Photos courtesy of Jay Berkman
The Canton boys’ basketball team claimed its third straight Section X Overall title with a 57-46 win over Harrisville on Friday night at SUNY Potsdam’s Maxcy Hall, avenging an early-season buzzer-beater loss.
Ryan Jones led the Bears with 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists and four steals, while Talan Green carried the momentum from two fourth-quarter 3-point shots in Tuesday’s semifinal win into Friday’s game, going 4-for-5 from long range for 12 points.
After the Pirates jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, Green helped lead the Bears to one of their best offensive quarters of the season, hitting three of his four 3-pointers to give Canton an 18-11 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Unfortunately, the highly anticipated rematch was muted a bit by first-quarter injuries. Canton lost First-Time All-Northern selection and defensive specialist Ethan Francey, while Harrisville lost Section X Class D MVP Nolan Sullivan. Neither player was able to return, but both teams had several players step up to fill the void.
Canton extended the lead to eight points at the half, but Harrisville, the Section X Class D Champions, cut the lead to four points in the third quarter, and again in the fourth. But the Bears never allowed the Pirates to get any closer, getting timely buckets from Jackson Ames (10 points), Zadok Roiger (eight points) and Paul Redfern (four points).
Canton had one of its best 3-point shooting nights of the season, hitting 7-of-16 attempts (43.8%), with Jones hitting two and Charlie Todd hitting one to add to Green’s four. Roiger added 11 rebounds while Ames had six rebounds and three assists. Tanner Sullivan led Harrisville with 17 points, while Liam Winters added 13.
Canton (21-3) will take a 16-game winning streak into the New York State Class B Regional Championship on Saturday, where they will face the winner of Tuesday’s first-round game between the Section II Champion, Stillwater (23-1) and the Section VII champ, Northeastern Clinton (10-12). After dispatching one of the teams that beat them earlier this season, the Golden Bears may have another chance at redemption; Canton’s last defeat of the season came at the hands of Stillwater just before the Christmas break.
Tickets for all New York State playoff games must be purchased online and in advance. Tickets for adults cost $8, while children aged 12 and under are free.
Opening tipoff for the Regional Championship game is scheduled for 2:45 p.m. on Saturday at Maxcy Hall, with the winner earning a trip to the Final Four in Glens Falls.
