AVON, Feb. 2 – The No. 3 Avon High girls basketball team extended their school-record winning streak to 36 straight games with a pair of comfortable NCCC victories over East Granby and Coventry last week.
Jenni Marcus (10) scored 22 points and had four 3-point goals in Avon’s win over Coventry last week. (Photo courtesy John Primovic)
This week, Avon faces two of the better teams in the league this year when they host Somers (13-2) on Tuesday night at the high school and then travel to face Canton (12-2, 7-2 NCCC) on Friday night on the road.
The largest crowd of the season filled the Avon High gym last Friday for Fan Appreciation Night against Coventry, which played for a Class S championship last March. Avon (14-0, 9-0 NCCC) broke open a eight-point game at halftime with a strong third quarter in a 59-35 victory.
With seven points from Jenni Marcus, a long three-point shot from Lauren Primovic and a pretty transition basket from Lindsay Horbatuck on a feed from Primovic, the Falcons jumped out to a quick 12-4 lead. Coventry didn’t blink and tied the game at 12-12 thanks a pair of three-point shots.
Avon stretched the lead to eight at halftime, 26-18 and broke the game open with strong defense from Sam Riccio (five steals) and the sizzling shooting of Marcus, who had a game-high 22 points including four 3-point shots.
Horbatuck had a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds while Titi Vanriel continued her fine play off the bench with eight points and eight rebounds. Primovic had six points and seven assists while Riccio finished with six points. Arina LaFrance was solid defensively, pulling down six rebounds.
Against East Granby, the Falcons raced out to a 23-2 first quarter lead in cruised to a 61-24 victory. An active man-to-man defense, crisp passing and an explosive transition fueled the big surge. Horbatuck had seven points while Marcus and Primovic added six points in the first half run. Riccio had an exciting shot to close the second quarter when she banked home a 45-foot shot to beat the buzzer.
Twelve Avon players scored in the game led by Horbatuck with 12 points and 13 rebounds while Primovic scored 11. Marcus finished with eight while Riccio, Vanreil (10 rebounds) and Maggie Hartman each scored five points. Deven Boundy and Stephanie Janson played well off the bench with four points each.
Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 40 years. He was inducted into the Connecticut Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2025 and the New England High School Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2018.
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