Area Playoff Breakdown: Carter vs Canton

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Area round is underway and I started with a matchup between 2 of best coached 4A teams I've personally seen this year. The game started with back and forth blows nearly even after 1 quarter. Carter controlling the paint and Canton able to knock down some triples which is what they both do well. Carter would turn up the pressure defensively in the 2nd quarter with a 19-6 run. Canton came out firing making play after play to start the half cutting the lead to 8 but was unable to keep Carter from executing its game plan stretching its lead back to 13 by the end of the 3rd. Canton got good shots but was unable to knock them down when it mattered leaving Carter confident as ever to finish out the game up 25 and advance to the regional semi-finals. Well coached on both sides, one team just executed better in between the lines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6'5 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1478394' first='Kole' last='Williams'] was the star of the evening for Carter. He's a big guard with a football like build, lighting speed and overall just a tough matchup for everyone. Kole was able to get it done last night using a variety of mid-range shots &amp; tough hanging finishes at the rim. You can feel the energy on the Canton side go down every time he converted a and-1. Kole put on a show for sure finishing with 18 in limited minutes and seems to be hungry for a state title run. He'll be a key piece to the team moving forward as he plays true point guard and most of the offense starts with him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A huge X factor for Carter is 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2112039' first='Amarion' last='Hunter'] who is clearly the future of the program and has played big minutes for them all year. He was excellent tonight from the arc going 5-8 and finishing with 15. Timely 3 pointers put a end to any comeback thoughts Canton may have had. He was also tough on the defensive as well, trapping the ball &amp; flying around which is a must for any guards planning to play at the next level. He'll be one the elite guards in the 2027 class and is the X factor for this Carter team moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>SMU commit [player_tooltip player_id='1126050' first='Chance' last='Puryear'] didn't have a huge offensive night but was able to throw down 2 big dunks that made the crowd stand up &amp; defensively created issues on the perimeter at 6'7. 2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2284799' first='Daniel' last='Thomas'] also added 14, absolutely bullying inside on both ends and had a couple crazy blocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter's effort and bench play also get alot of credit for this big win so I couldn't go without mentioning sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1560940' first='Jordan' last='Stevens'] &amp; Junior Bryson Dennison who both played with MAX effort all game on had some clutch buckets when Carter's offense seemed to stall a bit. Both of them will be huge impact players for Carter next year,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Canton's guard combo was exciting, both played well and knocked down shots leaving me to think if Canton was actually just a piece or 2 short of being a regional team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Canton's 2025 PG Kaden Smith is a hell of a player. He really knock it down when he gets going as well. Tight handle under pressure. He was clutch tonight with 3 quarter 3's and finished with 15. He's recorded several 20 point/5 assist games this season and should be evaluated for everyone's ranking state wise in a loaded 2025 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 Cason Bell was also excellence for Canton as a ball handler and scorer last night finishing with 10 &amp; 6'4 2025 forward Jaden Pickerill added 10 and some nice defensive plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->