KING COBRAS! Canton wins 1st district hoops title since 2013

Prior to Friday night, the last time Canton’s boys basketball team won an MHSAA Division 1 district championship star junior Liam Wilson was in kindergarten and Head Coach Jordan Nobles was wearing a Canton Chiefs jersey.

On Friday at Belleville High School, Wilson led the Cobras to their first district crown since 2013, netting 16 points in his team’s emphatic 61-47 victory over Ypsilanti Lincoln, whose season ended with a 19-5 record.

Nobles, who was hired to replace Jimmy Reddy as Canton’s head coach last spring, was a star forward on the 2013 title team.

“This team is led by a group of super seniors, just like the 2013 team was,” Nobles reminisced. “Before the season started, I talked to our seniors about how we wanted them to leave their mark — put a number on the banner for the first time since 2013 — and they went out and did it.

Cobras persevered

“Through all the ups and downs this season, we remained who we are. Our guys did a great job tonight and I’m incredibly proud of them. We beat a very talented, well-coached team. Props to them for a great game tonight.”

Wilson shot free throws like Steph Curry Friday night, burying 10 of 12 from the line.

“That’s the most I’ve ever shot in a game,” he said during the post-game celebration. “That’s a good percentage for me, too. The more I shot, the more comfortable I got. I just tried to block out the outside noise.

“It’s an amazing feeling being a part of a team that won Canton’s first district in 13 years. We wanted to do it for our school, our community and our coach. He had us working as soon as he was hired — running and other things so we could gain an advantage on other teams.”

Rematch with Hartland next

Canton advances to Tuesday’s regional semifinal game set for 7 p.m. at Ann Arbor Skyline against KLAA West foe Hartland, which edged the Cobras 43-42 earlier this month.

Ironically, a stretch in mid-Feburary when the Cobras lost three straight games by a combined total of six points benefitted his team, Nobles asserted.

“Losing those games absolutely helped us in the long run,” he reiterated. “I am a strong believer that all losses — especially close ones — help you in one way or another you can learn from your mistakes and learn some important life lessons as well.”

Led by Wilson’s prolific night at the line, the Cobras canned 24 of 30 free-throw attempts. Conversely, Lincoln made just 4 of 8 freebies.

Free-throw repetition pays off

“We work on free throws every day in practice,” Nobles said. “In between every drill we shoot them — and we make sure we practice pressure free throws, too. If a player misses one or two in a row, he has to run. We’ve been doing that since Day 1 and it’s paying off.”

Canton never trailed after building a 14-10 lead after the first quarter. Fueled by an 8-0 run to start the second quarter, the Cobras extended their lead to 31-15 at the half — it was that close only because Lincoln’s Dominik Squalls swished a three-point bomb as the buzzer sounded.

Lincoln cut its deficit to 34-24 with 4:10 left in the third quarter on a triple from Manasse Mayakam, but Canton led 42-28 with eight minutes to play and was never truly threatened down the stretch.

For the second consecutive game, Canton’s reserve were dynamic. Along with Wilson, the second player off the bench, LJ Jelks contributed 11 points. Senior guard Jaylen Tramble scored 10 and Noah Tarquinto added seven.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.