Monitor Photo/Amber Curtis
Carter Sims of Mabank (right), who scored 12 points against Canton Jan. 21, reaches out to defend.

Monitor Photo/Amber Curtis
Mabank’s Daylon Gibbs (No. 0) looks for a teammate during an inbounds play against Canton.

Monitor Photo/Amber Curtis
Jayden Colin of Mabank (No. 2) looks for a steal while a Canton point guard dribbles Jan. 21.

Monitor Photo/Amber Curtis
Mabank’s Kaden Penland seeks a hoop while entering the lane Jan. 21 at home versus Canton.

Monitor Photo/Amber Curtis
Luke Carter (right), who led Mabank with 31 points against Canton, takes a pass from Jayden Colin.

Monitor Photo/Amber Curtis
Mabank guard Ty Perkins brings the ball into the lane from the top of the key Jan. 21.

MABANK–The Mabank Panthers defeated the Canton Eagles Jan. 21 by 59-48 to stay in second place in District 15-4A behind 7-0 Athens as of that date.
Ty Perkins scored the first Mabank basket, then Luke Carter added another to allow the Panthers to go ahead 4-0. Later, Carter Sims added a 3-pointer for a 7-0 Mabank advantage. Canton hit two free throws wrapped around an Eagle basket to reduce Mabank’s lead to 7-4. Later, Carter extended Mabank’s lead to 12-4 entering the second period behind a 2-pointer and a 3-pointer.
Sims scored an early second-period basket for a 14-4 Panther lead. Then, Canton hit a 3-pointer to reduce that lead at 14-7 and later scored a basket to move closer at 14-9. Sims then hit another 3-pointer for a 17-9 Mabank lead, and later, Carter hit a 3 for a 20-13 Panther advantage. Kaden Penland added a basket and Carter made another 3 to allow the Panthers to surge in front 25-13. Canton scored four points to end the first half, which ended at 25-17, Mabank.
To start the third period, Carter sank a 3-pointer, Daylon Gibbs made a basket and Carter made another 3-pointer (and was fouled, adding a successful free throw), all of which extended Mabank’s lead to 34-17. 
Canton cut that to 34-24. Sims had a bucket for a 36-27 Mabank lead, followed by Perkins making a basket to make the score 38-27 entering the fourth period. In that final period, Carter made a basket and then added a 3-point play for a 43-27 Mabank margin. After a Canton 3-pointer, Jayden Colin scored a bucket (which made it 45-30, Panthers), then both teams traded baskets to have it at 47-32.
Carter made two technical foul free throws, and after Canton scored, Gibbs added a Panther hoop, which at that point had the Panthers comfortably ahead 51-37. Mabank added baskets and free throws by Perkins, Carter and Sims to give Mabank their 59-48 win.
Carter led Mabank with 31 points (including five 3-pointers), followed by Sims’ 12 points (with two 3-pointers), Perkins’ 7 points, Gibbs’ 5 points and Penland and Colin each with 2 points.