Tournament revenge: Avondale delivers some postseason payback on Kettering
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
TROY — A year ago Waterford Kettering surprised Auburn hills Avondale in a first-round Class A district game. On Monday, the Yellowjackets more than remembered that crushing blow.
Avondale showed no mercy on the Captains, scoring the game’s first six points and cruising to a 66-36 victory at Troy Athens.
Avondale (17-4), co-champions of the OAA White Division with Troy, will face Waterford Mott at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the district semifinals. Troy defeated Athens 73-58 ion the other district opener Monday and will face Pontiac at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the semifinals.
The Yellowjackets lived up to their namesake, using a swarming full-court trapping defense that caused 21 first-half turnovers. Kettering had few shot attempts (20) than turnovers (21) in the first half and shot only 5-for-20 in the first half, struggling to bring the ball upcourt.
Avondale led 17-6 after the first quarter and 43-12 at the half. Avondale shot 18-for-35 (52 percent) over the first 16 minutes.
“We had a little payback (to give),” said Avondale coach Jeff Borja. “We wanted to stay focused. We thought they were an athletic team and come out and play our game. The guys really wanted this one. They took it personal after what happened last year.”
When Avondale’s players learned this season that they drew Kettering in the district opener, the Yellowjackets had but one thought on their mind.
“Revenge,” admitted senior guard Tony Harris, Jr. “We remember what happened last season. We didn’t come to play. We were looking ahead to the (second round). We knew we have to take it one game at a time.”
Kettering defeated Avondale 67-61 last season, as Brett Hoffman scored 21 points. Hoffman was held to 12 points and nine rebounds this time around and 6-6 senior Steve Wilson added 11 second-half points for the Captains (9-12).
The lead grew to as many as 33 points, 49-16, with 5:28 to play in the third quarter before the Avondale coaching staff called off the dogs. The Yellowjackets led 55-25 at the end of the third quarter and played mostly bench players in the fourth quarter.
Senior guard Ray Tillman scored 19 points with four steals and four rebounds for Avondale. Harris added 14 points, six steals and four assists, 6-6 senior Ryan Brancheau scored 12 on 6-of-7 shooting with six rebounds and two blocked shots and A.J. Susick scored six for the Yellowjackets, which finished the night with 21 team steals.
“We got the better of the draw,” offered Borja, knowing his team is far more focused this season. “That’s not to take anything away from Waterford Mott or Kettering, but we feel we got as good of a draw as we can.
“I really liked our effort tonight. We ran a lot of fresh legs out there and we didn’t allow them to gain any confidence,” added Borja. “I thought we did a good job of taking them out of the game right away with our defensive pressure.”
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Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, Prep Wraps
