Canton 68, Saint Lawrence 28
Photos courtesy of Jay Berkman
This inaugural playoff game of the 2024-25 season for the Bears ended in complete dominance. Offensively, the Bears pushed the ball in transition effectively, and defensively, they played a sound and fundamental game with few mistakes. The first quarter opened in a barrage of threes; two by each team in the first 2 minutes of play, but the score quickly started to tilt in the favor of the home team, and their scoring was much more sustainable. I like to use that term a lot when I am broadcasting games because it shows that even in close games, you can tell who is the better, more prepared team. In the first half, the Bears were scoring with ease: transition layups, open threes, and rim shots in the half court characterized the opening half. Meanwhile, Saint Lawrence players were taking shots that they can make, but that aren’t as efficient, including contested threes, difficult floaters, and fadeaways. Seniors for the Larries Ayden Beach and. Demien Ashley are undoubtedly impressive players, but their shot selection and shot making were both heavily influenced by the Bears tenacious defense.
It was perhaps the best offensive half of the season for the Bears, dissecting the 2-3 zone of the Larries and scoring 39 points on great efficiency and great shots. The 3rd quarter was more of the same, with 17 points on the board. After a four turnover first half, which is great by all measures on the high school level, the Bears followed it up with zero in the second, including the fourth quarter where a starter didn’t play after the five minute 25 second mark. If Canton wants to beat Potsdam following an embarrassing 62-29 loss, they need to play this brand of basketball, where the basketball is valued like an orange sphere of gold.
In the end, it was a 40 point blowout, but the even more impressive statistic is that Junior Zadok Roiger had a 22 point triple double, the first of his high school career, and you would be hard pressed to find another triple double that occurred in the North Country this season. It was an impressive team win, that was a huge bounce back from the last week of play.
