5 Takeaways: Canton vs. Lennox
Lennox comes into this game after pulling off the upset of the defending champs Madison in a closely contested game, 58-57. Canton enters the game wanting to forget their last game against Dakota Valley giving up 92 points.
GAME RECAP
Verley got hot early and often as he scored almost all of their 11 first-quarter points and the C-Hawks only trailed by two going into the second quarter, 13-11. That was as close as they got the rest of the night. Lennox outscored Canton 16-4 in the second quarter on their way to a 59-38 victory over the C-Hawks. After the first quarter Canton had trouble scoring throughout the night while Lennox scored with ease the whole night. For Lennox, Brock Anderson recorded a double-double 18 points/12 rebounds and Will Daugherty had 12 points. Kayden Verley scored 19 points to lead the C-Hawks.
One man show
We saw it last year with Vermillion and A.J Plitzuweit and we are seeing it in several more schools this year. Including Canton with Kayden Verley. In the first quarter, Verley had more than half of the team’s points. Verley would drive to the basket and get three or four defenders and would try to pass to the open guy but the shots weren’t falling. Lance Tieszen provided the other points in the quarter on a pair of free throws towards the end of the quarter.
Verley drew at least three defenders at all times.
Canton would try to screen for Verley but all Lennox would do is hard hedge the screen and double team Verley every time to force him to give the ball up. He would drive the basket and at least two or three guys would collapse on him. Which usually leaves people open on the wings for open shots right? Well technically yes, but Canton had a tough time hitting those shots outside of Verley.
Lennox went on a 14-0 run in the second quarter.
The Orioles went into the second quarter leading by two points before going on a 14-0 run to open up the lead to 27-11 before a pair of free throws from Verley late in the half.
Canton’s hot start cooled off quickly.
The C-Hawks scored 11 points in the first quarter to trail the Orioles by two, 13-11. Canton would then score 15 in the next two quarters combined including a 4 point second quarter.
What does this game mean?
Early on it was a competitive game with Lennox only leading Canton 13-11. The C-Hawks didn’t look like the team that just gave up 92 points to Dakota Valley the game before. But then during the rest of the game, it became evident that Lennox was by far the better team on both sides of the ball. If anything it proved that Canton is in for a long season with the amount of production they are getting out of the rest of the team. For Lennox, it should give the poll voters a decision to move them into some rankings and up in others. It’s still early in the season, but I don’t see Canton getting any better this season even if Verley averages 30 a game. Lennox should be a good candidate for a spot in the state tournament come March in Sioux Falls. Some people may discredit their win over Madison with a new coach and few returners, but they still are the Madison Bulldogs who have been a dominant force in the last 10 years.