Boys' hoop drops 2 of 3 in frustrating week
By Mike Berger
Citizen Staff
Anyone who saw
the last three games of the CHS boys’ basketball team had to
come away frustrated.
 Earlier last
week, the Bulldogs were easily defeated by Mansfield 77-44, came
back and played very well against Southeastern Vo-Tech in a
56-51 win, but then fell late to Sharon on the road 49-38.
Certainly CHS
head coach Mike Devoll isn’t happy with any loss but
acknowledged that Mansfield’s athleticism, speed and outside
shooting was just too much for the Bulldogs to handle,
especially when Mansfield, one of the league’s top teams, came
into the game with extra motivation having lost its last two.
The game was effectively over midway through the second quarter
as the Hornets sprinted to a 44-19 lead.
But Devoll
said the game against Sharon was the most frustrating he has
coached in years as Sharon won for just the second time in 13
games. Canton missed 14 free throws, several layups, and had
trouble scoring points throughout. It didn’t help matters that
Canton found itself in an early hole, trailing 17-7 after the
first quarter. Fortunately the Bulldogs managed to rebound in
the second quarter behind A.J. Nichols, Zia Wiggins, Joe McCabe
and Josh Sheehan. A three pointer by Dan Boivert brought the
deficit to within three at the half, 23-20.
Things looked
promising early in the second half when baskets and free throws
by McCabe and Abelard tied the game at 29-29. But two
three-point shots by Sharon gave them the momentum — and the
lead (36-30) — going into the fourth quarter.
Two free
throws by Max Guillaume cut the deficit to 36-32 with 7:27 left
in the game, but that was the closest Canton would come for the
rest of the game.
The best
overall effort of the week came against Southeastern as Canton
beat SVT for the second time this season. Canton led by seven at
the end of the first quarter and ten at the half, but SVT cut
the lead to five toward the end of the game. Devoll said McCabe
made some smart plays late in the game, calling a timeout with
great defensive pressure, allowing Canton to regroup.
Nichols and
Abelard each had 16 points to lead the offense but Devoll said
everyone who played had a role in the win. It was one of the
best overall wins for the Bulldogs, but they were unable to
duplicate the effort against Sharon
“The Sharon
game was the most frustrating for me, the most in several
years,” Devoll said. “It seemed that every loose ball Sharon
needed they got. I really don’t know from game to game what kind
of team will show up.”
The team’s
record is 4-9 and with seven games remaining, the Bulldogs have
to either win six of seven or beat one of two Division 3 teams,
Fairhaven or Foxboro, to make the playoffs.
Canton was
scheduled to play three games this week, including Franklin on
the road on Monday, Oliver Ames at home yesterday, and on the
road at Foxboro on Friday.
January 28, 2010
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