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Conard rallies but Avon stands tall in final seconds to win season opener

Avon's Jordan Williams had a team-high 24 points in Monday night's win over Conard.

Avon’s Jordan Williams had a team-high 24 points in Monday night’s 59-55 win over Conard. Williams gets past Conard’s Josiah Cleary (11) and Casey Shane (35).

AVON – Year one in the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) was a bit of shock to the Avon High boys basketball program. For the first time in more than 30 years, the Falcons were left out of the CIAC basketball tournament after winning just five of 15 games.

Second-year coach Kris Pedra knows where the opportunities lie this year. The goal is to get eight wins and return to the state tournament. Six games against teams ranked in the preseason top 10 poll (No. 5 Weaver, No. 8 Windsor and No. 17 Northwest Catholic) won’t make it easy for the Falcons.

Contests against some of the largest schools in the CCC – New Britain, Southington and Glastonbury won’t be easy, either.

“We need to get off to a good start,” Pedra said Monday night as the Falcons opened the season with a heart-stopping 59-55 decision over Conard. “The first few games are very important to us.” The Falcons play Bulkeley on Thursday night before playing Canton and Granby next week at Lewis Mills’ Holiday Tournament in Burlington.

With the caliber of teams that Avon has on their schedule, games against Canton (Dec. 29) and Granby (Dec. 28) are golden opportunities for the Falcons to secure possible victories.

“It has to start with defense,” Pedra said. “It has been all defense in the preseason and in our scrimmages. If we can’t play competitive defense with an attitude, then it will be the same result as last year. Our defense has to be better.”

Avon's Charley Reiss (10) goes up for two of his 10 points in Monday night's win over Conard.

Avon’s Charley Reiss (10) goes up for two of his 10 points in Monday night’s win over Conard.

On Monday night, Avon gave up just 18 points in the first half to Conard and 27 in three quarters. The Falcons led by as many as 16 points early in the third quarter, 42-26.

But Conard scored 29 points in the final quarter, led by Aidan Mahoney with a game-high 26 points. Mahoney scored 16 points in the final quarter including four 3-point shots to bring Conard all of the way back. His sixth 3-point shot of the game with 59 seconds remaining tied the game at 53-53.

Conard’s Casey Shane blocked a Williams shot with 46.2 seconds left but the rebound was collected by Avon’s Connor Harris, who was fouled. Harris sank both foul shots with 43.6 seconds remaining to give the Falcons a two-point lead, 55-53.

Conard tied the game again at 55-55 when Josiah Cherry took a nice feed from Mahoney in the lane with 31 seconds left.

On the next possession, a shot from Williams deep in the corner bounced off the rim but Conard fumbled the rebound and it went out of bounds. Avon had another chance with 6.2 seconds remaining. Charley Reiss got the ball and drove into the center of the lane and put up a high arcing shot that went through the net with 2.7 seconds left for a 57-55 lead.

Williams sand a pair of free throws with 0.7 of a second left to extend the lead to four points.

Williams led Avon with 24 points, including three 3-point shots. Reiss added 10 and six assists while Jordan Bailey added nine points and nine rebounds.

The Avon High fans are thrilled when Charlie Reiss scores with 2.7 seconds left to give Avon the lead.

The Avon High fans are thrilled when Charlie Reiss scores with 2.7 seconds left to give Avon the lead.

“Jordan knows what he has to do for us this year — score and play good defense,” Pedra said. The Falcons are stocked with juniors and many bring significant varsity experience to the court from last year including Williams, Reiss, Riley Welter and Jordan Bailey.

Avon led by five at halftime, 23-18. But they began the third quarter with a 9-0 run. Williams collected three rebounds underneath his own basket before putting it back in, Bailey had a nice three-point play in the lane and Reiss scored after collecting a rebound.

The lead swelled to 16 points before Conard put some pressure on Avon’s ball handlers. That sparked an 11-0 Conard surge that cut the lead to five points.

A three-pointer from Mahoney cut the lead Avon lead to five, 51-46, with 2:05 left in the game. After an Avon turnover under their own basket, Mahoney hit a pair of free throws with 1:59 left to trim the lead to three, 51-48. After another turnover, Mahoney sank two foul shots with 1:11 left to cut the lead to one, 51-50.

Two foul shots from Welter with 1:07 remaining gave Avon a 53-50 lead but Mahoney tied it again a few seconds later.

Charley Reiss celebrates his game-winning shot with Jordan Williams (23) and Connor Harris (33).

Charley Reiss celebrates his game-winning shot with Jordan Williams (23) and Connor Harris (33).

Avon 59, Conard 55
At Avon
Conard (55) Alave Fair 1-3-5, Silas Riven 0-2-2, Josiah Cherry 6-2-14, Aidan Mahoney 7-6-26, Enlan Adelani 0-0-0, Kevin Pulco 2-0-6, Casey Chare 1-0-2. Totals 17-13
Avon (59) Ryan Barkiewicz 0-0-0, Robbie Zacchio 0-0-0, Charlie Reiss 4-2-10, Jordan Williams 8-5-24, Riley Welter 1-2-4, Brett Muni 3-0-6, Connor Harris 0-3-3, Jordan Bailey 3-3-9, Henry Schrecengost 1-1-3, Totals 20-16
Conard (0-1)         9    9    8  29 – 55
Avon (1-0)           15  10  15  19 – 59
Three-point goals: Williams (A) 3, Mahoney (C) 6, Pulco (C) 2

2016-17 schedule
December: 22, BULKELEY; 28: vs. Granby at Lewis Mills, 5:30 p.m.; 29: vs. Canton at Lewis Mills, 5:30 p.m
January: 3, at Weaver (Belizzi School); 5, at Simsbury; 9, NW CATHOLIC; 12, WINDSOR; 14, New Britain, 6 p.m.; 17, at Glastonbury, 7 p.m.; 20, at Farmington; 24. At RHAM; 27, WEAVER; 31, at NW Catholic
February: 3, at Bulkeley; 6, SOUTHINGTON; 10, at Hall; 14, HARTFORD PUBLIC; 17, at Windsor; 20, FARMINGTON
Games begin at 6:45 p.m unless otherwise listed

 

 

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 30 years.

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