ARCANUM – The Arcanum Trojans wasted no time setting the tone for their 2025-26 season, bolting out to an 8-0 lead in the first three minutes and never letting up on their way to a decisive 68-38 non-conference victory over the visiting Bethel Bees.
“You go through those first three weeks in November, and you really don’t know until the ball tips and you get going,” said Arcanum coach Kevin Brackman of opening-night expectations. “You can only practice against yourselves for so many hours at a time, but the team that we have this year is going to be a little different. We’re very unselfish, and that has grown over the last three years. We don’t care who scores.”
The Trojans jumped ahead 12-1 behind a balanced attack, placing six players in the first-quarter scorebook.
Matthew McCans sparked the early surge with five points, including a 3-pointer, while Ben Hamilton and Jace Mote each added four points as Arcanum closed the period up 18–5.
“It felt good to be back,” said McCans, who battled injuries last season. “Once it goes in (the 3-pointer), it just fuels the whole team, and we get back on defense, and we do it again.”
Arcanum continued rolling in the second quarter, extending its lead to 25–8 at the 6:48 mark before taking a commanding 42–16 advantage into halftime. Brackman’s deep bench contributed 24 first-half points, with seven Trojans denting the scoreboard while the defense limited Bethel to just 11 in the period.
The Trojans quickly pushed their lead to 46–16 early in the third, maintaining a 30-point cushion through much of the quarter before taking a 59–30 advantage into the fourth.
Carson Hamilton came off the bench to deliver a team-lifting third quarter, scoring six of his career-best 14 points.
“Carson Hamilton has a career night, maybe—I hope not,” Brackman said with a grin. “I hope he one-ups that.”
“It just happened,” Hamilton said. “It was a good day. I was having a good time.”
Arcanum triggered the running clock with a 68–32 lead at the 3:23 mark of the fourth and closed out the game by taking the final period 9–8 to secure the 30-point victory.
Brackman credited his guards for facilitating the Trojans’ efficient offense.
“We have guys that can score, but we feel like we move the ball really well,” he said. “A lot of that starts with our new point guard, Jace Mote’s ability to get the ball where it needs to go. And Bishop Cartwright is the same way. What they did tonight had a lot to do with the product we put on the floor.”
Bethel veteran coach Steve Pittman was impressed by what he saw from the Trojans.
“I love what Arcanum did today,” Pittman said. “They ran their stuff, they shared the ball, they rebounded the ball very well. It’s not a good coached team; it’s a well-coached group. They are really coached well. We’re young—we graduated everyone. Arcanum did a heck of a job. I love what they do.”
Brackman returned the respect.
“I respect Coach Pittman a lot,” he said. “He’s been around the game a long time, and he always puts solid teams on the floor. His kids are always prepared.”
As Pittman left the gym, he promised better days ahead for his young squad.
“I’m disappointed in the way we lost, but I’m not disappointed in the kids because we are not going to be this, game 22,” he said with a smile. “I can promise you that.”
Arcanum’s 5’10” senior Matthew McCans led all scorers with 15 points, followed by Carson Hamilton with 14 and Ben Hamilton with 12.
“Ben is in double figures, Matthew was in double figures, but for Carson to come out and find a way to get himself in double figures—he played a great game,” Brackman said. “It’s good to have a game like that early in the year.”
Brackman closed the night on a note of pride.
“We have a great group of kids,” he said. “We like playing for our school and representing our community.”
BOXSCORE:
ARCANUM 68, BETHEL 38
ARCANUM – M. McCans 15, C. Hamilton 14, B. Hamilton 12, C. Ball 8, J. Mote 4, B. Cartwright 4, C. Weiss 4, C. Kessler 4, G. Garno 3 – TOTALS 24 5-8 5 68
BETHEL – C. Vest 12, B. Kohorst 12, B. Montgomery 8, K. Hardacre 6 – TOTALS 10 6-8 4 38
3-POINTERS
Arcanum 5 (M. McCans 3, G. Garno 1, C. Weiss 1)
Bethel 4 (C. Vest 2, B. Kohorst 2)
SCORE by QUARTERS
18-24-17-09 68 Arcanum
05-11-14-08 38 Bethel
