One squad is the two-time defending state champion. Another aims for its first state title in 12 years. Avoca-Prattsburgh and Sacketts Harbor are set to tip off on Saturday to determine who advances to the Boys’ Class D final. Here’s the breakdown:
AVOCA-PRATTSBURGH TITANS (15-9 Steuben County)
vs.
SACKETS HARBOR PATRIOTS (24-1 / Frontier D)
Saturday, Cool Insuring Arena, 10:45 a.m.
How they arrived here: Avoca-Prattsburgh defeated Friendship/Scio in the quarterfinals 75-28 before beating Hammondsport 90-60 to earn a spot in the Section V Class D title game. The Titans then downed Elba 50-37 and Pine Valley 75-45 to capture the Class D Far West Regional. Sackets Harbor beat Stockbridge Valley (54-40), La Fargeville (72-31), Faith Heritage (64-49) and Harrisville (59-57) to reach the Boys’ Class D NYS semifinal.
Scoring offense: Avoca-Prattsburgh (64.3), Sackets Harbor (64.8)
Scoring defense: Avoca-Prattsburgh (51.8), Sackets Harbor (39.8)
Trends: Avoca-Prattsburgh has won six of its past seven games. Sackets Harbor has won 16 straight. In those 16 games, the Patriots have won 13 by double-digit margins.
Players to watch for Avoca-Prattsburgh: Macoy Putnam Sr. G 17.0 PPG, 1,335 career points 7.5 RPG, 6.4 APG, 642 career assists, 4.9 SPG, 433 career steals, Steuben County League MVP; JJ Crowder Fr. G 15.3 PPG, Steuben County First-Team; Daniel Stilson Jr. F 16.2 PPG, 7.2 RPG, Steuben County Second-Team
Sackets Harbor: Austin Griner Sr. G 19.3 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 3.1 SPG, Marcus Castine Jr. G 15.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.4 APG, 3.3 SPG; Dylan Aubert Jr. G 8.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.6 SPG; Ethan Tracy Jr. F 7.0 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 1.1 SPG; Jake Peters Jr. G 6.2 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.6 SPG; Ethan Shi Jr. F 5.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG.
Coaches: Brian Putnam (Avoca-Prattsburgh), Jeff Robbins (Sackets Harbor)
History 101: Avoca-Prattsburgh looks to continue its quest to a third straight NYS title. In 2023, the Titans took down Hamilton (III) 64-41 and Chapel Field Christian (IX) 70-48 to capture the state crown. Avoca-Prattsburgh finished undefeated in 2022. Sackets Harbor is looking to capture its second state title in program history and the first since 2012. That year, the Patriots took down Notre Dame Batavia (50-40) and Madrid-Waddington (X) 49-35 en route to the Class D NYS championship.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class D final against either Smithtown (XI) or North Warren (II).
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