By CHUCKIE MAGGIO
The Avon Braves’ road to the program’s first sectional championship since 2009 began with an admonition from coach Rob Fries over the spring and summer months.
“In spring league (Fries) was getting on us about how, we’re not good, we don’t have chemistry,” Zach Colvin recalled, beaming. “But in summer league we got it and I was feeling really good about it at the start of the season.”
Avon completed a season of proving Fries wrong with a 63-46 victory over Wayland-Cohocton on Saturday afternoon, its 17th victory of the season. It was the Braves’ seventh sectional title in program history and their first since 2009.
Colvin scored 22 points to lead all scorers and added 14 rebounds to earn a double-double. The performance, which included 11 points in each half as well as three assists and two steals, garnered the sophomore tournament MVP honors.
“He was great. He’s been great for the last couple weeks, great through sectionals,” Fries commented. “He’s just really focused on (rebounding). We’ve been on him a lot about it this year and he’s taken it well. He took it to heart.
“I told him the other day, I think the turnaround in our season is him, because he gives us a second weapon down low. Most teams don’t have two, to be able to guard our guys, so he’s been great.”
Colvin was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Tyler Dailey, Andrew Rowland and Nick Rowland. Nick Rowland scored 15 points, seven of which came in the second quarter, while Dailey and Andrew Rowland added nine apiece.
Way-Co led 12-10 after one minute of play in the second, but the Eagles committed back-to-back turnovers that spurred a 12-0 Avon run over the next three. The Eagles were able to recover with a 10-4 run to bring themselves within eight, but Avon carried a 33-25 lead into halftime.
The Braves pulled away in the third quarter, which they started by outscoring Way-Co 14-6. Colvin made a traditional three-point play as well as four of Avon’s last six in the period. Way-Co made just one field goal in the last 5:09 as Avon entered the fourth with a comfortable 51-36 lead.
DeAndre Green did his part to keep the Eagles in the game, scoring 21 points while Cameron Huber recorded eight. Way-Co attempted 30 free throws but made just 15.
Avon won inside, with 20 of their 23 field goals being two-pointers. Colvin, Dailey and Andrew Rowland each dished three assists, while Nick Rowland corralled eight rebounds.
“We’re a team. We play a team game,” Colvin explained. “No one’s trying to show out or hog the ball. We’re all playing as a team and that’s what’s best for us because that’s how we got this far.”
Don’t expect Fries to recant his statement about where his team was before the season. He’s just happy the Braves received the message. They will play Geneva next, in the state qualifier.
“We weren’t (good); I was just trying to be honest with them,” Fries remarked. We came off a season where we had arguably, if not the best, one of the three best kids I’ve ever coached in Connor Taylor. A lot of guys played roles last year but didn’t have to be the main guys. So we got to spring league and I think everybody kind of wanted to be the main guy.
“We had to figure out a way to play together. I kept saying ‘I think we can be good, but we’re not right now because we haven’t found out how we have to play as a group.’ And I think it was a year-long process… Really, we were able to find it late. But the kids, I haven’t had a group that worked this hard. They’re just a great group of guys.”
Avon scorers: Zach Colvin 22, Nick Rowland 15, Tyler Dailey 9, Andrew Rowland 9, Roman Volpe 4, Michael Rowland 3, Jaden Brown 1
Way-Co scorers: DeAndre Green 21, Cameron Huber 8, Thomas Mead 5, Jamie Carman 4, Justin Horton 4, Logan Brown 3, Ben Wood 1
Sectional champs are meaningless until you have beaten everyone in your class like the good old days.