Canton follows up tough playoff loss with solid victory over Stevenson

BY ED WRIGHT
Feb. 23, 2010, 11:45 p.m.

  Canton's boys basketball team rebounded in more ways than one Tuesday night.

  The Chiefs hit the boards with a vengeance against host Livonia Stevenson as they bounced back from a tough playoff loss to Salem Friday night, downing the Spartans, 50-47.

  Canton will take a 12-6 record into Friday night's home game against cross-campus rival Plymouth. The Spartans' second-straight loss dropped them to 13-5.

  "Salem killed us on the boards the other night, so rebounding was something we stressed at practice on Saturday," said Canton coach Jimmy Reddy. "It was nice to see us win the rebounding battle tonight, 26-21."

  Canton's scoring ledger couldn't have been much more balanced. Senior Brandon Duffey led the way with 12 points; Dietrich Lever and Kevin Weisz both chipped in 11; and Paul Baumgard added 10.

  "Something we talked about at practice this weekend was getting everybody some shots," said Reddy. "And we did that tonight. Stevenson was playing a triangle and two, playing man-to-man against Dietrich and Kevin, so it opened things up for some other players."

  Canton led after every quarter: 14-12, 24-23 and 39-35.

  Lever had a fine all-around game adding six assists, six rebounds and three steals to his double-digit scoring column. Weisz added seven rebounds while Baumgard hauled down six boards.

  Bobby Naubert paced the Spartans with 17 points.

  Canton hit nine of 12 free throws and 18 of 41 field goals. The Spartans were seven of 10 from the charity stripe.