By PAUL GOTHAM
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Sawyer Devoe and Pacey Hopkins combined to score 55 points, and Avoca/Prattsburgh advanced to the New York State Class D semifinals with a 78-56 victory over Westfield (VI) in Far West Regional action from Buffalo State College, Saturday afternoon.
Coming out of halftime with an eight-point lead, Hopkiins connected on a jumper and followed with a 3-pointer. Next trip down the floor, the senior guard set up Haden Abbott for a trey in transition to force a timeout. Avoca/Prattsburgh had a 43-27 lead and did not allow Westifeld within single digits for the remainder of the contest.
Pacey Hopkins finds Hayden Abbott on the break for a trey. @A_PAthletics opens the third scoring the first 8 for a 43-27 lead. pic.twitter.com/562pzWEpd8
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 12, 2022
“It feels awesome,” head coach Brian Putnam said. “These kids have worked so hard. We’ve talked about it (going to the state semis) being a goal all year long. It’s just incredible to be going there.”
Devoe scored six late in the second quarter when A/P looked in command of the game with a 35-22 lead.
Westfield responded and scored the last five points of the half to take momentum into the break.
Darien Swanson scored eight of his team-high 18 points in the first half to help the Wolverines stay within reach of A/P.
“I was happy with our offense at halftime,” Swanson said. “Not so much with our defense. We weren’t doing a good job of containing dribble pressure.
“The Swanson kid who’s a really nice player. He was just doing what he wanted to do. We needed to stop that. That was the key, our defense leading to our offense. We needed to get stops and go score the basketball.”
Devoe scored 14 of his game-high 30 points in the fourth quarter to put away the game. The junior also grabbed 15 rebounds.
Second-chance opportunity for @A_PAthletics Sawyer DeVoe takes advantage. 33-22 A/P. pic.twitter.com/A0cTMed7Lg
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 12, 2022
Hopkins finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.
“Pacey is definitely our overall leader,” Putnam said. “He knows exactly what he needs to do. If we’re lacking scoring, Pacey will score. If we’re lacking ballhandling, Pacey will handle the ball for us. Inside, outside he’s just a really good basketball player.”
Pacey Hopkins has 6 including this jumper in transition. Heading to the 2nd: @A_PAthletics 17 Westfield 12 pic.twitter.com/5y93Zo2GuU
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 12, 2022
A/P (25-0) ran its state-high winning streak to 36 games which dates back to last season.
The two programs merged after the 2019-20 season.
Catch-and-shoot jumper Sawyer DeVoe. @A_PAthletics 74–49 less than 3 remaining. pic.twitter.com/gXa5GcP8bg
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 12, 2022
Putnam was a player under hall-of-fame head coach Jim Burke when the Vikings reached the state semis in 1991. That team went on to win the NYS Class D championship. Burke was in the stands behind the A/P bench for the game.
“It’s great having him there,” Putnam said. “He’ll shoot me an email after every game.”
Putnam’s squad will face the Oppenheim-Ephratah/Saint Johnsville (II) vs. Seton Catholic (VII) winner next weekend in Glens Falls.
Abbott scored 14 points and had six rebounds in the win. Macoy Putnam collected 14 assists, five rebounds and three points. Caleb Johnson (5) and Evan Campbell (1) also scored for A/P.
Ethan Weingart added 13 points for Westfield. Carson Swanson had nine points. Cole Holland (7), Wyatt Schuster (3), Logan Tuah (2) and Harrison Rotenda (2) rounded out the scoring for Westfield (22-2).
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