Avon wins 4th title in 5 seasons; Mynderse runs away with B1 championship
ROCHESTER — Never take for granted the opportunity to play for a Section V championship inside of Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.
Avon (Class B2) joined Mynderse (Class B1) as small school champions this weekend. Class C1, C2, C3 and D finals are set for Saturday.
Here is how the Section V Class B1 and B2 championships were won:
Class B1
No. 2 Mynderse 68, No. 1 Hornell 59 Mynderse coach Pat Prayne’s Blue Devils (15-8) won their first title since 2017. The Finger Lakes squad led 9-0 and never looked back. Mynderse won four games last season but has group of seniors and juniors who gelled this winter. Guards Anthony Luffman and coach’s son Jake Prayne ran the show, but Alan Plummer scored 14 points as Hornell couldn’t match his size.
Hornell coach Kirk Scholes’ Red Raiders fell to 19-4. They were seeking the program’s first title since 2013. Senior guard Gennaro Picco led the Livingston County Division II champs with 20 points. Picco is Hornell’s all-time leading scorer after breaking the previous record of 1,376 points in January. Tournament MVP
Mynderse junior guard Anthony Luffman ran the offense soundly with steady scoring, stout defense and solid passing during a 15-point outing. When Luffman wasn’t dropping buckets, Hornell had to worry about Jake Prayne, a sharpshooter who scored 18 points.
“Anthony’s starting to handle the ball more. He’s got a quick first step (and) can drive,” coach Prayne said. “Jake’s a shooter. They’re a good 1-2. ... Those two played together all summer in AAU basketball. They’ve developed that rapport and they’re friends.”
Play of the game
Prayne beat the buzzer to give Mynderse a 30-28 halftime lead. He used a pick, dribbled through a double team on the left side and fell to the ground as he hit a jumper over three defenders in front Hornell’s bench.
Class B2
No. 1 Avon 69, No. 2 Marcus Whitman 47
What it means
Avon coach Rob Fries’ Braves (22-1) won their fourth title in five seasons. They lost to Northstar Christian in the 2023 Class C1 final. Avon was again led by its big three of Trevor Stroud, Josh Harter and Michael Rowland, who combined for 65 points for the Livingston County program’s 14th overall Section V title.
Marcus Whitman coach Greg O’Connor’s Wildcats (16-7), from the Finger Lakes, last won a championship in 2020. Myles Pendergast scored 14 points Friday.
Tournament MVP
Avon junior Trevor Stroud scored 29 points on three 3-pointers. His sweet release makes him one of the area’s best shooters. Against LeRoy in the semifinals, Stroud scored 19 of his 23 points in the second half and kept it going Saturday.
“I was feeling great. Shooters shoot. I’ve been saying that all year. It’s a great feeling. Without these guys I wouldn’t be here,” Stroud said.
“There’s times he’s un-guardable in practice. ... “He goes through those stretches where he can’t miss,” Fries said.
Play of the game Trevor Stroud nailed a deep 3-point-er with about three seconds left in the third quarter. The bucket gave Avon a 52-39 lead. Stroud’s trey came in the midst of a solo 9-0 run.
All-tournament teams
Class B1: MVP Anthony Luffman (Mynderse), Jake Prayne (Mynderse), John Brady (Mynderse), Alan Plummer (Mynderse), Gennaro Picco (Hornell), PJ Picco (Hornell), Thomas Stewart (Livonia).
Class B2: MVP Trevor Stroud (Avon), Josh Harter (Avon), Michael Rowland (Avon), JJ Howard (Wellsville), Merritt Holly (LeRoy), Myles Pendergast (Marcus Whitman, Brody Royston (Marcus Whitman).
Tom Downey Coach of the Year: Hornell coach Kirk Scholes (Class B1); Avon coach Rob Fries (Class B2).
5 - Section V championship game appearance for Avon senior Michael Rowland, the program’s all-time leading scorer with well over 1,100 points.
11 - Amount of points Marcus Whitman players Brody Royston and Brayden Amadeo each scored Friday.
15 - Second-half point total Avon limited Marcus Whitman to in the Class B2 final. The Braves’ stingy zone defense was successful after trading basket after basket in the first half.
16 - Point total for Avon point guard Josh Harter. He ran the offense to a T Friday night, calling his own number for buckets when he wasn’t busy feeding his teammates.
What’s next
Avon and Mynderse will play each other in the Section V Class B crossover Wednesday to qualify for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Far West Regionals, which takes place Saturday, March 9 in Buffalo.
— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He has been reporter for 14 years. Follow him @MarquelSports on X or on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.