Lady Warriors Edge Northwest Area, Earn State Playoff Berth

By: Chris Manning  |  February 27, 2025

Canton came up clutch on Wednesday as they held on to beat Northwest 38-35 in the District IV, Class AA Girls' Basketball third place game to punch their ticket to states for the first time since 2002.

"Tonight was a very special night," Canton coach Ryan VanNoy said. "These girls have put Canton girls' basketball in a place that it hasn't been in 20-plus years."

Cailyn VanNoy led the way with 14 points, netting six of Canton’s 10 points in the fourth quarter, to go with four assists, and three steals.

Kendall Kitchen finished with 12 points, and six steals, as Lydia Roupp notched seven points, and four boards.

Alexis McRoberts added four points, five boards, and three steals, with Danah Wesneski rounding things out with one point, and two steals.

"It's a crazy feeling considering we barely made our way into districts last year," the lone senior Kitchen said. "I am just so proud of all of the girls on my team because we all have such good chemistry, and we trust one another when it matters, and that's what helped us win tonight."