Sports

Canton’s 7^th grade B team finished their 2015-’16 season with an 8-3 record overall. Team members included Kirsten Dykes, Bella Raymond, Kaitlyn Adams, Evelyn Holt, Kaylee Cory, Natali Sweat, Kaydence McClean, Jade Spencer, Jessica King, Hope Marsh, Gracie Ivey, Kelsi Luce and Olivia Moore.

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The Canton Eaglette 7^th grade A team recently capped an impressive 2015-’16 season, going 13-1 overall. Team members included Katy Fornwalt, Kylee Bateman, Kayden Prox, Carly Autry, Averie Cantrell, Sophia Darnell, Julia Hughes, Madelyn Dunn and Lauren Reid.

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The Canton 8^th grade A team finished its season with a 14-1 record overall. Team members included Sara Mefford, Chelsey Dollgener, Mackenzie Crow, Darbi Motley, Sophie Welty, Darby Pruitt, Olivia Norrell, Madison Baugh and Ashley Riffe.

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The Canton Eaglettes got a heavy dose of Lady Panthers throughout their 2015-’16 playoff run, recording wins over both the Mabank and Spring Hill variety in bi-district and Area rounds respectively before seeing their season end Feb. 23 with a 50-46 loss to Bullard.

The Eaglettes mounted a herculean comeback effort against the Lady Panthers, coming up just short at the final buzzer despite trailing by as many as 19 points in the early stages of the second half.

Bullard got the jump on Canton early, taking a 17-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Eaglettes managed to get their bearings defensively in the second, keeping the margin at 27-19 in favor of Bullard entering the half.

The Lady Panthers opened the third quarter with a 13-2 run to introduce the possibility of a blowout before Canton came roaring back to cut the deficit back down to single digits late in the fourth quarter.

For the second consecutive weekend, the Canton Eaglettes found themselves in the midst of tournament play, competing at the TASO Tournament in Whitehouse Feb. 25-27. The Eaglettes finished 2-1 overall during the tournament, recording wins over both Elkhart and Robert E. Lee before falling to Teague.

Canton started tournament play Feb. 25 with a 4-3 win over Elkhart. Jenna Stanley delivered a strong performance on the mound in the win, allowing just two earned runs while striking out nine in five innings of work.

Offensive standouts for the Eaglettes included both Sam Neal and Brooke Arnold going 2/3 with an RBI each, Reagan Busby going 1/1 with an RBI, and Brylee Melton, Taylor Durham and Jenna Stanley with one hit each.

Canton continued its winning ways during their second game of the tournament Feb. 27, cruising to an 8-0 win over REL.

The Canton Eaglette 8^th grade B team finished their season with a perfect 11-0 record. Team members included Macie Chitty, Kaitlyn Crudgington, Gwendolyn Bradway, Bre Nutt, Camye Chesney, Claire Boyd, Josie Petree, Gabbi Lomas and Evie Davis. 

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With all teams eliminated from 2015-’16 postseason play over the past week, District 14-4A coaches issued their list of Superlative and All-District honorees. As expected, co-champions Canton and Brownsboro each took home the lion’s share of the top honors, combining to win all five major awards.

Superlative winners included:

-MVP: Lexie Houston, Brownsboro

-Offensive MVP: Lilly Nelson, Canton

-Defensive MVP: Courtney Roberts, Canton

-Newcomer of the Year: Kenley Nixon, Canton

-6th Man Award: Lindsey Edwards, Brownsboro

First Team All-District recipients included: Taylor Tidwell, Canton; Carlie Jarman, Van; Kenna Kellam, Rains; Jasmine Robinson, Rains; Amber Walker, Brownsboro; MJ Alexander, Brownsboro; and Tamaria Manning, Brownsboro.

The Canton Eagles, fresh of a District 14-4A runner-up campaign and a 65-62 win over the Crandall Pirates in the bi-district round, hit the court one final time during the 2015-’16 season with an Area round appearance against District 15-4A champion Paris Feb. 27.

Paris, which entered the game with a 31-2 record overall and a 5^th place ranking, more than lived up to its lofty billing with an 87-47 win over the Eagles.

Jackson Malone scored five points for Canton in the opening frame, but Paris did an excellent job containing the rest of the Eagle offense to take a 21-7 lead after eight minutes of play.

The Eagles fared better offensively in the second, with Jacob Johnson and Logan Nace each putting in four points each in a 12-point quarter for Canton. Entering the half, Paris had established a 41-19 lead over Canton.

Despite the 22-point deficit, the Eagles continued to plug away throughout the second half.

The Canton golf team kicked off their season Feb. 15, competing at Cedar Creek Country Club in Kemp for the Eustace Invitational.

Coach Paige Peace James was pleased with her team's performance, noting, "It was a very long round but the weather was a great way to start the season. It is still early in the season and we have several athletes involved in basketball. We have several returning golfers from last season and a few new golfers.

James continued, "I am very optimistic about this season and can't wait to have another successful year. I have been very pleased with their progress thus far!"

Six out of seven Van Zandt County boys basketball teams, including those from Canton, Edgewood, Fruitvale, Martins Mill, Van and Wills Point, qualified for a spot in this year's UIL Playoffs scheduled to be begin Feb. 22-23. Due to deadlines, game recaps for the following will not be published until the Feb. 28 Van Zandt News and March 3 Canton Herald.

-Canton: The Eagles, runners-up in District 14-4A play, were scheduled to take on the Crandall Pirates on Feb. 23 at Forney High School.

-Edgewood: The District 14-3A champion Edgewood Bulldogs were scheduled to take on the Tom Bean Tomcats Feb. 23 at Greenville High School.

-Fruitvale: The Bobcats bi-district playoff game was scheduled to be Feb. 23 at Commerce High School against Sam Rayburn.

-Martins Mill: The Martins Mill Mustangs were scheduled to play Bells in Sulphur Springs Feb. 22.