Benton Academy’s boys basketball team dropped their second straight game on Friday night when they fell 56-48 to Canton Academy.
It was the Raiders that got off to the hot start in the contest, scoring 11 points to Canton’s eight in the first quarter.
The Panthers bounced back in the second quarter and regained a 20-19 lead heading into the half.
The third quarter was the highest scoring quarter yet. Benton doubled their point total with 19 points to Canton’s 15, giving the Raiders a 38-35 lead heading into the final quarter of play.
In the fourth quarter, a big momentum swing occurred that cooled off the Raiders and heated up the Panthers.
Canton Academy hit two 3-pointers and made 10-of-12 free throws in the fourth quarter of the game, which helped them outscore the Raiders 23-10 to take the game 56-48.
Benton Academy head basketball coach Ralph Vanlandingham thought his team simply got cold at the wrong time.
“We just didn’t score,” Vanlandingham said. “We cooled off big time. They got hot at the right time. They hit a couple of 3-pointers, they drove the lane, and they got to the line. They really did everything there at the end.”
Gage Pierce led the scoring for the Raiders with 20 points to go with eight rebounds.
Roger Hancock had a huge game in the post for the Raiders, scoring 13 points and hauling in 19 rebounds.
Vanlandingham does not believe the Raiders are playing their best basketball of the season right now.
“We’re not playing well right now at the wrong time,” Vanlandingham said. “We’ve got to pull together as a team. I have to motivate them some kind of way.”
Benton Academy will return to the court on Thursday when they host Copiah Academy.
Tip-off for the first game of the night is set for 4 p.m.
