How this state champion basketball coach is creating a culture of toughness at Canton

CANTON — In Maribeth Dura’s mind, she was done with basketball.

The longtime Brimfield girls coach had hit the pinnacle, winning the Class 1A state championship last March. She resigned from the head job after six seasons and a lot more years as an assistant, saying she was just going to retire from the game.

But she kept her ears open, slowly getting the itch to coach again. A few jobs within the Lincoln Trail Conference had vacancies but that was of no interest to her.

When the Canton job opened, Dura jumped at the opportunity to compete in the Mid-Illini Conference. She was officially hired this past April, taking the reigns of a team fresh off a Class 2A sectional championship game appearance.

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Dura replaced Jessica Jones, who was only coach in program history to win a regional (2019, 2022),

“I love the Mid-Illini,” said Dura, whose Brimfield squad played three M-I schools last season including a 26-point win over Canton. “I figured maybe I’d have a good little group to try to make better and do some damage.”

The Little Giants are a deceiving 12-9 during their current campaign. Six of the losses are to Class 3A schools along with single defeats to teams from 1A (Havana), 2A (Fairbury Prairie Central) and Class 4A (Chicago Kenwood).

On Saturday night, Canton avenged a 13-point loss to Morton from early December. Alice Ingersoll Gymnasium was the site of a defensive clinic as the hosts held the Potters to a one-point second quarter en route to a 47-38 victory.

However, that wasn’t always the case.

“We went 19 games," Dura said, "where our defense was atrocious."

Practice began to be a training ground for breaking down Canton’s defense sets. Dura and her coaching staff continued to harp and harp on the importance of playing stout 'D,' as well as assigning sophomore Ella Dimler to guard their opponent’s best player.

After a victory against Limestone last Tuesday, then holding Morton to just 1-for-12 first-half shooting, Canton seems to be going in the right direction.

“Maybe we’re headed to some consistency,” Dura said, noting her team’s ball pressure is better than ever.

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Players are adapting to the demands laid in front of them by Dura. Sophomore Allison Wheeler says it’s been a great start between the new coach and her teammates. She confirmed that defense has been "all we’ve done" over the last two weeks.

“We just drilled it, drilled it, drilled it,” Wheeler said, “and I think that’s really prepared us and helped us win these games.”

Wheeler posted a big game against Morton, scoring 17 points including a crucial 3-pointer just before the third-quarter buzzer. The 6-foot forward has been a steadying presence all season, earning all-tournament team honors at the Rock Island and Ottawa tournaments.

The team and its chemistry, especially during difficult stretches, has been important for Wheeler.

“We’ve tried to stay positive through our rough games,” she said, “and I think that’s just helped us the whole way.”

Dura’s arrival to the Mid-Illini further solidified the league as one of the best 3A conferences in the state. She brings 142 victories, five regional championships and last season’s biggest 1A state trophy with her.

Morton coach Bob Becker, who has won eight state trophies and four state titles, is no longer alone as the M-I’s only state champion.

“She’s well-prepared,” Becker said. “Her teams are well-coached, and I think that’s good for our league to have a committed coach like that that’s been there and done that. …

“It’ll be a healthy challenge for the conference, for sure.”

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More than anything, though, Dura loves to play against talented teams.

The Rock Island Thanksgiving Tournament, for example, gave Canton an opportunity to play three 3A teams as well as 4A state-ranked Kenwood. Big 12 Conference schools like Peoria Notre Dame, Bloomington and Richwoods will remain on Canton’s schedule.

There’s no shying away from anyone, or as Dura puts it: “I say, let’s play them."

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA basketball: Coach Maribeth Dura goes from Brimfield to Canton