News, Politics, and Culture from 14843

Double! By April Towner

Putnam’s triple-double MVP effort keys 96-62 win over B-R as Avoca-Prattsburgh win streak at 27 (story, video, box score)

Author: Share:

Avoca-Prattsburgh sophomore Macoy Putnam had a game-high 25 points (two three-pointers) with 13 assists and 11 steals. He also had four rebounds and two impressive blocked shots. File photo by Steve Harrison.

By JOHN ANDERSON

AVOCA — There does not seem to be a game where the Avoca-Prattsburgh boys basketball team does not have the height advantage. Wednesday night was another one of those nights with 10-4 Bolivar-Richburg coming to town, a team that has only lost to Canisteo-Greenwood and Wellsville.

But the relentless defense of Avoca-Prattsburgh coupled with transition offense and a collection of outstanding athletes, A-P improved to 16-0 on the season with a 96-62 win.

“We knew exactly what they were, and at times in those small periods of time, we could play with them,” said Bolivar-Richburg coach Jeff Margeson. “If you can get athletes, the next rung on the ladder is basketball players. Watching them, they have seven quality players and even the bench guys come out and do the same exact thing as them.

“That’s the difference, and that’s why they end up perhaps winning the whole thing,” Margeson continued. “They know what to do, how to attack, they’re up and down the floor. I honestly don’t really see a team that can really stop them.”

The game was originally part of the Allegany County Sheriff Deputy Association’s Dan Barkley Showcase, which was canceled in January because of the anticipated large crowds packing a gym for an entire day. The sheriff’s department is still raising money for scholarships for students in Allegany and Steuben counties despite the tournaments being canceled for another year.

Game highlights and the Section V banner is raised from the 2020-2021 season. Video by John Anderson.

If there was a tournament, Avoca-Prattsburgh sophomore Macoy Putman would have been awarded the MVP for his triple double.

Putnam had a game-high 25 points (two three-pointers) with 13 assists and 11 steals. He also had four rebounds and two impressive blocked shots.

Avoca Prattsburgh won the Section V title last season going 8-0 during the season and 11-0 overall as the state tournament was canceled just before they were leaving for a game. For kids on the varsity the past two seasons as a merged sports program, they are 27-0. For the Avoca students, they have won 51 straight games over three years.

After the game, Avoca-Prattsburgh Athletic Director Cody Delles spoke to the crowd, announced the 2020-2021 team members and then the sectional banner was unveiled. The teams play half of their games at each school and Wednesday was in Avoca.

“Last year’s winter season was far from traditional. We had a late start to the season and we played half the games we traditionally play and we had to limit our spectators,” Delles said. “Our boys overcame a tremendous amount of adversity through all of that. They reached the ultimate pinnacle of success that was available to them, which was a sectional title.”

Also having big nights for A-P coach Brian Putnam’s team were senior Pacey Hopkins who had 19 points, 10 rebounds, six steals and five assists. Junior Sawyer Devoe scored 15 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and had four assists while junior Haden Abbott had 16 points and five steals.

Bolivar-Richburg’s Cam MacDonell played sparingly coming off a leg injury which limited his ability to dominate the boards, but he was still able to score 10 points as B-R is getting into post-season shape for a sectional run.

Senior guard Landon Danaher, who just went over 1,000 career points, kept B-R in the game until midway through the fourth quarter. Each time it looked like A-P would extend the lead to 30, Dahaher, who finished with 18 points, came up with a big bucket or broke the press. B-R cut the lead to 16 in the fourth, but A-P went on a tear, outscoring B-R (10-5), 28-14.

David Baldwin had a strong game inside for B-R. Normally a defensive specialist, Baldwin scored 15 points on the scrappy A-P defense with most of his points on solid post moves. Aydin Sisson had 11 and Wyatt Karnuth added eight.

“I was proud of how our guys played. In the locker room afterwards, I told them ‘when I said to dial it up, this is exactly the kind of game that I want them to build off of. It’s neat to see it happen, you just don’t want it to happen to you.’ They’re not really over-imposing their will when you’re seeing them play,” Margeson said. “With the snow day tomorrow, I told them to wipe the board clean and then we go back to work with Cuba-Rushford and Fillmore this weekend. Those are some big points lying on the table for us to grab.”

Bolivar-Richburg 20 13 15 14 – 62

Avoca/Prattsburgh 26 24 18 28 – 96

BOLIVAR-RICHBURG: Aydin Sisson 4 1-1 11, Landon Danaher 7 2-3 18, Wyatt Karnuth 4 0-0 8, David Baldwin 7 1-1 15, Cam MacDonell 5 0-0 10. Totals: 27 4-5 62.

AVOCA/PRATTSBURGH: Sawyer DeVoe 6 3-5 15, Evan Campbell 1 0-0 2, Macoy Putnam 10 3-3 25, Tucker Gerych 2 1-3 5, Caleb Johnson 2 0-0 5, Hayden Abbott 7 0-1 16, Aiden Schlesing 2 0-0 5, Pacey Hopkins 8 2-3 19, Jamel Crowder 1 0-0 2, Jamie Reagan 1 0-0 2. Totals: 40 9-15 96.

3-point goals: B-R 4 (Sisson 2, Danaher 2), A/P 7 (Putnam 2, Abbott 2, Johnson, Schlesing, Hopkins).
Total Fouls: B-R 14, A/P 8. Fouled out: None.

Previous Article

Hornell girls stun Livonia, Wellsville’s 12-point comeback beats Dansville

Next Article

Hornell City Schools to close Thursday February 3 due to winter storm

You may also like