Vozzolo pleased with progress in a 6-1 start for Avon boys

Avon’s Patrick McKearney drives to the basket in a recent win over Windsor Locks.

AVON – The Avon High boys basketball continues to preparing for the more competitive games on their schedule. And they are winning as they prepare, capturing six of their first seven games of the season.

The only blemish on the schedule was a 57-43 double overtime loss to Glastonbury in game two on the third day of the season.

“I’m happy where we are,” Avon’s fourth-year coach Chris Vozzolo said. “I’m pleased with our team defense and I’m happy with our team rebounding, which are two focal points for us.”

In recent victories over Windsor Locks and East Granby, Avon had over 49 and 62 rebounds, respectively. Brandon Feinberg ripped down 18 rebounds and scored 12 points in a 63-51 win over East Granby and had 14 rebounds and eight points in a 84-44 rout of Windsor Locks.

Feinberg, a 6-foot-4 forward, wasn’t the only player to grab some rebounds. Six-foot-4 Justin Reichler had nine caroms each in both victories and Patrick McKearney had 12 rebounds against East Granby.

Vozzolo knows the Falcons cannot coast. More challenging games are approaching with three challenging games next week.

Avon host Suffield on Tuesday, Ellington on Thursday and the first of a home-and-home series with Farmington on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the high school.

The following Friday (Jan. 25), the Falcons will travel to Enfield to take on the two-time defending NCCC champions, just 24 hours before the return trip to Farmington on Saturday night, Jan. 26.

“I think we can continue to get better,” Vozzolo said. “We need to get better in every practice and in every game we play. We want to continue pounding the ball down low and let our big guys get some work in there.”

Along with Feinberg and Reichler, Will Distefano, Patrick McKearney and Sam Flaxman are each 6-foot-3.

McKearney had been Avon’s top scorer recently. He had 17 against East Granby and a game-high 25 points against Windsor Locks. The Falcons have used a balanced approach when it comes to scoring. Feinberg and point guard Ryan Marioni each had 12 against East Granby while Sean Herrmann added 12 against Windsor Locks. Brad Fisher scored 11 off the bench.

In an earlier win this season against Bristol Eastern, point guard Ryan Marioni popped in a season-high 11 points. Distefano had 11 in the loss to Glastonbury.

“We have a lot of guys who can put the ball in the net for us,” Vozzolo said. “We want to focus on getting the ball in down low and looking at our options from there.”

Upcoming games
January
11: at Coventry; 15: SUFFIELD: 17: ELLINGTON; 19: FARMINGTON; 22: EAST WINDSOR; 25: at Enfield; 26: at Farmington; 29: SMSA
February
1: at Somers; 5: at Ellington; 8: at Granby; 12: ENFIELD; 15: BOLTON; 19: CANTON 

Avon 84, Windsor Locks 44
At Avon
Windsor Locks (44): Alphonso Zaporta 0-4-4, Nate Pierce 3-0-8, Dapp Ayeni 0-0-0, John Olivera 2-0-4, Zach Weigert 2-0-4, Jay Vachani 1-3-5, Chase Dangle 1-0-2, Hector Martinez 3-2-9, Brendon Gilbert 1-0-2, Damien Matruah 1-0-3. Totals 15-9-44
Avon (84): Ryan Marioni 2-4-8, Sean Herrmann 4-1-12, Brandon Feinberg 3-2-8, Justin Reichler 3-3-9, Patrick McKearney 8-9-25, Jake Sartain 1-0-2, Brad Fisher 1-9-11, Matt Reagan 1-0-2, Will DiStefano 3-1-7.
Windsor Locks   11  11    8  24 – 44
Avon                  25  19  21  19 – 84
Three-point goals: Marturah (W), Martinez (W), Pierce (W) 2, Herrmann (A) 3

Avon 63, East Granby 51
At East Granby
Avon (63) Ryan Marioni 4-3-12, Sean Herrmann 1-0-3, Brandon Feinberg 3-5-12 Justin Reichler 2-2-6, Will DiStefano 1-2-4, Jake Sartain 1-0-2, Brad Fisher 2-0-6, Sam Flaxman 0-1-1, Patrick McKearney 7-3-17. Totals 21-16-63
East Granby (51) Jack Beatty 8-0-19, Noah Fersch 7-3-17, Connor Kennedy 2-0-4, Dylan O’Brien 2-2-7, Ryan Freston 1-0-2, Tyler Arsenaut 1-0-2. Totals 21-5-51
Avon               11  15  14  23 – 63
East Granby     2  17  18  14 – 51
Three-point goals: Herrmann (A), Marioni (A), Feinberg (A), Fisher (A) 2, Beatty (E) 3,