Boys’ hoop team drops 2 to fall to 3-7

The CHS boys’ basketball team dropped to 3-7 following back-to-back road losses to Franklin (60-43) and Foxboro (51-48) last week. The young squad has now lost four in a row and is starting to realize how competitive and formidable the teams in the Hockomock League are this year.

Earlier in the week against Franklin, Canton came out strong and only trailed by four at the end of the first quarter, but the Panthers heated up and increased their lead to 39-26 at the half and 48-31 at the end of the third quarter.

Against Foxboro, Canton was in a dogfight with the Warriors and only trailed by four going into the third quarter. However, the momentum swung in Foxboro’s favor after the referee called a double-technical foul on CHS head coach Ryan Gordy. After the game, Gordy said that he was trying to find out why the referee had called a foul on Dexter Green but was given no explanation.

“The ref gave me no explanation and then told me I had gone over the coach’s box onto the floor,” Gordy said. “I just want the refs to be accountable.”

With the two technical fouls and possession of the ball, the Warriors went on a quick 6-0 run and led by nine at the end of the third quarter, 43-34.

To the Bulldogs’ credit, they were able to whittle the lead down to two points with just two minutes left in the game thanks to hot shooting by Matt Kelley and clutch free-throw shooting by Sam Larson.

Another turning point in the game occurred when Canton guard Ato Botsio grabbed a rebound and was confronted immediately by two Foxboro players. He was hit and harassed by the players, but the referee called traveling on Botsio and gave possession of the ball to Foxboro with less than a minute to go.

Canton played great defense and appeared to cause a Foxboro turnover when the Warriors couldn’t get the ball inbounds within the allotted five seconds. But the referee allowed the Warriors to call a timeout and the game ended with Foxboro making two free throws.

After the game, Foxboro head coach Neely credited Canton for never giving up. “Give Canton credit. They battled to the last second,” he said. “We were aggressive for three periods and then we got passive. Canton continued fighting to the end. They always play us tough.”

Gordy said the Bulldogs have to do a better job at reducing turnovers, making free throws, rebounding, and shooting a higher percentage.

Against Foxboro, Larson led the team with 15 points, followed by Kelley with 10 points, and Andrew Mansfield and Botsio with eight points apiece. Larson had 13 points against Franklin and Mansfield added 12.

The schedule gets busy this week with a home game against Mansfield on Monday, an away game vs. Fairhaven on Wednesday, and a home game tomorrow night against Milford beginning at 6:30 p.m.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Jan 23 2013. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.