By Staff

            LOST SPRINGS – Getting better each game is a goal of the Canton/Galva girls this season and Friday on the road playing Centre their defense rose up and smothered the home team while the Lady Eagles ran away for a 29-point, 46-17 victory.

            “We did a lot of good things Friday,” exclaimed Lady Eagle head coach Brad Willems. “For the most part our defense really overwhelmed them. We still need to work on our discipline and rotation, but it seems to get better every game. Our defensive rebounding needs to continue to improve as we need to limit them to one shot.”

            With the win, the Lady Eagles are now 3-4 for the season as they prep for a home game on Tuesday with Wakefield, their final game before the holiday break.

            Canton/Galva took control early as they ran out to a 16-point, 17-1 lead by the end of the first quarter before settling in to hold a 23-7 advantage as everyone headed to the halftime break.

            Coming out of the break the Lady Eagles outscored the Lady Cougars 13-4 in the third quarte and 10-6 in the fourth to earn the final 29-point win.

            Both Adi Alcala and Mimi Craig led the Lady Eagles in scoring with 11 and 10 points. respectively, as seven girls put points in the scorebook including Lili Espinoza who chipped in with eight and Brecken Pearson who hit for seven. Alcala had the long ball going as she connected on three three-pointers.

Concluding his post-game notes, coach Willems said, “Offensively we continue to improve, and we are starting to see things better every game. Free throws are a big issue, we need to continue to work on our shooting. I really thought everyone stepped up big when Trinity Espinoza went down injured early and did not return to the game.”

Freshman Emerson Hoppes did much of the work in the paint be leading the team in rebounds with six while seniors Craig and Pearson each grabbed five. Pearson and Espinoza also led the Lady Eagle defense with Pearson recording five blocked shots and Espinoza making nine of the teams 17 steals.

CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLES at Centre

SCORING: CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLES 17-6-13-10=46; Centre 1-6-4-6=17.

LADY EAGLES TEAM STATS: 2-FGs – 15/41; 3-PTs – 4/19; FTs – 4/17; AST – 9; REBs – 27; STLs – 17; BLKs – 5.

LADY EAGLES INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS:

Scoring: Adi Alcala – 11; Mimi Craig – 10; Lili Espinoza 8; Brecken Pearson – 7; Makinlee Hoppes – 6; Jayden Orth – 2; Emerson Hoppes – 2.

Assists: Alcala, Sage Toews, Pearson – 2; Craig, L. Espinoza, E. Hoppes – 1.

Rebounds: E. Hoppes – 6; Craig, L. Espinoza – 5; Pearson, M. Hoppes – 3; Orth, Toews – 2; T. Espinoza – 1.

Steals: L. Espinoza – 9; Alcala, Pearson – 3; M. Hoppes, E. Hoppes – 1.

Blocked Shots: Pearson – 5.

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)

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