Late basket lifts Canton past Carroll
Southern Sports & Travel
Calvin Brown’s three point play with 9.1 seconds remaining proved to be the game winner for the Canton Panthers who edged the Carroll Rebels 60-58 last night in round two play of the North AA State Tournament in Batesville.
Brown and Christopher Reed combined for 40 points as the ninth ranked Panthers improved to 16-11 on the season and advance to take on Immanuel Christian this evening in the semi-finals round.
There was no secret as to what seventh ranked Carroll’s game plan would be. Launch three pointers and push the pace and the Rebels did just that on the onset as they pushed out to an early 7-4 lead over Canton.
(Above) Canton's Calvin Brown (#2) scores the winning basket with 9 seconds remaining
Carroll led throughout the first quarter of play behind the hot shooting of senior Breland Marett who accounted for ten first quarter points. Carroll took a 20-16 lead into the second quarter and maintained that same four point lead throughout the quarter en-route to a 37-33 halftime lead.
Canton got out of the gate strong in the third quarter on a Christopher Reed transition bucket followed by a fast break lay-in from Calvin Brown to tie the game at 37-37 less than two minutes into the quarter.
The Panthers took their first lead of the night at 39-37 at the 5:17 mark of the third quarter on a Christopher Reed steal and basket but Breland Marett dialed up two consecutive baskets to give Carroll the lead at 41-39.
Canton fired back with a 10-2 run to go up 49-43 fueled by Brown and Reed who caused havoc defensively on the night.
Canton committed a huge error in the closing seconds of the third quarter as they fouled Breland Marett while attempting a 3-pointer with 7.4 seconds left. Marett drained all three free throws to pull Carroll back to within three points at 49-46 to close out the third quarter.
Canton would take their biggest lead of the night at 55-46 thanks to a 6-0 run to open up the final quarter of play.
The Panthers appeared to have the game well under control until a critical technical foul call with 3:39 left would give Carroll the chance to get back into the game.
Jeremy Mumme of Carroll canned two shooting foul free throws and Breland Marett hit on one of the two technical free throws to pull Carroll back to within four points at 55-51.
(Above) Garrick Jackson (#22) of Canton drives to the rim in the third quarter
Carroll then got to within one point at 55-54 on Marett’s 3-pointer from the top of the key with 3:22 left in regulation.
Christopher Reed’s baseline jumper from 10 feet at the 2:19 mark gave Canton a bit of breathing room at 57-54 but Marett hit another big shot for Carroll as the senior converted from 18 feet to make it 57-56 with just under two minutes remaining.
Following a Carroll timeout Canton’s Christopher Reed missed the front end of a one and one and with the Panther’s clinging to a one point lead Breland Marett’s offensive rebound and put back gave Carroll their first lead since 2:47 of the third quarter and forced a Canton timeout with 17 seconds remaining.
Coming out of the timeout Calvin Brown immediately drove right and scored over a Carroll defender who fouled Brown. The junior sank the free throw to give the Panthers a 60-58 lead with 9.1 seconds left.
Carroll’s 3-point attempt at the buzzer fell short and Canton staved off elimination with a 60-58 win.
Christopher Reed led Canton with 22 points, Calvin Brown had 18, Kraft McLean added 6, Nelson Chisholm, Nathan Simpson and Taylor Case each had 4 and Garrick Jackson 3.
Breland Marett led Carroll with a game high 32 points, Jeremy Mumme, Trey Taylor and Peyton Barnes added 8 each and Hayden Harrell 2.
