CANFIELD — The Canfield Cardinals hung on for a 40-32 victory over Boardman at home on Saturday.

It was senior night for the Cardinals (16-1), and senior Carlie Harmon led the way with a game-high 15 points.

“We did a really great job on defense,” Harmon said. “That was our main focus during practice this week. It’s always nice to win on senior night.”

Canfield’s defense shut out the Spartans in the first quarter and the Cardinals led 10-0 after one.

Harmon swished one from downtown to start the second, and junior Macey Kalina (10 points) nailed a three-pointer from the corner as Canfield extended the lead.

“Our seniors (Harmon, Kate Sahli, Abby Muckleroy and Emme Rubin) played amazing on such an important night for them,” Kalina said. “I’m so proud that we won the All-American Conference. It was a big game for us.”

Senior Cami Goske (8 points) finally got the Spartans (10-8) on the board when she made a bucket with 4:15 remaining until halftime. Canfield was up 23-7 at the break.

Boardman began chipping away at the lead in the second half. Ava Freeborough nailed one from behind the arc and Goske scored inside. The Spartans trailed 31-21 heading to the fourth quarter.

The action really started to pick up in the fourth. Gia Triveri blocked a shot and Goske laid it in. Kalina made another 3-pointer, and Reagan Smith answered right back with one for Boardman.

Mackenzie Riccitelli (8 points) made one from long distance, and the Spartans were as close as they had been since the first quarter at 38-32.

“It’s like deja vu from the first time we played them,” Boardman coach Jeff Hammerton said. “We were down and we clawed back. Tonight, we didn’t score in the first quarter. We only had seven points at halftime. We turned around and had over twenty points in the second half.

“We need to learn how to start. I think the girls grew up a little bit in the second half. They came out a little nervous, and shell-shocked. I give the girls a ton of credit for staying in it the rest of the way.”

Canfield helped the Spartans stay in it by shooting a dismal 11 of 26 from the free-throw line. Luckily, Harmon managed to sink a pair in the closing seconds to help seal it.

“We definitely need to practice our free-throws,” Harmon said. “They are very important.”

Unfortunately, for Boardman, they didn’t fare much better at the line going 10-of-18. Jenna Triveri, and Camie Dill hustled, rebounded and played good defense as the Cardinals got the win.

“The free-throw shooting was horrific,” Canfield coach Matt Reel said. “It was terrible. It made the game closer than we hoped it would be. But, it was a good learning experience.

“We’re a young team. A lot of them haven’t been at the free-throw line with that kind of pressure. But, we haven’t struggled this much all year. We persevered on senior night, and I’m happy for them.”