Avon boys basketball looks to contend for NCCC title

Avon’s Ryan Marioni (1) brings the ball upcourt

AVON, Dec. 11 – It’s no secret that Avon is the largest school in the North Central Connecticut Conference in terms of enrollment. And there are plenty of sports fans and parents that criticize the competition that the Falcons receive from some of the schools in the league.

But being the biggest school doesn’t guarantee success or league championships. There is no substitute for hard work and talent.

The Avon High boys basketball team hopes that their hard work and talent can carry the Falcons to a NCCC championship this winter and perhaps some success in the competitive Class L tournament.

“We think we can compete in every game,” Avon’s fourth-year coach Chris Vozzolo said. “If we can rebound and play good defense, we’ll be OK.”

Avon (17-7, 14-2 NCCC) returns four starters from a team that finished second in the league to Enfield a year ago.

Senior point guard Ryan Marioni, senior forward Brandon Feinberg, junior Sean Merrmann and junior Patrick McKearney each started significant games a year ago. Junior center Justin Reichler and senior center Will DiStefano also return. Each had plenty of playing time last year.

Marioni is a 5-foot-10 point guard who averaged 12.5 points and six assists a game last year. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by 6-foot junior shooting guard Sean Herrmann, who averaged 12.0 points a year ago and drained 58 three-point shots.

In the frontcourt will be 6-foot-4 senior Brandon Feinberg, a three-year starter, who scored 10 points a game and pulled nine rebounds a game last winter, and 6-foot-3 power forward Patrick McKearney.

Reichler and DiStefano are both strong 6-foot-4 centers who played receiver on the football team so they can take a hit.

The first two off the bench, at least in the early going, will be 6-foot-1 junior Jake Sartain, an athletic guard/forward and Brad Fisher, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, who plays well defensively.

“We hope to defend the whole court,” Vozzolo said. A year ago, the Falcons had their moments defensively. Vozzolo hopes to get a more consistent effort this year.

Offensivey, limiting turnovers will be key. “We’re taking care of the basketball every day in practice,” he said. “Value the basketball and value each possession. If we’re patient, we can get good shots.”

Last year, Enfield ran the table in the NCCC, going 16-0 in the regular season and adding another three for winning the league tournament. It gave the Raiders, who won their first 23 games of the season, their second straight championship. “It is their title until someone takes it from them,” Vozzolo said. Granby has a good backcourt returning while Coventry has one of the better players in the league with Tom Myers.

Avon will be challenged early with competitive non-league contests with Glastonbury, Bristol Eastern and a home-and-away series with Farmington with a pair of Saturday night contests.

The Falcons are seeking their first win over Farmington since 2005 and to snap a nine-game losing streak. Avon has lost its last four against Bristol Eastern with its last win over the Lancers coming in 2004.

Avon opens the season on Friday by hosting Stafford High and hits the road the next night going to Glastonbury.

NOTEBOOK: All 16 NCCC games count toward the regular season league championship. Avon faces every team in the league once and plays Suffield, Ellington and Enfield twice.  … This is the 54th season of varsity basketball at Avon.

Avon High boys basketball
December
14: Stafford, 15: at Glastonbury; 18: at Suffield; 27: at Bristol Eastern; 29: at Farmington
January
4: Windsor Locks, 8: at East Granby; 11: at Coventry; 15: Suffield; 17: Ellington; 19: Farmington; 22: East Windsor; 25: at Enfield; 29: SMSA
February
1: at Somers; 5: at Ellington; 8: at Granby; 12: Enfield; 15: at Bolton; 19: Canton
Games begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise listed