C/G EAGLES HOPE SIZE/DEPTH MAKES WINS IN 2025/26

BROZEK, NIGHTINGALE, SCHAMP TO LEAD EAGLES

By Staff

          CANTON – For the 2025/26 season the Canton/Galva boys’ basketball team can put on the court three returning starters who combined for over 42 points per game last season as well as eight other Eagles with game day playing experience.

          While the loss of multi-year starters Jace Beltz and Noah Collins to graduation may sting temporarily, the Eagles return three starters in juniors Ethan Brozek, Jaxon Nightingale, and Kustom Schamp to build a team around. All the three did as sophomores was average 42.6 points per game with Brozek hitting at 17.6 ppg, Nightingale scored 12.8 ppg, and Schamp hit for 12.6. Nightingale also dominated games in the paint, grabbing an average of 12.9 rebounds per outing. Did we explain the three also bring length to the court as Schamp and Nightingale both stand in at six-foot-two and Brozek measures an even six-foot.

          “We will be athletic while having height and good depth across the lineup,” noted Eagle head coach Larry O’Connor.

          O’Connor will begin his 32 season overall as a head coach after leading the Eagles to a 12-12 finish in 2024/25 where they lost to Olpe in the sub-state semifinals.

          Eying to fill out the starting five and be first off the bench, eight Eagles who gained valuable game time experience last season include seniors Camden Kruse, Wyatt Henry, and Ethan Harrington, along with junior Cane Krase and sophomores Caden Schmidt, Bransyn Speer, Jaycob Dieker, and Dallas Jones. Speaking of size, seven of the eight stand above six-foot with Harrington, Dieker, and Speer all measuring in at six-foot-two while Krase, Henry, and Kruse stand six-foot-one and Dallas Jones is six-foot even.

          With a roster of eighteen Eagles to work this season, the group is youthful will three seniors and five juniors mixing in with six sophomores and four freshmen.

          In finishing his reflections on the upcoming season, Coach O’Connor added, “If we can develop teamwork over the season, we will be a tough team to out or beat when it counts.”

          Opening the 2025/26 season on Friday, December 5, the Eagles will be on the road at Rural Vista before spending the week of December 8-13 playing in the Goessel Bluebird Classic Tournament.

EAGLES LOST TO GRADUATION: Jace Beltz; Noah Collins.

EAGLE STARTERS RETURNING: Kustom Schamp – jr., 12.2 ppg; Ethan Brozek – jr., 17.6 ppg; Jaxon Nightingale – 6’2”, jr, 12.8 ppg, 12.9 rbg.

OTHER EAGLES TOO WATCH: Seniors – Camden Kruse, Wyatt Henry, Ethan Harrington; Junior – Cane Krase; Sophomores – Caden Schmidt, Bransyn Speer, Jaycob Dieker, Dallas Jones.

2025/26 EAGLE ROSTER: #0 – Levi Reynolds, 6’1”, so; #1 – Kustom Schamp, 6’2”, jr; #2 – Chace Wescott, 5’7”, fr; #3 – Cade Schmidt, 5’5”, so; #4 – Camden Kruse, 6’1”, sr; #5 – Dallas Jones, 6’0”, so; #10 – Ethan Brozek, 6’0”, jr; #11 – Quentin Shaw, 5’8”, fr; #12 – Bransyn Speer, 6’2”, so; #20 – Ty Herrera, 5’8”, jr; #21 – Cooper Johnson, 5’9”, fr; #23 – Wyatt Henry, 6’1”, sr; #24 – Jaycob Dieker, 6’2”, so; #25 – Cane Krase, 6’1”, jr; #32 – Jaxon Nightingale, 6’2”, jr; #35 – Ethan Harrington, 6’2”, sr; #41 – Wes Prieb, 6’1”, fr; #42 – Christian Rich, 6’1”, so. (18 total = 3 seniors, 5 juniors, 6 sophomores, 4 freshmen_

2025/26 EAGLE SCHEDULE:

Friday, Dec. 5 – at Rural Vista

Monday, Dec. 8 – vs. Linn at the Goessel Bluebird Classic

Tuesday, Dec. 9 – vs. Goessel at the Goessel Bluebird Classic

Saturday, Dec. 13 – vs. Hutchinson Central Christian at Goessel Bluebird Classic

Tuesday, Dec. 16 – at Marion

Friday, Dec. 19 – hosting Centre

Friday, Jan. 2 – hosting Cunningham

Tuesday, Jan. 6 – at Wakefield

Friday, Jan. 9 – hosting Elyria Christian

Tuesday, Jan. 13 – hosting Solomon

Friday, Jan. 16 – at Goessel

Monday, Jan. 26 – at Hutchinson Central Christian

Tuesday, Jan. 27 – hosting Clifton/Clyde

Friday, Jan. 30 – at Centre

Saturday, Jan. 31 – hosting Axtell

Tuesday, Feb.3 – hosting Herington

Friday, Feb. 6 – at Peabody/Burns

Saturday, Feb. 7 – at Linn

Tuesday, Feb. 10 – at Little River

Friday, Feb.13 – hosting Rural Vista

Monday, Feb. 16 – at Lincoln

Thursday, Feb.19 – at Central Plains

Monday/Tuesday, Feb. 23/24 – Sub State Quarterfinals

Saturday, Feb. 28/Monday, Mar. 2 – Sub State Semifinals

Friday/Saturday, Mar. 6/7 – Sub State Semifinals

Wednesday-Saturday, Mar. 11-14 – Class 1A Division I State Tournament in Emporia

(The Staff covering McPherson County Activities can be reached by email at macks.people.places@gmail.com)