton’s Paige Brown (11) scored eight of her team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s NCCC Tournament win over Coventry.
COVENTRY, March 22, 2021 – Trailing by three points after three quarters, the Canton High girls basketball team threw the hammer down defensively to rally beat Coventry, 51-46, on Monday night to advance to the NCCC Tournament semifinals.
The Warriors (9-4) will face Suffield (12-1), which won 11 of 12 games in the NCCC West this winter, in the league semifinals on Wednesday night. The league championship game is set for Friday.
“Our fourth quarter defense led to our comeback win,” Canton coach Brian Medeiros said. “We forced multiple turnovers with our full court press. Ashleyn Cebollero had her in hand in several defensive stops and takeaways. Sam Yanke and Jenna Cuniowski took the primary responsibilities on guarding (Coventry’s) Charlotte Jordan in the fourth quarter and they really forced her into some tough spots.”
Canton’s Paige Brown scored eight of her team-high 18 points in the fourth quarter while Sophia Mates added six of her 13 points in the final eight minutes. And the Warriors did enough on the free throw line to secure the victory.
“We challenged them at the half and the girls responded,” Medeiros said. “We made plays when we needed them and that hasn’t always been the case this year. The girls played with great energy. The bench brought great enthusiasm throughout the game.”
Canton’s offense responded well to open the second half with Brown scoring nine and Jenna Cuniowski adding six but Coventry still held a three-point lead after three quarters of action, 37-34.
Charlotte Jordan was the only Coventry player in double figures with a game-high 22 points, including five 3-point shots for the visiting Patriots (9-4).
“Our defense did a solid job,” Medeiros said. “Avery Brown, Paige Brown, Sophia Stamos, and Sam Yanke did a very solid job of not allowing dribble penetration from the (Coventry) guards. Camille Kashnig, Allison Bronson, Jenna Cuniowski and Sophia Mates did a great job limiting Coventry on the offensive boards.”
In this pandemic-shortened season, the Warriors played Suffield twice this season in the NCCC West. They dropped a 57-37 decision on February 12 and a 64-43 decision on March 5. But since that March 5 defeat, the Warriors have won five of their last six games.
Canton 51, Coventry 46
At Coventry
Canton (51) Paige Brown 5 6-16 18, Jenna Cuniowski 6 3-6 15, Sophia Mates 4 5-6 13, Sam Yanke 1 0-1 2, Avery Brown 1-0-2, Camille Kashnig 0 1-2 1, Allison Bronson 0-0-0, Sophia Stamos 0-0-0, Ashleyn Cebollero 0-0-0, Gaba DelSanto 0-0-0, Avery Miller 0-0-0 Totals: 17 15-31 51
Coventry (46) Charlotte Jordan 7 3-5 22, Natalie Neal 2 3-8 7, Sam Coughlin 2-0-6, Jess Hanrath 2 1-2 5, Ella Riely 2-0-4, Josyln Hoang 0 2-2 2, Totals: 15 9-17 46
Canton (9-4) 6 11 17 17 – 51
Coventry (9-4) 6 13 18 9 – 46
Three-point goals: P. Brown (Ca) 2, Jordan (Cov) 5, Coughlin (Cov) 2
2021 NCCC Tournament
Monday, March 22
Quarterfinals
Game 1: Granby 41, Bolton 25
Game 2: Windsor Locks 37, Ellington 33
Game 3: Canton 51, Coventry 46
Game 4: Suffield 49, Somers 38
Wednesday, March 24
Game 7: Canton at Suffield
Game 8: Granby at Windsor Locks
Consolation games
Game 5: Ellington at Somers
Game 6: Coventry vs Bolton
Friday, March 26
Game 9: Championship – Winner game 7 vs. winner game 8
Pool B
Monday, March 22
Game 1: Stafford 50, HMTCA 17
Tuesday, March 23
Game 2: Stafford at East Granby
NOTE: Rockville, East Windsor are not participating due to COVID
