Eagles Play 'Best Game Of The Season' In Win Over Rains

The Canton Eagles scored 52 points in the paint, and 26 more from the free throw line in an 82-67 home win over Emory Rains last Friday night.

"This was our best game of the season," said Eagle coach Bret Botard. "I feel like we’re starting to gel. We had a really good team effort and did a good job of distributing the ball and limiting turnovers."

After taking an 18-15 lead in the first quarter, the Eagles made their best push with a 20-9 second quarter, during which post Keavon Milton was on the bench with two fouls. Travis Renegar and Grant Franklin each scored six points in the quarter.

"We attacked the paint really well," Botard explained. "We were not only able to hold the lead with Keavon on the bench, but we extended it."

Milton returned in the third quarter to score 10 of his game 22 points, and the Eagles extended the 38-24 halftime lead to 60-41.

Milton also pulled down 11 boards, and was followed on the score sheet by Franklin’s 17. Roy Denbow hit 7-of-9 from the line and totaled 13 points. Renegar and Devon Talley each scored 10, and Steven Hammon, Trent Termin, Cody Yarbrough, Chris West and Jake Wallace all added two.

The Eagles were in Kemp on Tuesday night, and open district play in Brownsboro tomorrow (Friday) night.

"This is just a stacked district," Botard said of the 14-3A competition. "Teams form this district, Brownsboro, Van and Canton, took the top three spots at the Brownsboro Tournament earlier. I think that just says something about the level of competition in this district. Everybody we have seen is good, so it’s going to be a real challenge."

After Brownsboro, the Eagles will host the Van Vandals next Tuesday night.