Relentless offensive attack pushed by top-seeded Avoca topples No. 2 Genesee Valley in Class D1 Finals, Tigers roll to 80-58 victory to capture 1st title in 30 years

Genesee Valley senior Cody Schneider (35) drives his way to the basket against the Avoca defense during Saturday afternoon’s Class D1 Finals contest at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Genesee Valley junior Brock Ellsessor (23) looks to put away the open look in front of a pair of Avoca defenders during Saturday afternoon’s Class D1 Finals contest at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Genesee Valley junior Riley Gordon (31) looks to power his way past the Avoca defense on his way inside during Saturday afternoon’s Class D1 Finals contest at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Genesee Valley senior Evan Windus (21) drives his way down the sideline against the Avoca defense during Saturday afternoon’s Class D1 Finals contest at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

Genesee Valley senior Trevor Clark (15) brings the ball up the court with the Avoca defense racing back to defend during Saturday afternoon’s Class D1 Finals contest at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. [Chris Brooks/WellsvilleSports.com]

ROCHESTER — The wait for Genesee Valley’s return to the Class D1 Finals was over after five years on Saturday. After coming all the way back to defeat Notre Dame-Batavia earlier in the week, the challenge to claim the top prize in the Sectional tournament would reach its highest peak of the season in the form of top-seeded Avoca.

Both teams haven’t met since last year’s Class D1 Semifinal round, when the Jaguars were edged out by the Tigers in a 78-76 decision that served as motivation for the No. 2 seeds to power up a trip to revisit them once again at Blue Cross Arena in Rochester — the biggest stage in all of Section V.

At the same time, the top seeds were on a quest of their own to record their first Section V championship on the hardwood since the turn of the decade, in 1990. In the game of basketball, every quarter can tell a story. The Tigers told their story right on the very first page.

The high-flying, high-octane Tigers offense kicked into gear as quick as possible in the first eight minute period, as Avoca tallied a humongous 29-point frame that ultimately set the pace for the entire 32 minutes of the game behind five different scorers netting at least 10 points each to pace the program’s championship-winning victory over Genesee Valley by an 80-58 count to capture the Class D1 title.

“We were starstruck to begin with,” Jaguars coach Lintz Bliven said. “We went over everything that they did at practice all week long. It didn’t matter, they were tuned in. They are well-coached by Mike (Stowe). They were locking horns the entire game, that’s for sure. They get the ball and they run with it. I kept telling the kids that our best chance that we have, is on defense. They can’t press us, and even when you do, the (Devin) Stowe kid gets it and runs. They play great basketball, and I wish nothing but the best for them.”

For the most part in the early stages of the opening quarter, it started out as a back and forth dealing of baskets, trading a handful of them that resulted in a 15-8 lead out of the gate for the Tigers. The Jaguars continued to stay within reach behind a three-point play from Brock Ellsessor that trimmed the deficit down to five at one point. But the two seeds started to fall behind rather quickly, as the Avoca defense began to hightail it back into the offensive zone after forcing multiple turnovers were cashed in.

The first quarter would end on a Devin Stowe lay-in from the right side of the cup after a Jaguars turnover with 10 seconds remaining to increase the team’s lead to double digits, a buffer zone that remained in tact for the rest of the 24 minutes that were left to be played. In all, it was 29-15 opening quarter run.

The momentum continued into the second quarter where the Avoca lead would grow as large as 20 after the top seeds started out with six straight points to the bucket, including a flurry of passes in the Genesee Valley defensive zone resulted in a wide-open lay-up by Tristian Stark, who received MVP honors with a game-high 24 points off 12 buckets inside.

The drought would conclude for the Jaguars after Cody Schneider dug his way inside for the lay-in. But Avoca continued to find responses every step of the way to maintain their double digit lead at the break. Out of 35 total first half possessions, Avoca netted 46 points.

Upon their return to the floor, Genesee Valley did narrow the Tigers lead down to as small as 10 with back-to-back baskets from both Schneider and Windus, and then a pair of three-pointers a short time later by Schneider with 5:22 left on the clock. But as soon as the Jaguars got the hot start, Avoca extinguished it almost immediately, as they went on to account for 13 of the next 17 points to branch their lead back out to 16.

But the deficit would wind up being insurmountable for the Jaguars to make up, as Avoca pushed it to the limit with their lead reaching over 20 points, as the Allegany County basketball season came to an end after a dominant all-around performance by the Class’ top seeds.

In their final game of the season, Brock Ellsessor led all scorers for the Jaguars with a team-high 17 points. Schneider provided 16 points of his own, while Riley Gordon chipped in with 11 points. After the game, Bliven had a heart-to-heart with his team for the very last time, reminding them of the life lessons he has taught them all throughout the season.

“I told them to never give up,” he said. “A couple of months ago, we were jumping up and down in the locker room after winning at the Showcase. Now, we’re not jumping up and down because we lost. The teams we played, and the sun comes up tomorrow, this is a game. Bottom line, this is a game. It doesn’t matter if you win or lost five years from now. Losing in a basketball, baseball or soccer game is not the end of the world. You try to teach these kids life lessons about getting up and going to work. If you want a car or a house, you have to go to work. If you don’t like doing that, you won’t get to keep it. They will come get it. I told the kids to live your life, play hard while you’re playing and give it all you got. Tomorrow may never get here. Don’t take anything for granted.”

As for the season, it was one that his five seniors made memorable over the four years since his return to coaching at Genesee Valley. When it’s all said and done, the Jaguars finished with a record of 18-5 overall to go with their second straight outright Allegany County Division I championship. The team will graduate Schneider, Windus, Trevor Clark, Riley Vohs, and Jon Rizzo.

Bliven held back tears describing what the season has been like in his shoes.

“This was a great year. We beat a lot of great teams. There were a lot of highs, especially when we beat Prattsburgh at the Showcase,” he said. “We can teach these kids so much more about life through athletics than being in the classroom. I wouldn’t swap any of these guys for anyone else. The seniors made this memorable, that’s for sure. Without kids like Cody, Evan, Trevor and the rest of them, none of this would ever have been possible without them working their tails off all year long. It will be tough, but life goes on. The kids come and go, and you just have to find a way to keep making memories with them. They aren’t going to be here forever. We made quite a few memories these past few years, including some big wins, the trip to Cleveland, beating Finney and Wellsville in the same weekend, a trip to the Finals, winning tournaments. What more could you ask for?”

Genesee Valley    15 15 18 10 – 58

Avoca                    29 17 18 16 – 80

GENESEE VALLEY: Trevor Clark 1 2-3 4, Evan Windus 3 1-2 7, Brock Ellsessor 7 3-3 17, Riley Gordon 5 0-2 11, Keegan McKnight 1 0-0 3, Cody Schneider 7 0-0 16. Totals: 24 6-10 58.
AVOCA: Brady Brandow 6 3-4 18, Devin Stowe 5 0-1 10, Pacey Hopkins 6 0-0 13, Tristian Stark 12 0-0 24, Thomas Derick 1 0-0 2, Jonathan Jensen 4 1-1 10, Michael Hoad 1 1-3 3. Totals: 35 5-9 80.

3-point goals: GV 4 (Schneider 2, Gordon, McKnight), Avoca 5 (Brandow 3, Hopkins, Jensen).
Total Fouls: GV 14, Avoca 13. Fouled out: Windus (GV).