Devoe, Putnam and Walker named Small Schools All-State Players of the Year

By JOHN LIKANJE

JC Walker ignited Lyons to its 21st sectional title in program history. Sawyer Devoe and Macoy Putnam led Avoca/Prattsburgh to back-to-back state championships. The trio earned Small Schools All-State Player of the Year honors for their respective classes as announced on Wednesday. In all, 47 Section V student-athletes earned NYSSWA Small Schools’ honors. 

Walker dominated for 26 points and 12 rebounds per game for the Lions and was named the NYSSWA Class C Player of the Year. The senior forward earned Tournament Most Valuable Player in leading his squad to the second-most sectional blocks in the entire Rochester area. Walker poured in 120 points in six postseason contests (20 points per match), including 34 in a 59-56 victory over Pembroke in the NYS Far West Regional Qualifier. The 6-foot-5 forward clamped 12 boards as well.

Teammate Jacob Sides joined Walker on the All-State teams earning an Honorable Mention.

Pembroke’s Cayden Pfalzer landed on the Second Team NYS Class C. The senior guard averaged 21.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists and concluded his career with the program records for total points (1,180) and three-pointers made (180). Pfalzer combined for 45 points in the Dragons’ first two sectional games as well. His teammate Tyson Totten nabbed a Third Team nod. The junior guard accumulated 20 points, five boards, 2.5 assists and 2.1 steals per match. Totten has compiled 1,069 career points as well.

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JOE TERRITO. 

VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM JENNIFER LAEMLEIN. 

Andrew Eschner (Northstar Christian) was named to the Fourth Team Class C. The senior forward was the Knights’ leading scorer and rebounder with a double-double of 23.2 points and 13.1 rebounds. Eschner concluded his varsity career by escorting his club, which averaged 66.7 points per game and held the opposition to 57.6, to a 16-9 record, the No. 5 seed in class C1 and a sectional championship.

York’s Jake Pangrazio, who has scored 821 career points, earned a spot on the Class C Fifth Team. The junior forward/guard averaged 17 points and 9.0 rebounds per game this past season. Pangrazio’s teammate, Maddox Timothy received Honorable Mention.

Oakfield-Alabama’s Kyle Porter (Sixth Team), Avon’s Josh Harter (Eighth Team), Michael Rowland (Honorable Mention) and Hudson Volpe (Seventh Team), Wheatland-Chili’s Terry Bayly-Henshaw (Honorable Mention) and Leighton Williams (Honorable Mention), Geneseo’s Ethan Bennett (Honorable Mention) and Ryan Whitney (Honorable Mention), Byron-Bergen’s Braedyn Chambry (Honorable Mention) and Gianni Ferrara (Honorable Mention), Rochester Academy’s Christian Coleman (Honorable Mention) and Kam McDonald (Honorable Mention), East Rochester’s Teddy Emmings (Honorable Mention), South Seneca/Romulus’ Mikey Kaufman (Honorable Mention) and Marcus Whitman’s Brody Royston (Honorable Mention) rounded out the list of Section V players named to the All-State Class C Team.

2023 NYSSWA Class B, C and D All-State Teams. 

Devoe and Putnam shared All-State Class D Player of the Year honors. Devoe scored 18.7 points, hauled down 10.1 rebounds, swiped four steals and dished out 3.3 assists per game. Putnam averaged 14.3 points, 8.2 assists, 4.7 boards and 4.6 steals per match. The duo spearheaded an Avoca/Prattsburgh squad which claimed its second straight New York State Public High Schools Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) title and fourth overall. Avoca won the 1989 Class D state title. Prattsburgh claimed the 1991 Class D crown.

Teammates Haden Abbott and Evan Campbell joined DeVoe and Putnam on the All-State teams. Abbott led the Titans with 21.1 points and added 5.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.5 steals.

Honeoye’s Owen Baader (Honorable Mention), Jasper-Troupsburg’s Cash Bouton (Third Team) and Cayden Lawson (Sixth Team), Mount Morris’ Payton Bownds (Sixth Team), Harley-Allendale-Columbia’s Theo Colosimo (Honorable Mention) and Notre Dame Batavia’s Jaden Sherwood (Honorable Mention) and Jordan Welker (Fourth Team) rounded out the list of Section V players named to the All-State Class D Team.

Newark’s Brayden Steve topped the local Class B selections with a spot on the NYS Second Team. The senior forward averaged 18.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and two assists for a Reds’ squad which reached the NYSPHSAA semifinals for the fifth time in program history and first since 2010. Steve’s teammate Raeshawn Howard was named to the NYS Class B Sixth Team. The senior forward finished just shy of averaging a double-double with 16.5 points and 8.9 boards per contest.

Batavia senior Ja’vin McFollins was named to the Fourth Team. Connecting on 44 percent of his attempts from behind the 3-point arc, McFollins scored 13.2 points while collecting five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks per game in leading the Blue Devils to the top seed in Class B1.

Wellsville’s Logan Dunbar (13th Team), Palmyra-Macedon’s Ian Goodness (Ninth Team), Dansville’s Colin Gray (Honorable Mention), Haverling’s Jake Hagadone (18th Team), Attica’s Cole Harding (Honorable Mention), Bishop Kearney’s Eric Hillsman (11th Team) and Colin Gentile (Honorable Mention), Le Roy’s Merritt Holly, Jr. (Ninth Team), Greece Odyssey’s Maron McDonald (Honorable Mention), Batavia’s Carter McFollins (Honorable Mention), Hornell’s Gennaro Picco (12th Team) and Geneva’s Anthony Torres (Honorable Mention) rounded out the list of Section V players named to the All-State Class B Team.