By Bill Collmer, Hornell Sun Senior Sports Writer
PRATTSBURGH – Since merging sports programs prior to the 2021-2022 season, Avoca-Prattsburgh has had most of its success with the boys’ basketball program with four straight sectional championships and back-to-back state championships.
However, this season the Girls Varsity program is off to a 9-2 start to their season, with their only losses coming at the hands of League Rival Canisteo-Greenwood. Canisteo-Greenwood is 11-1 and ranked No.3 in the State in Class C by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Avoca-Prattsburgh is ranked No. 6 in the state in Class D.
A-P won the Bath Christmas tournament defeating Class B Wellsville, 55-32 and Class B Bath in the Championship game, 54-29. They have two tournaments left, the Steuben County Tournament where a third matchup with Canisteo-Greenwood is inevitable. Then the Class D Sectional tournament.
A-P has a nice mix of two seniors and six underclassmen that have led them to a hot start.
“With only eight players, everyone has a role. Our seniors lead by example and set the tone, while the underclassmen have stepped up and gained confidence through real minutes. That balance between senior leadership and young energy has helped us grow and be successful together,” Third-year Coach Trista Sullivan said.
Sophomore Meyah Putnam is averaging 14.9 Points per game along with 7.1 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 4.5 assists while shooting 47% from the floor. She’s made nine 3-Pointers on the season. Meyah is the younger sister of Prattsburgh’s all-time leading scorer Mason Putnam and Avoca-Prattsburgh’s All-Time leader in points, assists and steals, Macoy Putnam. The three are the children of Section Five Basketball Hall of Famer and Prattsburgh graduate Brian Putnam and mom, Erica Putnam, another elite athlete.
Senior D’Mariannah Hinson-Pike has been on varsity since her freshman year, she’s averaging 7.2 points, 4 assists and 3.4 steals per game. She’s made 20 3-pointers on the season.
Sophomore Payton Hopkins is averaging 6.5 Points per game along with 2.3 Rebounds and 2 steals, Hopkins has made eight 3-Pointers.
Freshman Charlotte Peck is averaging 3.4 Points and 4.9 rebounds per game.
One of the reasons for the Lady Titans early season success has been contributions from all eight players on the team. With each player bringing something different to the table.
“Each player brings something a little different, Hinson-Pike gives us shooting and quickness, Putnam is an all-around stat sheet stuffer, Senior A.J McIntyre brings heart and hustle, and Junior Evelyn Travis is a strong offensive threat and rebounder in the post. Our fifth starting spot has rotated between Hopkins, Peck, freshman Brooke Vanskiver and sophomore Allison Travis. Each of them give us something different depending on the matchup and game plan.” Sullivan said.
“One thing that’s been really special this season is our versatility. With such a balanced group, any player could start on any given night, and everyone’s capable of stepping up. That flexibility makes us tough to match up against and helps us adapt to different opponents.,” Sullivan added.
McIntyre is a transfer from North Rose-Wolcott who came halfway through her junior year and she’s fit right in.
“She was the perfect addition, her energy fit right in with such a close-knit group and made everyone around her better,” Sullivan added
McIntyre is averaging 6.8 Points and 4.3 Rebounds per game.
Evelyn Travis, who is 6-1, was named fifth team All-State in Class D last season after averaging 12.8 PPG, 13.0 RPG, & 4.0 BPG she was also a first team Steuben County All-Star.
So far this season Travis is averaging 10.9 points per game and 9.1 Rebounds.
“She definitely gives us an advantage inside, Evelyn is a true offensive threat and a big-time rebounder, which forces teams to adjust and open things up for everyone else,” Sullivan said.
On the season, A-P is averaging 56.5 points per game and only allowing their opponents 31.3 points per game, the only team to score more than 35 points on A-P all season was Canisteo-Greenwood who scored 57 and 59. No other opponent has reached 40 points.
A-P has won all nine games by 15 points or more.
“We pride ourselves on defense and set a goal to hold opponents to 35 or under and we’ve done that in all of our wins. That focus has been a huge part of our success this season,” Sullivan said.
A-P is currently the No.3 seed in a loaded Class D bracket featuring three other State Ranked teams in Class D, including powerhouse Elba, Elba is ranked No.4 in the State in Class D and Private School powers C.G Finney (No. 9) and Batavia Notre-Dame (No. 14). Elba defeated A-P, 71-36 in the sectional quarterfinals last season.
“Elba is always on our radar after some tough matchups the past two years, we have a lot of respect for all three of those programs,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan knows that playing a tough Class C team like Canisteo-Greenwood two or three times during the regular season is only going to help her team when it gets to sectionals.
“Seeing a team like C-G multiple times challenges us on both ends of the floor and helps us get ready for the level of competition we will see in Sectionals,” Sullivan added.
One of the biggest games remaining on the schedule is a non-league contest against Fillmore who moved up to Class C this season. Fillmore lost to C-G in overtime this season and Sullivan knows it’ll be a tough game.
“They beat us twice last season, and we’re eager for the challenge and the opportunity to measure ourselves again a high-level program like Fillmore,” Sullivan said.
Most of the A-P Players have been together since youth basketball, Putnam, Hopkins, Peck and Vanskiver all played in the youth program together.
The definition of camaraderie is mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together. In any team setting that’s what you’re looking for. The A-P girls have that and it’s helping them be successful. They’re winning basketball games because they’re all friends and they trust one another.
