The Canton Eagles wrapped up this past week with a 4-1 mark, by handily taking down Nevada Community, La Porte, Fairfield, and Palestine before suffering the first regular season blunder to Bullard on Saturday night.

The Eagles opened the week on their home floor, welcoming in the Community Braves for an exhibition in what would quickly become a one-sided affair.

Canton outpaced Community 15-10 at the close of the first quarter, which would be the Braves’ smallest deficit of the night.

The Eagles would outscore Community in each quarter, capping their night with an 18-point fourth period display, and a resounding 59-42 win.

Junior standout Garrett Walker led the Eagles scoring attack with 22 points on the night. Chantson Prox followed closely behind with 18, a season- high for the senior guard. Other notable scorers included Jaxon Rhyne with seven, Rex Baldwin with four, and Layne Etheridge with four.

Canton would swiftly move into tournament season following their win against Community, traveling down Hwy. 19 to compete in the Athens Invitational on Thursday, Dec. 1.

The opening game of pool play would find them matched up against the La Porte Bulldogs, in what Head Coach Justin Burk described as a “roller coaster” of a matchup.

Both teams opened the game in a sloppy manner, as Canton jumped out to a 12-7 advantage at the end of a turnover-ridden quarter.

La Porte would answer back in the second quarter, knocking down seven field goals to enter the locker room with a 23-22 lead.

There was minimal reason for panic on the Eagles side coming into the second half, until all momentum seemed to shift the Bulldogs’ way early into the third quarter. While Canton’s offense was being thwarted by mental mistakes, La Porte’s stable of guards caught fire, opening up a 37-30 lead halfway through the quarter.

The Eagles, needing someone to step up and right the sinking offensive vessel, found solace in junior point guard Cason Bell, who scored eight consecutive points to reclaim the lead. Jaden Pickerill would tack on two more prior to the buzzer sounding, as Canton took a 40-37 lead into the final quarter of play.

The fourth quarter featured more of the same offensive woes for the Eagles, but their patented defense put a stronghold on the Bulldogs, holding them to just 10 points in the fourth period. Canton would ice the game when Prox knocked down two free throw attempts, and the Eagles would escape with a 51-47 win.

“It was a classic early morning tournament game,” Burk said. “But we found a way to win.”

Walker finished with a gamehigh 17 points, followed by Bell and Pickerill each adding 11. Prox and Etheridge each finished with five in the winning effort.

Canton would round out pool play later that same night, matching up against Fairfield in a battle of the Eagles.

Canton simply outclassed Fairfield in the nightcap, leaving no doubt from the opening quarter of play.

Canton would hold Fairfield to just 11 points in the first half, entering halftime with a comfortable 15-point lead. This comfortability allowed Canton to give their starters some much needed rest in the second half, as they cruised to a 58-45 victory.

Walker once again led all scorers with 16 points in limited play. Etheridge knocked down four three pointers on his way to a 12-point outburst. Bell added 10, marking consecutive games with double-digit points for the guard.

Winning both games in their pool play, Canton would move on to the tournament semifinal on Friday night to match up against the Palestine Wildcats.

While the Wildcats would manage to stick around in the game following an impressive second quarter, the Eagles’ talent would eventually be too much to overcome for Palestine, as they outscored the Wildcats 18-4 in the fourth quarter on their way to a 54-33 victory.

Walker would finish the game with his best line of the tournament, pouring in 23 points in a rounded scoring effort. Rhyne would add eight, followed by Prox with six, and Bell, Baldwin, and Etheridge with five each.

With the victory, Canton advanced to play Bullard in the Invitational’s championship game. For the first time all season, the Eagles couldn’t put the pieces together, as they struggled from the field in a 54-41 defeat.

With Prox missing from the lineup and Etheridge in foul trouble, Canton couldn’t find the offensive firepower to pace the Panthers and their standout senior Garrett Nuckolls, who finished his night with 24 points.

Walker led scoring for the Eagles with 16 points. Pickerill added eight off the bench, and Cason Bell continued his hot streak with seven points in the losing effort.

The Eagles, who entered the week at 5-0, improved to 9-1 on their young season. They were scheduled to return home Tuesday night to host a 3-6 Caddo Mills squad. They are then slated to compete in the Brownsboro Tournament, beginning on Thursday, Dec. 8.