Avella rides late push to win over Pioneers
Avella's Camden Georgetti (22) defends West Greene's Caleb Rice during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
West Greene’s Chase Blake takes a 3-point shot in Monday afternoon’s game at Avella. Blake scored 16 points but the Eagles won, 58-46.
Avella's Brandon Samol scores while being fouled by West Greene's Caleb Rice during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
West Greene’s Caleb Rice throws a bounce pass during Monday afternoon’s game at Avella. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
Avella's Gabe Lis gets ready to launch a 3-pointer as West Greene's Ian VanDyne defends during Monday afternoon's game at Avella. Lis scored a game-high 22 points in the Eagles' 58-46 win.
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
West Greene’s Casey Miller scores inside during Monday afternoon’s game at Avella.
Avella's Westley Burchianti (3) sends the ball to Gabe Lis (11) for a layup after intercepting a long West Greene inbounds pass during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
West Greene's Caleb Rice attempts a 3-pointer over Avella's Gabe Lis during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Avella's Donovan Avolio look for an open teammate while being defended by West Greene's Ian VanDyne during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
West Greene's Chase Blake dribbles up court during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Avella's Brandon Samol scores in front of West Greene's Caleb Rice during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
West Greene's Chase Blake lofts a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game at 46-46 during the fourth quarter of Monday afternoon's game at Avella. Blake scored 16 points but the Eagles pulled away for a 58-46 win.
Avella's Gabe Lis drives through the lane and scores against West Greene during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Avella's Tanner Terensky fires a jump shot from the corner during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Avella's Brandon Samol (24) defends West Greene's Caleb Rice during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Avella's Camden Georgetti shoots a 3-pointer against West Greene during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Avella's Tanner Terensky dribbles through West Greene's defense during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Avella coach Mike Maltony signals to his players during Monday afternoon's game against West Greene at Avella.
Avella's Brandon Samol puts up a shot against West Greene during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Rob Burchianti | Herald-Standard
West Greene’s Casey Miller (33) defends against a shot at Avella last season. Miller returns to the Pioneers for his senior year.
West Greene coach Jim Romanus keeps a close watch on the action during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
West Greene’s Joe Cumberledge scores inside during Monday afternoon’s game at Avella. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
Avella's Donovan Avolio shoots a 3-pointer against West Greene during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
Avella coach Mike Maltony talks to his players during a timeout in Monday afternoon's game against West Greene at Avella.
Avella's KJ Rush puts up a shot against West Greene during Monday afternoon's game at Avella.
West Greene head coach Jim Romanus talks to his players as assistant coach Beau Jackson (left) looks on during a timeout in a game last season. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
West Greene’s Wes Whipkey (2) challenges a 3-point shot by Avella’s Westley Burchianti (3) during a game last season. Whipkey returns to the Pioneers for his senior season although a football injury will likely keep him out of the lineup until January. (Photo by Rob Burchianti)
AVELLA — Avella rode a late push to a 58-46 win over visiting West Greene in a Section 2-A boys basketball battle Monday afternoon.
The game was tight throughout with no team holding more than a five-point lead until the Eagles reeled off the final 12 points, including six by Gabe Lis, to claim their fourth win in five games.
Lis scored a game-high 22 points and Donovan Avolio added 13 points for Avella (4-4, 5-9), which sits in third place in the section.
“We started playing a little bit better defense towards the end of the game,” Eagles coach Mike Maltony said. “We had little lapses throughout the game where we weren’t necessarily having our hands up, playing on our toes. We were pretty flatfooted today.
“I told my assistant Mike Macik that it felt like a Saturday afternoon game where sometimes the kids aren’t really ready to go. But we put it together and had nice a little run there at the end.”
Avella held a 39-37 lead heading into the fourth quarter and went up by four on a short jumper by Brandon Samol.
The Pioneers (1-7, 1-10) pulled within one, 41-40, after a three-point play by Casey Miller before the Eagles answered with a basket by Avolio and two free throws by Camden Georgetti.
Caleb Rice hit a 3-pointer to make it 45-43 and after Avolio made one of two free throws to increase the lead to three, Chase Blake hit a 3-pointer from the corner to tie it at 46-46 with 2:50 remaining.
Lis helped Avella take charge from there.
The senior guard followed his own missed shot with a rebound and basket to put the hosts ahead to stay. After Avolio again made one of two from the foul line, Lis scored on a tip-in and a layup, both following West Greene turnovers, and suddenly the Eagles had a 53-46 advantage and were on their way.
Tanner Terensky hit a free throw with 55 seconds left for Avella and Avolio tossed in the final two baskets.
It was the Eagles’ fourth win in their last five games.
“We are getting better,” Maltony said. “I think the kids are starting to believe in each other. They’re staring to believe in the system and are putting things together.”
West Greene suffered it 10th straight loss after a season-opening victory.
“Turnovers are what really hurt us,” Pioneers coach Jim Romanus said. “We tried various types of pressure and when we had to sub our young guys in when our starters got a bit gassed, that’s when we fell apart.
“Right at the end Avella just wanted it more than we did. They really went after the ball and we didn’t block out. Kudos to them.”
Blake led West Greene with 16 points and Rice followed with 12 points.
“I thought our two seniors, Caleb and Chase, played really good,” Romanus said. “They play hard and they’re effective, too.
“They don’t turn the ball over. They know what to do, where they’re supposed to be, what kind of pass to make. They know how to play the game. That makes sense because they’re the only two from the entire team that played varsity last year.”
Miller added seven points for the Pioneers and Wes Whipkey chipped in with five points.
“I thought our bigs, Casey and Wes, showed some improvement this game,” said Romanus, who admitted a lack of practice time has hurt his team.
“We’ve had several COVID issues. We’ve only had three five-on-five practices this entire year, and it shows. You can go over things ghost-wise, with nobody guarding you, but when you go out there in a game it’s a lot different.”
West Greene started strong and took a 17-12 lead after one quarter with Blake scoring eight points, including two 3-pointers.
Avella fought back in a second quarter that had five ties before Avolio sank a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Eagles a 32-29 halftime lead.
West Greene took its last lead on baskets by Miller and Rice to start the third quarter.
Avella fired right as Lis scored then Westley Burchianti stole a long inbound pass and fed Lis for another basket. Burchianti followed with a driving layup to complete a six-point run and the Eagles would never trail again.
Joe Cumberledge tallied the next four points to get West Greene within one before a Lis free throw made it 39-37 heading into the fourth quarter.