By JOHN LIKANJE
Avoca/Prattsburgh unloaded 33 points in the third quarter and ran Notre Dame Batavia off the Les Harrison Court in a 93-67 victory to win the 2023 Section V class D1 title at the Blue Cross Arena. It’s the Titans’ third consecutive block since merging the two schools in 2020.
“I think it’s always really nice to win when you’re up at the Blue Cross,” Avoca/Prattsburgh head coach Brian Putnam said after the game. “It’s been a couple of years with all the COVID stuff going on. The kids were excited about that and I think it makes it extra special.
“I played there as a player. We’ve been fortunate enough to have some other teams get us up here to play. It’s just a great venue. Section V does a really nice job of putting that all together and it’s just a special place for the kids to all come and play.”
Clinging to a 38-34 intermission advantage, the Titans galloped to a double-digit lead with a 13-4 run. Senior guard Evan Campbell led with a layup and floater. Jamel Crowder drilled a corner three-pointer. Haden Abbott and Macoy Putnam both finished a layup. Senior forward Sawyer Devoe dropped a floater as Brian Putnam’s squad took a commanding 51-38 cushion.
Abbott and Crowder ignited the Titans with an 8-0 spurt to end the period with a 21-point lead. The senior duo both converted a three-point play and then Abbott leaked out for another layup just as time expired for a 71-50 benefit. The Titans’ defense held the Fighting Irish to 16 points and forced 10 missed field goals and a pair of turnovers as well.
“During the halftime, we talked about rebounding better,” Putnam explained about his halftime adjustments. “There was a couple of possessions in the first half where we gave them three, four offensive rebound opportunities. Keeping (Notre Dame Batavia junior guard Jaden Sherwood) and (Notre Dame Batavia senior guard Jordan Welker) out of the paint. They were killing us with dribble drive penetration in the first half.”
Abbott was the catalyst in the stanza with 14 of his game-high 28 points. The senior forward finished five layups, including the three-point play, and cashed a left-corner three-pointer. Overall, Abbott totaled 12 layups for the contest.
“Haden is a great shooter for us,” Putnam said when praising his senior forward. “He makes a living outside, but they keyed on that. We got him making some cuts backdoor and moving a little bit better in the third quarter, which freed him up to get his shot. He’s definitely our leading scorer and we needed to figure out a way to get him going.
“They had the Welker kid in his face to take away the threes. That was part of the game plan in the second half: to get him some layups.”
Crowder followed up with half of his 18 points in the third quarter. The senior guard’s long-range make conducted the Titans’ run to begin the period and he made another layup to extend the lead back to double-digits, 55-44.
“You never know when Jamel’s going to step up and have a big game,” Putnam said. “Last year was the same deal. At Letchworth, we’re playing Wheatland-Chili and it seemed to be Jamel who stepped up in a big game. We were fortunate enough that he decided to do the same thing today.”
VIEW MORE JENNIFER LAEMLEIN PHOTOS HERE.
Campbell was one of five Titans in double figures with 19 points. The senior guard consummated five layups, two mid-range jumpers and a pair of floaters. Putnam sparked the club with 13 of his 16 points in the first half. The junior guard executed six layups, including one as part of a three-point play, and a free throw line jumper. Devoe rounded out the quintet with 10 points.
“We’re fortunate enough that we have a very unselfish team,” Putnam commented about his squad’s balanced scoring effort. “I think the whole year, we averaged four (players) in double figures. When you can get four guys in double figures, it’s hard to defend that.”
Junior forward Chris Abbott (2) rounded out the scoring for the Titans.
For Notre Dame Batavia, Jay Antinore led four players in double figures with 17 points. The junior guard made three consecutive layups near the end of the first quarter to keep the game close. Antinore finished with five layups and a floater along with five charity stripe conversions.
Ryan Fitzpatrick and Sherwood both contributed 15 points. Fitzpatrick swished two three-pointers among his six made field goals. Sherwood poured in 13 first-half points. Welker nailed a pair of three-pointers as well as part of his 11-point output.
Bryce Berry (4), Hayden Groff (3) and Jimmy Fanara (2) rounded out the scoring for the Fighting Irish.
Avoca/Prattsburgh advances to the NYS Class D Far West Regional qualifier and will take on Class D2 champion, Mount Morris. The Blue Devils defeated Jasper-Troupsburg, 70-56, in their sectional final matchup.
“We’re going to have to contain their bigs for sure,” Putnam said when evaluating Mount Morris. “Their two big guys in the middle rebound the ball well. They finish around the rim well. No. 2 (Senior guard Ben Bacon) did a nice job taking care of the basketball. It should be a good game. We’re going to have to get out in transition and get some easy buckets.”
Leave a Reply