Avon Boys Basketball Wins Valley Sports High School Summer League

The Avon High School boys basketball team won the Valley Sports High School Summer League last year and the boys have done it again this summer.

Avon reclaimed the title after a recent 77-71 win against Canton.

But it was a close one. Avon was a force to be reckoned with early in the game, utilizing it's "press, pressure defense and hot shooting," according to coach Ralph Jefferson. The team were up by 15 points early on. But when Ryan Marioni and Patrick McKearney got into foul trouble in the second half with eight minutes remaining, it gave Canton the chance for a comeback. Canton surfaced to a three-point lead in the last five minutes, Jefferson wrote in an email to Patch.

When Marioni and McKearney came back into the game, they helped bring their team back into the lead, as did Sean Hermann.

"Avon slowed the game down for the last three minutes and won despite questionable free throw shooting," Jefferson said.

But all in all, he was pleased with the outcome.

"Good performance and team leadership by Ryan Marioni," Jefferson said. "Good outside shooting by Sean Hermann. Good inside scoring and rebounding by
Patrick McKearney and great defense by Brad Fisher."

Suffield was the only team that defeated Avon in the summer league season. They won by a two-point margin. 

"The best highlight was how the team got better and played together over the season and into the playoffs," Jefferson said.   

Congratulations to the team:

• Jared Rosenblatt
• Matt Reagan
• Patrick McKearney
• Sean Hermann
• Brad Fisher
• Jordan Levine
• Grant Dowling
• Ryan Marioni.

Parents, do you have photos of the team playing this summer? Upload them to our gallery!

Did you know of an Avon athlete that has done something really great this summer in sports? Nominate him or her for Patchlete of the Week by submitting a photo, a description of the accomplishment and contact information for the coach and player. You can also tell us in the comment!