Pine Valley's Miles Volk steps up to defeat Avoca/Plattsburgh's Colin Zarich in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D Far West Regional on Saturday at Buffalo State Sports Arena.Photo by Steve Garvey
BUFFALO — Avoca Plattsburgh enters the Class D Far West Region with a basketball resume that includes winning back-to-back New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships in 2022 and 2023.
But in the first half of Saturday's game against Pine Valley at Buffalo State Sports Arena, another trip to the Final Four in Glens Falls didn't seem guaranteed for the Section V school.
And, well, the Titans did the job.
Avoca Plattsburgh, which led 30-27 at the break, outscored the Panthers 45-20 the rest of the way, winning 75-47.
With the win, the Titans (14-9) advance to the state semifinals next Saturday against the winner of Section X Harrisville vs. Section III Sackets Harbor at Cool Insuring Arena starting at 10:45 p.m.
Pine Valley's John Sheldon takes a shot in front of Avoca/Plattsburgh's Colin Zalik during the NYSPHSAA Class D Far West Regional game Saturday at Buffalo State Sports Arena.Photo by Steve Garvey
Pine Valley, on the other hand, ended the season with 11 wins and 12 losses.
The first half was a story of two completely different quarters, until the decisive second half.
Jaden Crowder and Daniel Stilson each scored eight points for Avoca Plattsburgh, which led 20-5 after the first period, and the lead widened to 24-6 early in the second period.
Pine Valley then caught fire, especially Myles Folk, who scored 13 points in a 21-6 surge fueled by 12 Titans turnovers. Only eight points after Crowder kept the Panthers from entering the locker room.
“I've been saying all week, 'We can beat this team,'” Pine Valley coach Bobby Surizu said. “We know they are two-time defending state champions, we know they are the No. 3 team in the state, and if we execute, you guys will be as talented as they are. There is.'' Sometimes they showed it. …There are too many mistakes. ”
The game remained fairly close after intermission — in fact, Avoca Plattsburgh only led 45-40 with three minutes left in the third period — but the Titans ended with a 14-0 run, effectively There was no real winner or loser. .
“Our calling card is pressure defense,” Suriz said. “When you play good on-ball defense, you create turnovers on the back end. … Then you force a ton of turnovers. The biggest problem is when that goes away, all of a sudden they're closer to the cup and John Sheldon got in foul trouble and we couldn't get to the basket.”
Crowder led Avoca-Plattsburg with 21 points, Stillson with 18 points and McCoy Putnam and Christopher Abbott each had 15 points.
Pacing Pine Valley was Volk who finished 25th.
“He was a lot of fun to coach,” Surish said. “He's been on the national team for three years. He's very tough physically. … He's just really scoring.”
Avoca Plattsburgh (75)
White 0 0 0, Crowder 9 2 21, Putnam 4 7 15, Button 0 0 0, Heal 0 0 0, Zalik 2 0 4, Abbott 5 3 15, Swift 0 0 0, Parulski 0 0 0, Stillson 7 4 18 , Hammond 1 0 2, total 28 16 75.
Pine Valley (47)
Slade 1 0 2, Yvette 1 1 3, Jascheldon 2 0 5, Mulan 0 0 0, Siebold 2 0 4, Josheldon 3 0 8, Volk 11 3 25, Jackson 0 0 0, total 20 4 47.
3-point goals — Crowder, Abbott 2, Jasheldon, Josheldon 2.
Avoca – Plattsburgh 20 10 28 17 — 75
Pine Valley 5 22 13 7 — 47
