NOVI — It wasn’t the way the Canton boys basketball team wanted its season to come to a close.
Senior Deitrich Lever II led the effort for the Chiefs with 25 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Detroit Catholic Central.
The Shamrocks won the district title Friday, defeating Canton, 43-38.
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“We had a good chance at the end,” Lever said. “It was a great effort by everyone on the team. It just didn’t go our way at the end.”
The Chiefs got within one point, 37-36, late in the fourth quarter.
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“We were down one, shooting two at the line, but we didn’t make them,” Canton coach Jimmy Reddy said. “We would’ve liked to have won, but we couldn’t get it done.”
Reddy pointed to the accomplishments of the Canton program the last two years, with back-to-back Kensington Lakes Activities Association South Division titles and back-to-back trips to the district finals.
“I’m proud of these guys, they had a hell of a year,” he said.
Lever had 12 of Canton’s 14 first-half points. The Chiefs trailed 15-14 at the half and 28-22 entering the fourth quarter.
Lever tried to will his team back into the contest and Canton got as close as 37-36 before the Shamrocks put the game away at the free-throw line.
“He’s going to finish as one of the best guards in Canton history,” said Reddy of Lever. “He’s the all-time leader in points, assists and steals. His legacy is cemented.”
Despite the loss, Lever was able to reflect on his high-school accolades.
“As a freshman, I made the varsity team,” he said. “I love the coaches for letting me play my game and showing what I can do. It got me a scholarship.”
Lever will continue his basketball career at Ferris State University.
The Chiefs struggled against the physical play and size of Catholic Central, which only has one player under 6-feet tall on the team.
Canton had just one offensive rebound, compared to 10 for the Shamrocks.
“They made more plays than we did,” Reddy said. “They executed better than us. ... Their No. 25 (Brandon Tammaro) made six big free throws there at the end. He knocked them down and that was the difference.”
