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Yappi.com writer CANTON TWP.—A familiar face on the Canton South bench was missing. He was missing in action on Senior Night inside the Charles “Red” Ash gymnasium. No Henry Cobb, no problem for the Wildcats. Canton South connected on 11 of 13 free throws in the fourth quarter with senior guard Cory Bourquin connecting on seven of those as the Wildcats pulled away from a tough-as-nails Minerva team 60-49 to improve their record to 14-5 on the season before next Friday’s regular-season ending contest at Perry. Canton South was led by senior center Ben Skelley’s 22 points while seniors Bourquin and Antwon Ervin both had 15 points. Bourquin and Ervin scored 17 of the Wildcats 24 points in the final quarter. “With eight seniors on the team, those three have been the integral part of the team all season. They have always come up for us in the clutch,” interim head coach Matt Pendleton said. “When the game has been on the line, those guys including the rest of our seniors have stepped up for us when it has counted.” “For the four years those players have been with this program, it was nice for them to come away with the win.” Pendleton filled in as head coach while Cobb was out for personal reasons. On the flip side, Minerva had to deal with once again the specter of a close game getting away from them. Of the 12 losses they have endured, eight of those have been games where they have been in striking distance but have not been able to seal the deal. Veteran Lions bench boss Rich Hart wants to see his team develop more of a killer instinct in situations like those. “We have to finish strong when it counts. Hopefully these players learn that so we don’t have to go through these again,” he said. “We are 6-12 on the season but we have not been able to finish the game when it is on the line.” “There really isn’t a lot you can say. We just have to learn from it.” Both teams battled to a 24-24 halftime score. However, the game and tide turned in the Wildcats favor after a turnover, when Minerva guard Kyle Danner was whistled for an immediate technical foul with 5:32 left in the game for vehemently protesting the call with referee Nate Cooks. Although Bourquin missed the technical free throws, the damage was done as the Lions became unnerved. South would pull away in the fourth quarter, led by Ervin and Bourquin as the Wildcats claimed the final quarter 24-10. “It was a close game up to that point but it came down as to who missed the most shots. We missed the most shots and they took advantage of that,” Hart said. “We are happy to come away with this win tonight. But now we turn our sights to the Perry Panthers and their big man Kenny Frease,” Pendleton said. “We have to contain him and make the other guys try to beat us. They are a very good team and if we can force the others to try and beat us, we will be in very good shape.” Henry Cobb’s presence was not inside the Ash gymnasium but it was no problem for the Wildcats. STATS Field goals: Canton South 21/45 (47%), Minerva 18/48 (38%). Three-point goals: Canton South 4/13 (31%), Minerva 4/14 (29%). Free throws: Canton South 15/19 (79%), Minerva 8/15 (53%). Turnovers: Canton South 18, Minerva 18. Fouls: Canton South 16, Minerva 18. Rebounds: Canton South 24, Minerva 17.
JV Game: Canton South 49, Minerva 35 CANTON TWP.—All Canton South needed was a 15-0 run to open up the game and from there it was cruise control as the Wildcats coasted to an easy 49-35 win over Minerva in the reserve game. “To start the game with a 15-0 run is nothing more you can ask for,” head coach Jeremy Noll said. “We threw different looks at them and confused them a couple of times with various defenses. Most importantly, we played very well. |
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