By PAUL GOTHAM
DANSVILLE, N.Y. — Macoy Putnam finished with a double-double and led three in double figures as the Avoca/Prattsburgh boys’ basketball team clinched a second straight appearance in the New York State Class D Far West Regional with a 75-56 victory over Mount Morris, Wednesday night at Dansville High School.
Putnam connected on a 3-pointer and handed out a pair of assists during the second quarter when A/P shrugged off an early dry spell to take a double-digit lead.
“I think our defensive transition got us some good looks on that run,” A/P head coach Brian Putnam said.
Macoy Putnam started the stretch that saw the Titans produce points on 10 of 13 possessions to close the half. The sophomore guard buried one of his two triples on the night. He followed with an assist on a Sawyer Devoe bucket for a 25-14 A/P lead.
Macoy Putnam buries a 3 for a 23-14 @A_PAthletics lead. pic.twitter.com/ucTBVJpbMs
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 8, 2023
Devoe converted on a pair of free throws. Putnam set up Dayton Putman for two more. Haden Abbott went on to contribute five points during the run while Jame Crowder had four.
Avoca/Prattsburgh took a 40-26 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Mount Morris cut the lead to single digits on two occasions early in the third quarter.
A/P established full-court game late in the second quarter and continued it in the third when the Titans were able to get ahead of the defense for open-floor layups.
Payton Bownds finishes in the lane, but @A_PAthletics wastes no time. Jaden Abbott at the other end. Titans pulling away 50-35. pic.twitter.com/xGpxxCrhPp
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 8, 2023
“We depend on Sawyer to grab that rebound and that allows us to leak out,” Brian Putnam said. “Sometimes even two guys. We give up some offensive rebounds. We get a lot of points like that. We give up a couple, but I think we get more than we give up.”
The win was the 15th straight for A/P (22-2), the reigning NYS Class D champions.
“These kids are working hard and they take the schools and the communities themselves on one heckuva ride,” Putnam said. “We’ll see where it ends.”
Evan Campbell finds Haden Abbott cutting through the lane. pic.twitter.com/yzgnLRsbgy
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 9, 2023
Navier Ford scored back-to-back buckets as Mount Morris jumped out to an 8-0 lead. Mason Santini’s rebound and putback coming out of a timeout with 3:40 remaining gave the Blue Devils a 10-7 lead.
“I am very proud of this group,” Mount Morris head coach Brian Stout said via email. “They are the first team in school history to win a soccer and basketball sectional title in the same year. They battled all game with the top team in the state for Class D.”
Mason Santini returns with 3 fouls and finishes high-low action, but @MountMorrisHS trails @A_PAthletics at halftime: 40-26. pic.twitter.com/OazXSRUg7E
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) March 8, 2023
Putnam scored five over the remaining 3:14 of the first quarter, and A/P rattled off nine straight points to take an 18-14 heading into the second quarter. The Titans did not trail again.
Putnam finished with 28 points, 10 assists and four steals. Devoe had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Abbott contributed 22 points. Crowder (4), Evan Campbell (4), Putman (2), Chris Abbott (2) and Josiah Stison (1) rounded out the scoring for A/P.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN.
Ford and Payton Bownds finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds apiece for Mount Morris (17-7) which was coming off its second sectional title in five years. Ford handed out four assists. Santini added 15 points and nine rebounds. Chase Young had two points and five assist. Ben Bacon scored five points.
Avoca/Prattsburgh will face Section VI champion, Panama on Saturday in the state quarterfinals. A 5:30 p.m. tip-off is scheduled at Rush-Henrietta.
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