STEADY TEDDY: Winstel’s buzzer-beater propels Canton past Salem
Canton senior Nick Hurley stonewalls Salem senior Nye Turner during the first half of Tuesday night’s game.
Canton’s boys basketball team beat Salem and a buzzer Tuesday night.
The latter — a three-point net-finder launched just inside the mid-court logo by senior Teddy Winstel with 1 tick left on the second-quarter clock — proved to be a major propellant in the Cobras’ 60-54 triumph.
With his team holding a precarious 19-18 lead, Winstel drained a contested 35-foot-ish jumper over Rock guard Landen Stone’s fingertips to pad the Cobras’ halftime cushion.
(To check out video highlights of Tuesday’s game, click here.)
After Salem’s frenetic defense held Canton to just 4 first-quarter points, the visiting Cobras closed with 18-, 18- and 20-point quarters in a game in which the winners’ lead never exceeded six points.
“We have a resilient group of guys,” said Canton Head Coach Jimmy Reddy. “We made too many mental mistakes early tonight, which was uncharacteristic of how we’ve been playing. Credit to Salem, though. They are so active rebounding the ball, often sending four guys to the glass on offense. You have to be ready to box out when you play them.”
Momentum-building shot
Reddy described Winstel’s first-half buzzer-beater as “huge”.
“I love Teddy; he is a fighter and he carried us offensively for a stretch tonight,” Reddy said. “That three he hit before halftime got everybody fired up and it carried over to the second half.”
Winstel led the Cobras with 23 points, 11 of which coming during fourth-quarter crunch time when the always-battling Rocks pulled to within 57-54 on a Stone triple with 39.4 seconds left.
Canton improved to 6-2 overall and 2-0 in the KLAA West Division. Salem slipped to 4-5 and 0-2, respectively.
Salem’s scoring ledger could not have been much more balanced. Stone led the way with 11 points, while reserve forward Liam Reynolds netted 10. Mitch Paspal and Nye Turner both scored nine.
Rocks shine early
Turner was the Rocks’ catalyst throughout the first quarter, which ended with Salem securing a 13-4 lead.
Led by Nick Hurley’s six second-quarter points, the Cobras regrouped to outscored their hosts, 18-5, in the second stanza.
The Cobras didn’t help themselves at the free-throw line, sinking just 12 of 25 for the game and two of eight in the first half.
Senior forward Kessler Blakita swished three late free throws — two with 33.5 seconds remaining — and finished with 10 points.
First start a success for Tarquinto
Canton junior guard Noah Tarquinto was a difference-maker while making his first varsity start. He scored six points and did a stellar job of handling point-guard duties while playing sticky defense.
“Noah’s on-the-ball defense was huge for us tonight,” Reddy said. “Noah handling the point is important for us because it allows Teddy and Nick Hurley to play off the ball and get more scoring opportunities by coming off of screens.
“Noah made the game-winning basket at North Farmington last week with a steal and layup, so he’s not fazed by late-game pressure.”
Canton plays its second consecutive P-CEP rivalry game Friday night against visiting Plymouth. The Cobras’ and Wildcats’ girls teams will tip off at 5:30 p.m. followed by the boys game.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
