Giving a voice to the smaller area schools of McPherson County and the Athletes they have….Our goal is to give them all some media love!!

Today we cover the Canton/Galva Eagle boys and Lady Eagles basketball teams as they battle on their home court with Central Plains on Friday, February 17.

We also honor those three Eagle football seniors chosen to play in the 2023 8-Man All-Star Game!

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CANTON/GALVA GIRLS FALTER,

LOSE TO CENTRAL PLAINS

By Staff

            CANTON – After holding an early lead, the Canton/Galva girls were hammered in the second quarter by visiting Central Plains and never recovered in losing 49-26 at home on Friday.

            The Lady Eagles end their season 12-8 as they now wait for their seeding at the Goessel sub-state beginning on Thursday, February 23. Other teams in the Lady Eagle sub-state include Goessel, Elyria Christian, Lincoln, Rural Vista, Solomon, and Sylvan/Lucas.

            “It was not a great night,” noted Lady Eagle head coach Brad Willems. “We led after the first quarter, but it was all downhill after that as we struggled in all aspects of the game. This game is all on me as the coach, I have to do a better job of getting them ready to play. We will get better from this.”

            Canton/Galva took an early three-point, 10-7 lead over the fourth ranked team in Class 1A Division I before Central Plains unleashed a hail storm of offense in the second quarter where they put 26 points on the board to take a commanding 16-point, 33-17 lead into the halftime break.

            The Lady Eagles were only outscored 16-9 in the final two quarters in the final 23-point loss.

            Freshman Trinity Espinoza just missed a double-double as she led the team in scoring with 10 and rebounds with eight. The other fabulous Lady Eagle freshman, Adi Alcala just missed double digits with eight. Brecken Pearson may not have scored but she had quick hands on defense by making six steals.

            Coach Willems concluded his post-game reflections by adding, “We just need to put this behind us and get ready for sub-state. We should host next week on Thursday. It is post-season basketball, and we need to get after it. It is that win or go home time of the season.”

CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLES hosting Central Plains

SCORING: LADY EAGLES > 10-7-5-4 = 26;  Central Plains > 7-26-9-7 = 49.

CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLES TEAM STATS: 2-FGs- 4/21; 3-PTs – 5/23; FTs – 3/9; AST – 6; REBs – 29; TO – 23; STLs – 10; BLKs – 1; FLs – n/a.

CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLE INDIVIDUAL STAT LEADERS: Scoring > Trinity Espinoza – 10; Adi Alcala – 9; Lili Espinoza – 4; Mimi Craig – 2; Makinlee Hoppes – 1.  3-Pointers Made > Alcala – 3; T. Espinoza – 2.  Assists > Brecken Pearson, L. Espinoza – 2; T. Espinoza, Alcala – 1.  Rebounds > T. Espinoza – 8; L. Espinoza, M. Craig – 6; Pearson – 3; Alcala, M. Hoppes, Sage Toews – 1.  Steals > Pearson – 6; T. Espinoza, Alcala – 3; Toews – 1.  Blocked Shots > M. Craig – 1.

(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)

CANTON/GALVA BOYS

HOLD OFF CENTRAL PLAINS

FOR 10-POINT WIN

By Staff

            CANTON – After leading much of the game, the Canton/Galva boys held off a big fourth quarter rally by visiting Central Plains to record a final 10-point, 62-52 win on Thursday.

            The win came on Senior Night and gave the Eagles a final 2022-23 regular season record of 13-7 as they now prep for sub-state in Goessel beginning on Thursday, February 23. Other teams in same sub-state as Canton/Galva includes Goessel, Elyria Christian, Lincoln, Rural Vista, Solomon, and Sylvan/Lucas.

            “We came out with energy and ready to play,” said Eagle head coach Larry O’Connor. “Jett (Vincent) got us rolling with a back-cut, two-handed monster dunk which helped.”

            The Eagles held an early four-point, 14-10 lead at the end of the first quarter and then extended the advantage to 18 at 35-17 by the halftime break. Coming out of the intermission they built their lead up to 20 at the end of the third quarter before working hard to hold off a Central Plains fourth quarter rally to get the final 10-point victory.

            Coach O’Connor concluded his post-game reflections by adding, “We had a 20-point lead entering the fourth quarter but Central Plains battled back and we had to make some plays down the stretch to get the win. Jett (Vincent), Garret (Maltbie), and Lane (McMannis) all reached double figures in scoring while our press was very good tonight and created some easy baskets. We had a number of guys off the bench step up tonight and give us some very good minutes.”

            Jett Vincent led the Eagles in scoring with 20 while both Garrett Maltbie and Lane McMannis each chipped in with 15 points apiece.

CANTON/GALVA EAGLES hosting Central Plains

SCORING: EAGLES > 14-21-17-10 = 62;  Central Plains > 10-7-15-20 = 52.

CANTON/GALVA EAGLES INDIVIDUAL SCORING > Jett Vincent – 20; Garrett Maltbie – 15; Lane McMannis – 15; Jaden Ediger – 6; Noah Collins – 4; Wyatt Collins – 2.  3-Pointers Made > Vincent, Ediger – 2; Maltbie – 1.

(The Staff covering events for the MAC AREA SPORTS NEW can be reached by email at crossdovewriter@gmail.com)

A TRIBUTE TO THOSE

EAGLE FOOTBALL PLAYERS

BEING HONORED TO PLAY IN

THE 2023 8-MAN ALL-STAR GAME: