Pickin' Splinters

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Avon rolls into B2 final

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By PAUL GOTHAM

BLOOMFIELD, N.Y. — Avon boys’ basketball coach Rob Fries didn’t trust his defense much earlier in the season.

That sentiment has changed, and the second quarter of Wednesday’s Section V Class B2 semi-final is evidence to that.

The top-seeded Braves forced six turnovers and allowed just two field goals in the eight minutes leading to halftime on their way to a 66-44 win over No. 4 Penn Yan.

“We’ve been playing a lot better defensively, had a lot better energy,” Fries said. “I thought in the first quarter we played well. We just didn’t do as great a job on the glass as we usually do on the defensive side. We talked about cleaning that up.”

Zach Colvin and Nick Rowland carried the bulk of that rebounding responsibility. The pair posted double-doubles with Rowland grabbing 11 boards while Colvin harnessing a game-high 21 caroms.

“We weren’t really rebounding well in the first quarter, and Fries got on us about that,” said Colvin a 6-foot-4 sophomore forward. “It was our goal to go out there and get as many we could. I feel like if we can control the glass, that will lead to a run.”

Colvin and Nick Rowland commanded the boards. Michael Rowland, the youngest of three brothers in Avon green, and Tyler Dailey sparked the Braves offense with back-to-back 3-pointers to open the quarter.

“It starts with our big guys down low,” Fries explained. “When you got two big guys like we do and you can throw it into them, they (opposing defenses) got to collapse to them.”

Michael Rowland connected again from long range later in the quarter. The eighth-grade guard finished with three triples on the night and shared game-high honors with 18 points.

“Michael was big for us tonight,” Fries said. “He plays like a veteran, and he knocks down shots.”

Michael Rowland’s second three of the quarter gave Avon a 27-16 advantage. Next time down the floor older brother, Nick, finished in the lane for a 29-19 lead. The basket keyed a 14-1 run to close the half.

Dailey scored on a wing drive. Colvin converted a rebound and putback. Dailey got ahead of the defense for a layup, and Andrew Rowland scored on a runner off the glass. Nick Rowland capped the stanza with a jumper from the top of the key. Avon led 41-20 going into the locker room.

“Nick and Zach played a great game,” Fries said. “Honestly, everybody did. I can’t say it enough how proud I am of them all. That’s kinda been our thing now. We didn’t start as a good defensive team, so now all of sudden we can stop other people. It’s a lot nicer that way.”

Avon led by as many as 26 in the second half and did not allow Penn Yan within 16 points for the remainder of the contest.

“Big win,” Nick Rowland said. “We were chipping in, digging in on every possession. Digging in, rebounding and boxing out, being aggressive.”

Nick Rowland finished 14 points, two assists and two blocks. Dailey collected 14 points, seven assists and four steals. Colvin also scored 14 points along dishing out three assists and blocking two shots. Andrew Rowland finished with five assists, four steals and two points.  Jaden Brown scored four points off the bench.

“We don’t really have a top player or a top scorer,” Colvin remarked. “Every game it switches between each of the five players. That’s what’s really good for our team because we can have people come off the bench.”

Mason Kuver paced Penn Yan (10-12) with 18 points. Peter Nicholson added 10. Brennan Prather scored seven. Kyle Berna and Griffin Emerson had five apiece. Devon Gerhardt contributed three points.

Avon (16-6) will face Wayland-Cohocton in Saturday’s championship game. The Braves took both regular season meetings between Livingston County Athletic Association foes winning 74-41 and 72-59.

An 11 a.m. tip off is scheduled at Blue Cross Arena.

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