One team is looking to win a second straight state title. The other trying to make its first regional appearance in program history. The Avoca/Prattsburgh Titans and Mount Morris Blue Devils tip-off with a spot in the New York Class D Far West Regional on the line. Here’s the breakdown:
AVOCA/PRATTSBURGH TITANS (20-2/Steuben County)
vs.
MOUNT MORRIS BLUE DEVILS (17-6/Livingston County Athletic Association III)
Scoring Offense: Avoca/Prattsburgh (83.6 PPG), Mount Morris (62.3 PPG)
Scoring Defense: Avoca/Prattsburgh (44.5 PPG), Mount Morris (53.8 PPG)
Current Streak: Avoca/Prattsburgh has won 14 straight. Mount Morris has taken five in a row and eight of its past nine.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
How they arrived here: Avoca/Prattsburgh downed No. 8 Genessee Valley/Belfast, 85-27 in the quarterfinals before defeating No. 4 Harley-Allendale-Columbia, 76-39 in the semis and Notre Dame-Batavia, 93-67 to win its third straight sectional title.
Mount Morris opened the postseason with a 67-40 win over Hammondsport before defeating Andover/Whitesville, 70-57 and Jasper-Troupsburg, 70-56 to claim a second sectional title if five years and fifth in program history.
Players to Watch
Avoca/Prattsburgh: Sawyer Devoe 6-foot Sr. F 20.3 PPG, 10.6 RPG; Haden Abbott 6-foot-1 Sr. F 20.8 PPG, 2.6 APG, 5.2 RPG; Macoy Putnam 5-foot-11 Jr. G 14.2 PPG, 8.4 APG, 4.9 SPG, 4.5 RPG; Evan Campbell 5-foot-9 Sr. G 12.2 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.8 RPG.
Mount Morris: Payton Bownds 6-foot-4 Sr. PF 12 PPG 8.3 RPG 2.6 APG 2.6 SPG; Bryson Constantino 5-foot-10 Jr. SG 11.1 PPG; Navier Ford 5-foot-10 Sr. G 10.1 PPG 4 SPG 5.8 RPG 3 APG; Mason Santini 6-foot-4 Jr. C 8.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.0 SPG; Ben Bacon 5-foot-9 Sr. G 6.1 PPG 2.8 APG; Chase Young 5-foot-7 Jr. PG 4.4 PPG 3.3 SPG 2.7 APG; Anthony Hightower 5-foot-9 So. F 5.5 PPG 4.8 RPG 2.0 SPG.
Coaches: Brian Putnam (Avoca/Prattsburgh), Brian Stout (Mount Morris)
History 101: Avoca/Prattsburgh is looking to make its second regional appearance in as many chances for the third-year program. This after the Titans won the 2022 NYS Class D title. A/P was denied a chance to advance in its first year of existence due to precautions surrounding Covid-19. As separate entities, Prattsburgh made three regional appearances including 1991 when the Vikings won the NYS Class D championship. Avoca clinched regional spots on four occasions. Their last (2020) was cancelled because of Covid-19. Prior to that the Tigers won all three of their regional games in which they appeared including 1989 when they won the NYS Class D title.
Mount Morris lost to Belfast in the 2019 Class D regional qualifier. The Blue Devils three other sectional titles occurred prior to the existence of the state tournament.
What’s next: Winner will face the Section VI champion, Panama in the Far West Regional on Saturday.
A 6 p.m. tip-off is scheduled at Dansville High School.
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