Avon takes command early to oust Canton from NCCC Tournament

Canton’s James Treacy finds his path of the basket blocked by Avon’s Nate Laszewski (34) in Saturday night’s NCCC Tournament game in Avon. (Photo courtesy John Fitts, Canton Compass)

AVON, February 28 – OK, this was the final time that the Canton and Avon High boys basketball team played as conference rivals. Really. 

Avon eliminated Canton from the NCCC Tournament Saturday night, 73-55, behind solid shooting performances from freshman Jordan Williams and sophomore Nate Laszewski, who scored 22 and 21 points, respectively. 

No. 3 Avon (16-5) sank six three-point shots in the game and moves onto Tuesday’s NCCC Tournament semifinals. They will host No. 2 Granby (17-4) on Tuesday night. Top-ranked SMSA (19-2) will host No. 4 Suffield (14-7) in the other semifinal contest. The championship and consolation game are on Thursday, March 5. 

Avon’s Jordan Williams had a game-high 22 points. (Photo courtesy John Fitts, Canton Compass)

Canton (14-8) was led by Cam Daley with 10 points. Luke Brown and Cameron Lange each had nine with a three-point goal.

Avon seized control immediately and led by 13 points after one quarter, 23-10. The Falcons extended the lead to 16 points at halftime and to 25 points after three quarters.

This is Avon’s final year in the NCCC. They will begin play in the Central Connecticut Conference in September.  The two schools, whose rivalry dates back to 1959, have played in the same conference each year — except for two seasons in the early 1980s — since 1964.

Click here for some photos of the game from the Canton Compass.

NOTES: Saturday night’s game was the 110th contest in the series. Avon has won the last 13 games between the two schools. For both teams, it is the longest series against a single opponent. … The two teams last played each in the NCCC Tournament in the tournament championship game in 2009. Avon won, 71-55.

Avon 75, Canton 55
At Avon
Canton (55): Rieley Hoffman 2-0-5, Ethan Burke 2-2-6, James Treacy 0-0-0, Jake Schaetzel 3-2-8, Kevin Gurry 1-0-3, Alex Olker 2-0-5, Cam Daley 4-3-10, Luke Brown 2-4-9, Cameron Lange 2-4-9. Totals 17-14-55
Avon (75): Bryan St. Jean 5-1-12, Ian McDonald 2-0-4, Ryan Lachance 4-0-8, Alex Zacchio 0-2-2, Zach Stirling 2-0-4, Tim Patton 0-0-0, Jordan Williams 9-0-22, Nate Laszewski 6-8-21. Totals 19-11-75
Canton (14-8)    10  13  15  15 – 55
Avon (16-5)        23  16  24  12 – 75
Three-point goals: St. Jean (A), Williams (A) 4, Laszewski (A), Hoffman (C), Gurry (C), Olker (C), Brown (C), Lange (C)

2015 NCCC Tournament

Thursday, February 26
No. 7 Windsor Locks 74, No. 10 Ellington 55

Friday, February 27
No. 6 Canton 55, No. 11 Bolton 54
No. 8 Somers 55, No. 9 Enfield 54

Saturday, February 28
Quarterfinals
No. 1 Sports Medical Sciences Academy 73, Somers 44
No. 4 Suffield 47, No. 5 Hartford Classical 45
No. 3 Avon 75, Canton 55
No. 2 Granby 55, Windsor Locks 38

Tuesday’s semifinals
Suffield at SMSA, 7 p.m.
Avon at Granby, 7 p.m.

Thursday’s championship
Site TBA
Finals, 7 p.m.
Consolation game, 5:30 p.m.