Avon couldn’t have asked for a better start to 2024.
The Eagles took an early lead and ran with it for a 57-34 non-conference road win over Westlake on Jan. 3.
After Jason Geagea’s 3-pointer gave Westlake a 6-4 lead, it was Avon’s game for the final 28 minutes. The Eagles (5-2) controlled the boards, got out in transition and smothered the Demons’ offense. Picking up a 23-point road win with an inconsistent offensive showing isn’t too shabby.
Despite Avon’s clunky start on the offensive end of the floor, its defense travels. If you’ve ever watched the Eagles, that’s no surprise. Westlake (5-3) has the ability to score points in bunches, but this game was dictated by the Eagles’ style.
“We preach defense, we’ve been doing pretty good on defense,” Avon coach Mike Fitch said. “We did really good on defense in the first half when we couldn’t score. We missed a lot of bunnies and said law of averages. I’m a math dude, I said law of averages and they’re going to go in. We went off and made the next four buckets and the guys were on a roll.”
PHOTOS: Westlake vs. Avon boys basketball, Jan. 3, 2024
Nate Farley scored Avon's first six points of the game, resulting in a 6-6 tie midway through the first. Nobody knew it at the time, but Colten Fitch's 3-pointer on the next possession would put the Eagles in front for good.
Westlake stayed in the game into the second quarter, cutting the deficit to 13-12 following a basket by Andrew Wallenhorst. However, the Demons couldn't get into a consistent rhythm and the visitors made them pay.
Avon scored the next nine points and took control from there. Off missed shots, the ball was getting down the floor quickly, resulting in easy buckets.
Tyson Ziegler started it with a jumper and Paul Leftrict finished a layup on a fast-break opportunity. With numbers once again in transition, Ziegler grabbed an offensive rebound and scored on a putback. Chance Miller connected on an and-one to extend the lead to double digits.
"(It was) huge," Fitch said. "We talk about getting those stops and pushing the ball in transition. We've been working on that, I think we've been a little selfish in transition. We've been working on sharing it and getting rid of it. That's what we talked about in the locker room at halftime."
Avon led by eight at halftime and came out firing on all cylinders to start the second half. The Eagles made three layups in a row with two of them coming on the fast break. Zane Austin was held down, but both of his two baskets came during this stretch. Westlake didn't figure out its offense and the game suddenly slipped away.
"I think the hard thing about offensive efficiency when you're not hitting on the offensive end, they get easy transition looks," Westlake coach Luke Harris said. "If we make our baskets, they can't get out in transition and we're in good shape. In the half-court, we're a really good defensive team and we do a good job communicating. But the second that we start missing on the offensive end, it affects our defense."
The lead reached as much as 18 in the third quarter and got up to 23 for the game's final score. Avon slowed the pace down and got good looks, preventing any kind of Westlake comeback.
Nothing was more indicative of the Eagles' all-around team effort this game than Ali Jaber hitting two late 3-pointers and becoming their leading scorer with 13 points. Ziegler finished with 12 and Farley had 11. Westlake sophomore Hayden Purdy had a big second half to lead his team with 12 points off the bench.
"I think we prepared well for the game and just came out ready to play," Farley said. "Yesterday's practice, we worked hard and it translated to the game."
Both squads return to conference play this weekend. Westlake travels to Elyria Catholic on Jan. 5 and Avon hosts Olmsted Falls on Jan. 6.
