Stoughton High Boys' Basketball Team Posts Big Division Win

The Stoughton High boys' basketball team got 19 points from senior Stanley Sajous on their way to a 61-49 win over Canton, Friday night in Stoughton.

With the win, Stoughton improved to 2-4 in the league and 3-5 overall, while Canton dropped to 4-4 on the season and 2-3 in the league.

Both Dennis Rebelo and Mike Manning finished with 12 points for the Black Knights.

COACHES' QUOTES:
Stoughton's John Gallivan: "We hadn't played at home in three or four weeks. We had a great crowd. Stanley (Sajous) had his best game...I didn't tell the kids, but this was a big game for us. We didn't want to go to 2-5 (in the Davenport Division) and this was a divisional game. There was a lot on the line... This is as a good a Canton team as I've seen. (Bulldog head coach) Ryan (Gordy) has done an incredible job. They can really shoot well...(Ato) Botsis, you can't put a big guy because of his speed and too strong for a smaller guy."

Canton coach Ryan Gordy: "This is my fault. It is on me. We had a good first half, but we laid an egg in the second half...We had 11 turnovers in the third quarter. We didn't shoot free throws well. That's my fault, because we didn't practice it enough."

STARTING LINEUPS: Canton:Matt Kelley, Sam Larson, Tristin Morris, Paul Swart, Atp Botsio. Stoughton: Joey Wilder, Mike Gallagher, Stanley Sajous, Dennis Rebelo, Mike Manning.

FIRST QUARTER:Stoughton 15, Canton 12
With both clogging up the middle, the game turned into a three-point shooting affair. The Bulldogs' Tristin Morris off a strong start with a three-pointer. He was fouled  the attempt and then made his free throw for a 6-0 lead. Canton's Matt Kelley connected on a three to give the Bulldogs an 9-3 lead before Stoughton bounced back. Stanley Sajous gave the Black Knights the lead at 12-10 with a drive to the hoop and then he connected for a three-pointer for a 15-12 lead.

SECOND QUARTER: Stoughton 28, Canton 26
Right before the first half ended, the Bulldogs' Ato Botsio buried a three-point from the right corner to cut Stoughton's lead to 28-26 at the half. The Black Knights' Mike Manning gave his team a 10-point lead at 25-15 when he convert of a drive and then made a free throw. The Bulldogs struggled from the free throw line in the second quarter, shooting 1 for 5.

FIRST HALF SCORING: CANTON- Larson 6, Kelley 4, Morris 4, Botsis 9, Swart 1; STOUGHTON-Gallagher 2, Rebelo 6, Manning 3 Sajous 9, Correia 3, Wilder 3.

THIRD QUARTER: Stoughton 44, Canton 38:
Canton took the lead with a three-pointer by Matt Kelley for a 38-36 lead with 2:45 left in the quarter. That lead was short-lived as Stoughton's Mike Manning scored on a drive to tie the score at 38. Brandon Teixiera hit a jumper and another Manning for a 42-38 lead.

FOURTH QUARTER: Stoughton 61, Canton 49:
After sophomore Brandon Teixeria connects a three-pointer, the Black Knights had built up a 10-point, 53-43 lead which Canton couldn't overcome. 

FINAL SCORING-Canton-Larson 13, Botsis 15, Kelley 12, Morris 5, Swart 2, 
Stoughton-Gallagher 4, Rebelo 12, Manning 12, Teixera 6, Sajous 19, Correira 3, Wilder 3, Werman 3.

THREE-POINTERS-Canton 8:Kelley 4, Botsio 2, Larson 1, Morris 1; Stoughton 4: Rebello 2, Sajous 1, Teixeria 1

NEXT UP:Tuesday, Jan 14. Mansfield at Stoughton, 6:30 p.m.;  Tuesday, Jan. 14: Franklin at Canton, 6:30 p.m.

JV SCORE: Stoughton 43, Canton 33.