C/G LADY EAGLES LOOK TO RETURN TO STATE

Espinoza, Alcala lead Canton/Galva

By Staff

CANTON – The Canton/Galva girls basketball program will look for a return trip to the state tournament despite a change in coaches and graduating four key senior players.

While the 2022-23 Lady Eagles finished 15-9, defeated Sylvan Grove in their sub-state finals and advanced to the Class 1A Division I state tournament before losing to Norwich in the first round, they could be better in 2023-24.

Last season Canton/Galva used a good mix of the four seniors and six very talented freshman to get better over the course of the season to where they played probably their best basketball when they needed to – at the end of the season, which resulted in the Lady Eagles getting to the state tournament.

Things that have changed is the need to replace those four seniors - Lili Espinoza, Mimi Craig, Brecken Pearson and Sage Toews – along with their 20.1 points, 17.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 7.6 steals per game. It will be tough, but it can be done.

New head coach Shelby Hoppes will lead the Lady Eagles while being assisted by Jose Espinoza.

What the Lady Eagles do return is a pair of sophomores in Trinity Espinoza and Adi Alcala. Both started most of last season as freshman and between the pair they averaged 22.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 4.6 steals per game with Trinity (Espinoza) earning several all-state honors.

With no seniors on the team, the Lady Eagles will roll with junior Red Craig, along with sophomores Jordyn Elliott, Emerson Hoppes, Makinlee Hoppes, and Jayden Orth plus a pair of talented transfers from Elyria Christian in juniors Raegan Hawkinson and Hailey Barton. Somewhere among those three juniors and four sophomores will develop the starting lineup besides Espinoza and Alcala as well as a workable rotation.

The Lady Eagles kick off the 2023-24 season on Friday, December 1 on the road at Rural Vista before spending the first full week of December competing in the Goessel Bluebird Classic Tournament.

CANTON/GALVA LADY EAGLE BASKETBALL

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

LADY EAGLE COACH INFORMATION >

Head Coach > Shelby Hoppes

Assistant Coach > Jose Espinoza

LADY EAGLE TEAM INFORMATION >

2022-23 Season > Finished 15-9 – Won Class 1A Division II Sub-State with win over Sylvan Grove - Lost in 1st Round of Class 1A Division II State Tournament to Norwich.

LADY EAGLE PLAYER INFORMATION >

Lady Eagles Graduated > Mimi Craig, Lili Espinoza, Brecken Pearson, Sage Toews – combined for 20.1 points, 17.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 7.6 steals per game.

Lady Eagle Starters Returning > Trinity Espinoza, soph. – 16.1 pts/g, 4.3 rebs/g, 1.5 asst/g, 3.3 stls/g; Adi Alcala , soph. – 6.7 pts/g, 1.4 rebs/g, 1.0 asst/g, 1.3 stls/g.

Other Notable Lady Eagle Returnees > Red Craig, jr.; Jordyn Elliott, soph.; Emerson Hoppes, soph.; Makinlee Hoppes, soph.; Jayden Orth, soph.

Key Newcomers/Transfers > Raegan Hawkinson – jr. transfer from Elyria Christian; Hailey Barton – jr. transfer from Elyria Christian.

LADY EAGLES 2023-24 SCHEDULE >

Friday, December 1 > at Rural Vista

Monday, December 4 to Saturday, December 9 > at Goessel Bluebird Tournament

Monday, December 11 > at Marion

Tuesday, December 12 > at Lyons

Friday, December 15 > hosting Centre

Tuesday, December 19 > at Wakefield

Friday, January 5 > hosting Elyria Christian

Tuesday, January 9 > hosting Solomon

Friday, January 12 > at Goessel

Monday, January 15 to Saturday, January 20 > at Bennington Invitational

Tuesday, January 30 > hosting Herington

Friday, February 2 > at Peabody/Burns

Tuesday, February 6 > at Little River

Friday, February 9 > hosting Rural Vista

Tuesday, February 13 > at Central Christian Academy in Wichita

Friday, February 15 > at Central Plains

Monday, February 26 to Saturday, March 2 > at Class 1A Division II Sub-State, TBD

Wednesday, March 6 to Saturday, March 9 > Class 1A Division II State Tournament in Dodge City

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