How Avoca/Prattsburgh, Mount Morris claimed Section V Boys Basketball Class D titles

James Johnson, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·3 min read

Mount Morris went from a first-round exit in 2022 to champion at the end of this season's Class D basketball sectionals Saturday.

Avoca/Prattsburgh played like they did last season, going all the way to the Class D state tournament final, which the team won and finished undefeated.

The reigning Class D state champions are Section V champions again, after a convincing 93-67 win over Batavia Nore Dame in the Class D1 final at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial.

More:Section V boys basketball scores for the 2022-23 season

Mount Morris pulled away to a 70-56 win over No. 1 seed Jasper-Troupsburg in the Section V Class D2 final, winning the team's second sectional title since 2019.

Mount Morris MVP

Payton Bownds, a 5 foot-11 inch forward, was named the most valuable player of the tournament after he scored 12 points for No. 2 seed Mount Morris. Ben Bacon scored 15, Mason Santini 14 to lead the Blue Devils' scorers.

"We're a short, athletic team, we knew it would be tough (against certain opponents)," Bownds said. "Play our hearts out, use our speed and run the floor."

Mount Morris used a 1-3-1 zone defense and a full-court pressure defense to stop the Jasper-Troupsburg Wildcats short of winning a title since 1998, despite 26 points from 6-foot-3 senior center/forward Cash Bouton.

Avoca/Prattsburgh MVP

Macoy Putnam, one of five Avoca/Prattsburgh scorers who reached double figures, finished with 16 points against No. 2 seed Batavia Notre Dame and was named most valuable player of the tournament.

Putnam, a six-foot tall junior, is in his fourth varsity season. Avoca/Prattsburgh's third-leading scorer at 14.7 points per game.

"We try to get up and down (the court) as fast as we can," he said.

Avoca/Prattsburgh senior forward Haden Abbott topped his team-leading 20.8 points per game, with 28 against Batavia Notre Dame. Evan Campbell scored 19 points, Jamel Crowder 18 and Sawyer Devoe 10 for the champion Titans.

The No. 1 seed Titans led by four points at halftime, 38-34, then scored 31 points in the third quarter and were in-range of finishing with 100 or more with four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

What's next for both teams

A playoff between Section V Class D champions on March 8. No other details for the Avoca/Prattsburgh versus Mount Morris matchup has been announced by Section V.

Section V Class D1 All-Tournament Team

Haden Abbott (Avoca/Prattsbrugh), Evan Campbell (Avoca/Prattsburgh), Jamel Crowder (Avoca/Prattsburgh), Sawyer Devoe (Avoca/Prattsburgh), Jaden Sherwood (Batavia Notre Dame), Jordan Welker (Batavia Notre Dame). Tournament Most Valuable Player: Macoy Putnam (Avoca/Prattsbrugh).

Burkett Mills Tom Downey Memorial Coaches Award: Brian Putnam (Avoca/Prattsburgh). Bill Farrell Memorial Championship Coach Award: Brian Putnam (Avoca/Prattsburgh). Emmanuel

Sportmanship Awards: Jay Antinore (Batavia Notre Dame), Josiah Stilson (Avoca/Prattsburgh). Thomas Emmanuel Sportsmanship Award from the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials (Board No. 60): Lyndonville.

Section V Class D2 All-Tournament Team

Ben Bacon (Mount Morris), Cash Bouton (Jasper-Troupsburg), Bryson Constantino (Mount Morris), Navier Ford (Mount Morris), Cayden Lawson (Jasper-Troupsburg), Mason Santini (Mount Morris). Most Valuable Player: Payton Bownds

Section V Coach of the Year: Louis Zver (Jasper-Troupsburg). Burkett Mills Tom Downey Memorial Coach Award: Louis Zver (Jasper-Troupsburg). Bill Farrell Memorial Championship Coach Award: Brian Stout (Mount Morris).

Sportsmanship Awards: Gage Guerin (Jasper-Troupsburg), Anthony Hightower (Mount Morris).

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Mount Morris, Avoca/Prattsburgh win Section V Basketball Class D titles