NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: NP-LIBERTY EDGED BY CANTON (2022-01-19)
By Lance LarcomNorthern Tier West Sports ReportLIBERTY — North Penn-Liberty and Canton traded leads seven times through the first half and the Mounties stayed within striking distance throughout the second, but a strong fourth-quarter start by the Warriors would prove to be too much for the Mounties to overcome and Canton edged NPL 51-49 in NTL Small School play.
Derek Litzelman brought the Mounties back throughout the game and scored a game-high 26 points on the night, including hitting five three pointers.
After giving up the game’s opening score to Canton, Litzelman started an NPL 7-0 run with a bucket that was followed by a Devin Bradley runner and a score and a free throw from Kyle Davis.
Canton took the lead back by the end of the quarter and entered the second frame up 15-11.
Hunter Thompson scored to open the second quarter and Litzelman gave NPL back the lead with a three before Noah Shedden answered a Canton score and Litzelman drained another three to give the Mounties a 21-17 lead.
The Warriors scored eight straight before a pair of Thompson free throws and a last-second Canton bucket left the Warrior lead at 27-23 going into the break.
Canton came out of the locker rooms and opened the lead up to 34-23 before back-to-back ‘and-1’s’ by Shedden cut the deficit back to five.
After the Warriors pushed the lead back to nine, the Mounties ended the quarter on a 7-0 run .. with five from Litzelman .. to cinch the lead to two at 38-36 entering the final frame.
A 7-0 Canton run to start the fourth gave the Warriors a 45-36 lead, before Bradley stopped the run with a bucket and a Litzelman three cut the lead back to four.
Canton, who hadn’t shot a free throw on the night until the fourth quarter, went 6-11 to help ride out the lead.
Litzelman scored NP-Liberty’s final 11 points, including three threes, but the Mounties ran out of time and Canton secured the close, divisional win.
In addition to his 26 points, Litzelman grabbed four rebounds, while Shedden finished with eight points and five boards.
Bradley scored eight points, while Thompson added four points and three assists and Davis had three points, six rebounds and four steals.
The Mounties fall to 8-5 on the season with the loss, including a 3-3 divisional mark. They are scheduled to host Williamson Friday.
PHOTOS: Lance Larcom
