EAGLE BOYS LOOK TO RUN FOR STATE TITLE

writingwithwilldur
Nov 25, 2023
3 min read

Updated: Nov 26, 2023

McMannis, Collins to lead 2023-24 Team

By Staff

CANTON – Heading into the 2023-24 season the Canton/Galva boys basketball program appears to be in solid shape and a bit bigger than previous teams while earning a ranking of tenth in a pre-season coaches poll.

The Eagles will need to replace three key players from a 2022-23 team that finished 16-7 overall after losing to Elyria Christian by three-points in the Class 1A Division I sub-state finals.

While Garrett Maltbie, Cason Mastre and all-state recognized Jett Vincent have graduated, Canton/Galva returns six seniors including returning starters Lane McMannis and Wyatt Collins.

Four other seniors, Jaden Ediger, Isom Marston, Jory Ratzlaff, and Leyton Witte along with juniors Jase Beltz, Noah Collins, and Garrett Silsby plus sophomore Camden Kruse will battle for the other three starting spots.

Eagle head coach Larry O’Connor begins his third season at the helm of the Canton/Galva boys program after having previous success at both Brewster and Wallace County. He will be assisted by Ted Regehr.

The Eagles will have a pair of freshmen, Jaxon Nightingale and Kustom Schamp, as well as transfers Ross Burrill, a senior from Elyria Christian, sophomore Ethan Harrington from McPherson and freshman Ethan Brozek from Valley Center also competing for playing time.

In reflecting on the upcoming season, coach O’Connor noted, “We will be deep and have a pretty good shooting team. We will be bigger than we have been in the past and once we figure out our rotation and who wants to play their roles, we should develop into a very nice team. One thing for sure – we will play extremely hard and will be fun to watch.”

Currently ranked tenth in the pre-season poll for Class 1A Division I by the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association (KBCA), the Eagles will open the 2023-24 season on Friday, December 1 at Rural Vista before playing in the Goessel Bluebird Classic Tournament the first full week of December.

CANTON/GALVA EAGLE BASKETBALL

2023-24 SEASON PREVIEW

EAGLE COACH INFORMATION >

Head Coach > Larry O’Connor – 3rd Season at Canton/Galva (overall record of 36-27) – Previously coached at Brewster (1997-2001, 126-9) – Previously coached at Wallace County/Sharon Springs (2002-2020, 213-122).

Assistant Coach > Ted Regehr

EAGLE TEAM INFORMATION >

2022-23 > Finished 16-7 – lost to Elyria Christian in Class 1A Division II Sub-State Finals.

EAGLE PLAYER INFORMATION >

Eagles Lost to Graduation > Garrett Maltbie, Cason Mastre, Jett Vincent

Eagle Starters Returning > Wyatt Collins, Lane McMannis

Eagle Key Returnees to Watch > Seniors – Jaden Ediger, Isom Marston, Jory Ratzlaff, Leyton Witte. Juniors – Jase Beltz, Noah Collins, Garrett Silsby. Sophomore – Camden Kruse.

Eagle Newcomers/Transfers to Watch > Freshman – Jaxon Nightingale, Kustom Schamp. Transfers = Ross Burrill – sr. transfer from Elyria Christian; Ethan Harrington – soph. transfer from McPherson; Ethan Brozek – fr. Transfer from Valley Center.

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 > hosting Canton/Galva Eagle Invitational

Tuesday, January 30 > hosting Herington