Eagles get past Tigers in district showdown
Doug Sheldon (24), shown during Wills Point’s first district meeting with Canton Jan. 15, scored a team-high 13 points during their rematch Feb. 2.
The Wills Point Tigers traveled to Canton on Tuesday night, looking to get even for a loss suffered at the hands of the Eagles in both team’s District 14-4A opener back on Jan. 15. Despite some successes, especially in the second quarter, Wills Point couldn’t overcome the Eagles in a 51-41 loss.
Canton got the better of Wills Point in the first quarter, building up a 13-6 lead after eight minutes of play.
Scrappy defensive effort by the Tigers began to turn the tide in the second quarter, with Wills Point smothering Canton defensively to get itself back in the game. At the half, the visiting Tigers held an 18-15 advantage.
Canton reasserted control coming out of the break, blunting Tiger momentum with a 19-6 run of their own to fight their way in front by 10 points, 34-24.
Both offenses found the range in a back and forth fourth quarter, trading baskets to a 17-17 draw.
Doug Sheldon finished the night as the top scorer for Wills Point with 13 points. Other Tiger players scoring points included Tanner Wallace with 9, Harlan Gatlin with 5 points, Caden Petrey with 4, Robert Smith with 3 and Matt Mayfield with 2.
Canton was led in scoring by senior Logan Nace with 17 poitns, including four made 3-pointers. Other Eagle scorers included Jackson Malone with 13, Mason Baugh with 7, McGwire Martin with 5, Tre Fitzgerald with 4, Chance Hyles with 3 and Jacob Johnson with 2.
Wills Point is scheduled to take on undefeated district leader Brownsboro at home Feb. 9, and in county rival Van on Feb. 12. The Tigers will wrap their 2015-’16 district campaign on the road against Emory Rains Feb. 16.
