By Staff
HERINGTON – On Tuesday the Canton/Galva girls went on the road and fought back late in the game to pull out a four-point, 46-42 win over Herington.
With the win the Lady Eagles continue moving into unchartered but welcomed waters as being 10-6 gives the program their first double digits wins since 2018-19 when they finished with 12. It is also just the second time to reach double digit wins since the program won 14 in 2006-07. Canton/Galva now preps to play host to Peabody/Burns on Friday.
After both teams scored just five points each in the first quarter, Herington took a five-point 17-12 advantage on the scoreboard heading to the halftime break. Still down by two at 31-29 at the end of the third quarter, the Lady Eagles outscored Herington 17-11 in the fourth quarter to gain the come from behind, four-point victory.
“The first half was not a very good half at all,” noted Lady Eagle head coach Brad Willems. “We came out very stagnant and we did not execute very well. No excitement on defense at all. We did respond in the second half and played better offensively, but our defense was not what it had been the last few weeks as Herington was able to hit some shots and we never really took momentum away from them.”
While Herington dominated the boards by out rebounding Canton/Galva 35-20, the Lady Eagles were able to make up for it by forcing Herington into making 38 turnovers and committing 20 fouls. On offense, the Lady Eagles dished out a total of 12 assists on just 17 made shots from the field.
Trinity Espinoza led the Lady Eagles in scoring with 17 while Mimi Craig finished with 12. Eight players shared in rebound totals led by Craig with five and the Espinoza sisters, Lili and Trinity, both grabbing four. Lili Espinoza had the quick hands-on defense by nabbing seven steals.
Coach Willems concluded his reflections on the win by adding, “Sometimes though you have to win ugly games and that is what we did, we got a win and yet did not play our best. I have got to do a better job as the coach in getting them ready to play, this game is all on me. But we will do better, and we will continue to get better!”
CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLES at Herington
SCORING: LADY EAGLES > 5-7-17-17 = 46; Herington > 5-12-14-11 = 42.
TEAM STATS: LADY EAGLES > 2-FGs – 13/35; 3-PTs – 4/14; FTs – 8/18; AST – 12; REBs – 20; TO – 16; STLs – 17; BLKs – 5. Herington > 2-FGs – 11/29; 3-PTs – 5/16; FTs – 5/8; AST – 9; REBs – 35; TO – 38; STLs – 5; BLKs – 0; FLs – 20.
CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLE INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS: Scoring > Trinity Espinoza – 17; Mimi Craig – 12; Brecken Pearson – 5; Lili Espinoza – 5; Adi Alcala – 4; Sage Toews – 3. 3-Pointers Made > T. Espinoza – 2; Alcala, Toews – 1. Assists > L. Espinoza – 4; Pearson – 3; Alcala – 2; T. Espinoza, M. Craig, Toews – 1. Rebounds > M. Craig – 5; T. Espinoza, L. Espinoza – 4; Pearson – 3; Alcala, Toews, Emerson Hoppes, Makinlee Hoppes – 1. Steals > L. Espinoza – 7; Alcala – 5; M. Craig – 3; T. Espinoza, Pearson – 1. Blocked Shots > T. Espinoza, L. Espinoza – 2; M. Craig – 1.
(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)