METRO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE Poland stretches streak to 8

Long-range shots helped the Bulldogs repulse a late charge by Canfield to stay unbeaten.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
POLAND -- Poland kept its perfect record Saturday despite a not-so-perfect night.
Neil Harris and Eric Fender hit back-to-back 3-pointers to key a late Poland charge as the Bulldogs held off a pesky Canfield team, 46-35, to stay unbeaten in a Metro Athletic Conference game at Poland High School.
"We were making them take the shots we wanted them to take," Canfield coach John Cullen said. "But then those two 3s just broke it loose."
Poland (8-0, 2-0) had a 35-32 lead when Canfield's Jordan Ferns hit a 3-pointer to tie the game with 3:35 left.
It was Canfield's last basket of the night.
Harris, a senior forward for the Bulldogs, responded with his 3-pointer, then pointed and smiled at the Canfield cheering section.
On Poland's next possession, Fender drilled a 3-pointer to give the Bulldogs a 42-35 lead with 2:06 left.
Sealed the game
Poland's defense then bore down on the Cardinals, and the Bulldogs finished with five points at the foul line to seal the game.
"Poland is a great team and they are going to win a lot of games," Cullen said. "Hopefully, they won't win the next one against us."
Canfield (3-5, 0-1) managed just eight shots from the field in the fourth quarter. Poland committed just four fouls in the second half.
The game was close throughout. The teams were tied at 11 at the end of the first quarter. The teams managed just two field goals from the floor in the second quarter.
Mini-hot streak
In the third quarter, Canfield began a mini-hot streak. Trailing 23-20, the Cardinals got baskets from three different players and behind some good ball handling from Matt Sonnett, managed a 26-23 lead with 2:09 left.
Poland shot poorly in the third, hitting just 1 of 13 shots. But the Bulldogs committed just one turnover in the quarter and trailed 28-27 entering the fourth.
Chad Fender played well for Poland, especially at the foul line. The sophomore made of 11 of 13 from the line to finish with a game-high 16 points.
Eric Fender had 12 and Harris added 11 for Poland, which played without senior center Bill Bartos.
Chad Baker finished with a team-high 12 points for Canfield, which played without junior Frank Turocy.