Sports

The Canton Eagles headed to Whitehouse late last week, competing against a talented Longview Spring Hill team during the 20^th annual Tyler Area Basketball Officials Scholarship Classic.

The Eagles took a double-digit lead in the first quarter before Spring Hill found the formula to beat the Canton’s press and turn a 31-24 halftime deficit into a 69-57 win.

Led offensively by the quartet of A.J. Henderson, Jacob Johnson, Logan Willeford and Dalton Williams, the Eagles jumped in front 22-11 at the end of the first quarter.

Spring Hill began to get its bearings beginning in the second quarter, chipping away four points from Canton’s lead with outscoring the Eagles 13-9.

The Panthers found another gear offensively coming out of the half, putting together a 25-14 stretch in the third quarter to take a 49-45 lead with just eight minutes to play.

The Canton High School cross country team enjoyed another standout campaign during their 2016 season, putting together strong performances all the way from their first meet at the Union Grove Invitational Aug. 27 to the 4A State Cross Country Meet in Round Rock Nov. 12.

With the conclusion of the cross country season for all teams throughout the state, the Texas Girls Coaches Association released its annual list of All-State and Academic All-State performers for all classifications over the past week.

On Nov. 16, the TGCA issued a press release announcing that Canton senior standout Karen James had been one of 15 athletes from around the state to earn a spot on the 2016-'17 TGCA 4A All-State Cross Country Team.

The Eagles will find themselves under new leadership as they take the court for the 2016-’17 season, with new coach Matt Kirschner tabbed to head up this year’s Canton team.

Under coach Heath Dudley, Canton qualified for the playoffs last season after posting a 5-3 record overall in district play.

Preseason rankings published in Dave Campbell's Texas Basketball, the Eagles are currently predicted for a fourth-place finish in District 13-4A.

Brownsboro, a runaway winner during last season’s district run, is expected to repeat in first, followed by Van, Mabank, Canton, Wills Point and Rains in sixth.

The Eagles are scheduled to participate in the TABO Class Nov. 25 against Spring Hill, before making back-to-back trips to Edgewood. Canton will play a talented Edgewood team Nov. 29, and then return to Edgewood to participate in the Edgewood Tournament Dec. 1-3.

The Canton Eaglettes got their 2015-'16 started on the right foot, starting off strong and turning back Palestine late for a 55-41 road win.

Canton got the jump on the Wildcats in the first quarter, racing out to score nine of the game’s first 11 points. After eight minutes of play the Eaglettes held a 14-6 advantage over Palestine.

Things turned in Palestine’s favor during the second quarter, with the Wildcats outscoring Canton 17-11 to pull to within 25-23 entering the half.

Canton, currently ranked 15^th among all 4A teams in the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches’ State Poll, began to re-establish themselves in the third quarter. The Eaglettes outscored Palestine 15-7 in the frame, taking a 40-30 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Canton Eaglette JV Green girls basketball team seems to be carrying on a long line of tradition. They have just begun their new season and already they have shown signs of teamwork and focus. 

The girls basketball teams have been good as long as we can remember dating back to Coach Weaver’s days in Canton. This year's version is a group of unselfish girls that play together and share the ball and run the floor just as those of the past.

The girls are learning to play team defense, pass the ball to the open girl, rebound, and fight through a contest and find a way to compete.

While the team is a work in progress they are showing signs of living up to the Canton tradition. The girls have started with wins over Palestine, Athens, Bullard, La Poynor and Crandall. Their first-place finish in the Mabank Tournament this past weekend demonstrates the continued progress of the program.

Canton, Edgewood, Grand Saline and Martins Mill sent a combined 11 runners to Round Rock over the weekend to compete against some of the best distance runners in the state at the annual State Cross Country Meet.

The Running Eagles sent the largest contingent among all local teams, qualifying the girls team of Karen James, Juliana Bratcher, Taylor Marshall, Darby Pruitt, Claire Boyd, Kristin Neystel and Morgan Palmer, as well as Cordale Harrison in the 4A boys division.

The girls team placed 15^th overall with a team total of 310 points. Bandera led all teams with 93 points, followed by Kaufman in second with 135 points and Alvarado in third with 156 points.

The Canton Eagles carried the banner for Van Zandt County football teams in 2015, finishing as the only local team to win a bi-district title. As one of four county playoff qualifiers this season, the Eagles looked to make it two consecutive bi-district round wins during a showdown with District 5-4A runner-up Aubrey at E.H. Hanby Stadium in Mesquite Nov. 11.

Despite some great individual efforts, Canton could not slow down Aubrey’s big play offense enough in what eventually turned into a season ending 41-21 loss to the Chaparrals.

The Eagles began Friday night on offense, netting just five yards on a Hunter Moore scramble before being forced to punt the ball to the Chaparrals.

Back row, Kenzie Jones, Avry Bowers, Emma Chambless, Emily Thornhill, Airianna Pickens, Bailie Glasscock, Aleigha McDonough, Laney Reid, Tori Addicks, Aaliyah J., Heather Stinson; middle row, Alexis Brey, Rebecca Sneed, Mirri Watley, Graycee Wilson, Emma Corey, Riley Plunk, Alana Earlston; and front row, Ella Storey.

For more stories like this one, subscribe to the Canton Herald or pick up a copy from one of our vendors. 

Front row, left to right is Jasmyn Allen, Hailee Jade, Gabbriella Branton, Brianna Lee, Kyleigh McCully, Chloe Lindley, Addison Cowden, Haylie Cypert.  Not pictured is Kennedy Keltner and Alexis Cummings.

Back row, left to right is Kendyl Nix, Chesni Laroe, Sarah Cargle, Ava High, Rylee Busby, Alli Crayton, Makenzie Bryant, Danika Howard, Raley Pino, Layla Pope, Casey Conway, Ella Chambless, Karsen Kirby, Vanessa Zarate and Jadie Jones.

For more stories like this one, subscribe to the Canton Herald or pick up a copy from one of our vendors. 

The Canton Fury 10u girls brought home first place in the Martins Mill Booster Club Softball Tournament. Fury went undefeated in bracket game play on Sunday Nov 6. securing the first-place title.

The Canton Fury are Avery Mayer, Makayla McLemore, Allison Rickman, Kara Pride, Georgia Crayton, Reese Kimbrough, Payton Bray, Haley Luce, Abbey Thelen, Bailey Brooks, Aivia Strege and  not pictured, Amrie Clower. They are coached by  Jess Pride, Paul Crayton, Andrew Rickman and Eric Brooks.