By Staff
CANTON – On Friday on their home court, the Canton/Galva boys basketball program got their 2022-23 season off to a solid start with a 13-point, 67-54 victory over Rural Vista.
“The boys played extremely hard despite being short-handed with a few players either at a robotics team competition or dealing with lingering football injuries,” pointed out Eagle head coach Larry O’Connor.
Canton/Galva doubled up Rural Vista on the scoreboard in the first quarter by taking an 18-9 lead and then extended the advantage out to 11 at 32-21 heading into the halftime break.
The Eagles extended their lead to 15 by the end of the third quarter at 48-33 before Rural Vista was able to knock a couple of points off the lead as Canton/Galva cruised in for the final 13-point, 67-54 win.
For the game the Eagles connected on 25 field goals that included four three-pointers which helped overcome committing 17 fouls and turnover the ball ten times.
Senior Jett Vincent dominated the scoring with 28 points for the Eagles while junior Lane McMannis and sophomore Jose Betz also reached double digits with 19 and 12 points, respectively.
Coach O’Connor finished off his thoughts about the season opener by saying, “Since we only had four days of practice, I thought we executed our offense well and had some young kids step up and give us big minutes.”
The Eagles begin play on Monday at the Goessel Bluebird Classic Tournament when they tangle with Hutchinson Central Christian followed by a Tuesday battle with host Goessel in their first two games.
Rural Vista at CANTON/GALVA EAGLES
SCORING: Rural Vista 9-12-12-21=54; EAGLES 18-14-16-19=67.
EAGLE TEAM HIGHLIGHTS: 25 field goals made – four three-pointers made – committed 10 turnovers – committed 17 fouls.
EAGLE INDIVIDUAL SCORING: Jett Vincent – 28, 1 three-pointer; Lane McMannis – 19, 1 three-pointer; Jose Betz – 12, 2 three-pointers; Noah Collins – 6; Preston Minson – 2.