Madisyn Reardon and the Warriors played tough in Monday night’s loss to Ellington. (Photo courtesy of Bill Brewster).
CANTON, Feb. 6, 2023 – Canton High girls basketball coach Brian Medeiros isn’t seeing the results on the scoreboard with two consecutive losses to Sheehan High in Wallingford and Ellington.
But he is seeing the effort on the basketball court. And he is hopeful that is a sign of future success to come.
“I’m not a believer in moral victories but (Monday) the girls played really well and they did a great job of competing against a very good Ellington team,” he said. “Over our last two games, the effort and fight was there from quarter one to quarter four which hasn’t always been the case this season.
“I’m really looking forward to the next couple of games, as I feel we are starting to play our best basketball of the season,” Medeiros said.
The Warriors fell to Sheehan last week 51-38 on Friday. On Monday night, Canton dropped a 47-43 decision to an Ellington squad fighting for the NCCC championship. The Knights (14-3, 9-1 NCCC) trail Bolton (16-1, 10-0 NCCC) and Somers (14-4, 10-1 NCCC).
Bolton is looking for their first league championship since 2015 and the Bulldogs host Coventry on Wednesday and conclude the regular season at Canton on Saturday. Somers hosts Ellington Friday night. The Purple Knights, who last won the title in 2012, play Suffield on Wednesday, too.
It wasn’t easy for Ellington, which led by five points after three quarters, 35-30.
But the Warriors rallied with a 9-4 surge to tie the game at 39-39 with 4:30 remaining when Madisyn Reardon put a rebound into the basket. With two minutes remaining, Sophia Mates scored on a nice dropback shot to put Canton up by one, 41-40 – the first lead for the Warriors since the second quarter.
Ellington’s Sophia Vrakas made one of two free throws to tie the game at 41-41with 1:53 left. Vrakas put in her own offensive rebound with 1:16 to put the Knights up by two, 43-41. With 31.8 seconds remaining, Ellington’s Grace Bontempo went to the foul line and missed a pair of free throws but a foul was called on Canton in the battle for the rebound.
Jaela Garrow hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to four, 45-41. Canton’s Avery Brown raced down the court and sank a quick jumper to cut the lead to two with 18 seconds remaining.
Canton set up their full court press to try and force a turnover but it resulted in Vrakas going to the line. She missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and the Warriors got the rebound but they turned it over with 7.3 seconds left as Ellington hung on for the win.
Mates led the Warriors (8-10, 4-6 NCCC) with a game-high 19 points, eight rebounds and three blocks. Brown and Gabby DelSanto had nine points each for Canton.
Canton led 9-5 after one quarter with Avery Miller and Sam Yanke playing solid defense on Ellington’s two offensive players, holding them scoreless. In the second quarter, Vrakas scored 11 points to help the Purple Knights take a 24-21 lead at halftime.
Ellington began the second half on an 8-0 run to take a nine-point lead, 32-21 only to see the Warriors battle back and cut the lead to five after three quarters.
Canton travels to East Granby on Wednesday night before hosting Bolton on Saturday. The NCCC Tournament begins next week.
Ellington 47, Canton 43
At Canton
Ellington (47) S. Vrakas 7 1-3 16, Ja. Garrow 4 2-2 11, H. Rozik 1-0-2, Je. Garrow 3 1-2 7, K. Short 1-0-2, J. Coughlin 1-0-2, G. Bantempo 3 1-3 7, Totals: 20 5-10 47
Canton (43) Sophia Mates 8 3-6 19, Avery Brown 2 5-5 9, Gabby DelSanto 3-0-9, Avery Miller 0-0-0, Sam Yanke 1-0-2, Madisyn Reardon 2-0-4, Brooke Czerwinski 0-0-0, Totals: 16 8-12 43
Ellington (14-3) 5 19 11 12 — 47
Canton (8-10) 9 12 9 13 — 43
Three-point goals: DelSanto (Ca) 3, S. Vrakas (Ell), Ja. Garrow (Ell)
