Sports

The 2016 Canton softball season got kicked into warp speed last weekend, with the Eaglettes taking to the diamond five times during their three-day appearance at this year’s Brownsboro Tournament Feb. 18-20.

Canton finished 2-3 overall in those games, recording wins over Liberty Eylau and Kaufman while losing contests to host Brownsboro and Mineola (twice).

The Eaglettes opened tournament play with a 4-1 loss to Mineola that included a combined six errors by the two teams and no earned runs allowed.

Jenna Stanley pitched all five innings for the Eaglettes, striking out eight in the loss. She also went 1/3 at the plate with the lone Canton RBI. Reagan Busby and Sam Neal also recorded hits in the contest.

Game two of the tournament saw Canton overcome two more errors to pick up a 3-2 win over Liberty Eylau.

CHS senior and recent Texas A&M - Commerce commit Brazos Hesskew was recently announced as a participant in the Sixth Annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Heart of a Champion All-Star Football Game scheduled for June 11 at Earl Campbell Field at Trinity Mother Frances Rose Stadium in Tyler. Hesskew took the field in a variety of roles for Canton in recent seasons, lining up in his primary position of linebacker, as well as running back, receiver and quarterback. Hesskew was one of four Van Zandt County players selected to compete in the game, joining Van’s Josef Ruiz and Riley Krumvieda and Wills Point’s Jared Norman.   

The Canton Eaglettes have been no strangers to making lengthy playoff runs in recent years, making their way to the Regional Semifinals in each of the past two seasons.

The 2015-’16 season appears to be more of the same for the Canton program, with the Eaglettes already clinching a spot in the Regional Quarterfinals with a win over Mabank in bi-district play and a win over Spring Hill in Area round play.

Canton and Mabank in recent years, meeting up for highly competitive games in the bi-district round of the 2014-’15 season (a 41-34 Eaglette win) and during non-district play Dec. 31 (a 37-33 Eaglette win).

The Feb. 16 bi-district meeting between the Eaglettes and Lady Panthers would prove to be a worthy successor of those previous meetings, as both teams battled down to the wire in what would be a 53-52 Canton win.

Mabank got the better of Canton in the early going, edging in front 12-11 after one quarter of play.

The Major Boys league champions included Coach Larry Matthews and players Cameron Carson, Cameron Greeson, Caleb Guy, Jamey Jones, Ben Matthews and Ja'braylon Pickens.

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The Junior Boys division champions were coached by Troy Smith, left, and Josh Wilkerson. Players were Mason Carlton, Keyon Mackey, Jason Mitchell, Jeremiah Mitchell, Will Robison, Kaden Smith and Jake Wilkerson.

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Girls division winners were coached by Julie Stern. Players were Bella Irwin, Jadie Jones, Kara Pride, Brooklyn Starnes, Caroline Stern, Aivia Strege and Graycee Wilson.

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The Canton Girls JV basketball team completed their season Feb. 9 with a win over Van 44-32. The girls finished 22 - 4 and District Champions. Coach Glenn Neal stated, "They had a fine year. We are all very proud of the way they competed, played together, and always represented Canton in a positive way. We are most proud of the great attitude these girls maintained throughout the year." The team members are: Ashley Wood, Brynlie Cunningham, Haley Yarber, Rachel Cade, Mackenzie Rutledge, Larissa Holloway, Anna Gann, Kassidy Allen, Kyndall Nilius, Maddie Welty and Charity Roberts.  

The Canton Eaglettes got to enjoy the friendly confines of their home gym for their final home game of the 2015-’16 season, celebrating Senior Night and clinching a share of the district title with a 66-34 win over rival Van Feb. 9.

Twelve separate Eaglette players registered at least two points to help guide the balanced Canton attack.

Canton got off to a solid start against their chief rivals, building up a 15-9 lead after one quarter of play.

Coach Randy Henderson’s team picked up where they left off in the second quarter, outscoring Van 18-8 to take a 33-17 lead into the half.

Any chance of a Lady Vandal comeback was stopped in the early third quarter, with Canton holding Van to just 4 points during a decisive eight minute stretch to extend their lead to 50-21.

The Eaglettes closed out play by edging Van 16-13 in fourth quarter play to close out the 66-34 win. 

The playoff bound Canton Eagles finished their march through District 14-4A play over the course of the past week, competing against rival Van and Emory Rains in successive games.

The Eagles played host to the visiting Van Vandals for the final time during the 2015-’16 season Feb. 9, dropping a closely contested game by a 51-47 score.

First quarter play went in favor of the visiting team, as Van outscored Canton 15-11 to take an early lead.

Neither team could get the breakaway run they were looking for as the game progressed into the second frame, with Van narrowly extending its lead to 28-22 entering the half.

Canton attempted to make a comeback run in the second, managing to chip away just one point in the third quarter to trail 40-35 entering the fourth.

Play in the fourth quarter was virtually identical, with Canton shaving a point off of Van’s lead before the final buzzer gave the Vandals a 51-47 win.

Standout scholar-athlete Brazos Hesskew, joined by his parents and Canton Head Coach/Athletic Director Robert Ivey, made his college plans official last week by signing his letter of intent to play football at Texas A&M Commerce during a special ceremony in the CHS library Feb. 3. 

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