By Patrick Dalahan

Heading into the third full season under head Coach Matt Mihalich, the goal for Avon Old Farms has been clear: Make the playoffs. To give themselves a chance to play for a ring come March for the first time in over half a decade.

16 games in, the Winged Beavers have positioned themselves to do just that.

Overall, AOF has a 11-5 record, but in Class A play, the Winged Beavers have one of the best records in the league, standing at 10-3, landing them at the #3 spot in the computer rankings in class A, and 30th overall across all of New England. In top of this, the Winged Beavers stand with a 4-2 record in Founders League play. Two of their three class A losses, to #15 Brunswick and #13 Deerfield, respectively, have been by a combined four points, with a 60-59 loss at home to Brunswick, and a 60-57 loss at Deerfield. Their third loss was by five points, falling to a very gritty ninth ranked Trinity Pawling team, at Trinity Pawling.

However, the Winged Beavers ranked wins are what stand out. Heading into February, Avon Old Farms has four ranked wins, vs #8 Loomis Chaffee, vs #14 Phillips Exeter, @ #4 Williston Northampton, and a rematch, grudge match win over Founder’s League rival, #9 Trinity Pawling. The smallest margin of victory in these games a six point win over #14 Exeter, in the Road to Prep Nationals at Babson College, with a final score of 73-67. The Winged Beavers led by as many as 16 in the second half of the game, however.

In their other three ranked wins, each have come by double digit margins of victory, defeating Loomis Chaffee by 12, Williston by 10, and Trinity Pawling by 15 points. In class A play, the Winged Beavers have an average margin of victory of 17.2 points, with their smallest margin of victory against a non-ranked team coming from a tough win over Suffield in the Seacoast Classic, 72-63. Suffield Academy, who’s 6-11 record is not indicative of their quality of play, just defeated a VERY good #7 Choate squad on the road, 76-67.

For a run down on the 2022-23 Winged Beaver roster, go to 2022-23 Avon Old Farms Player Profiles

In February, following the return from Avon Old Farms’ long winter weekend, the Winged Beavers have a tough remaining stretch, slated for three top eight matchups in clas A. Their schedule is as follows

2/8, @ Suffield Academy

2/11 vs Taft (Founder’s League)

2/15 @ #5 Hotchkiss (Founder’s League)

2/17 vs #7 Choate (Founder’s League)

2/18 vs Salisbury

2/20 vs #5 Hotchkiss (Founder’s League)

2/22 @ Taft (Founder’s League)

2/25 @ #5 (Class B) Canterbury

The #3 Winged Beavers must remained focused on each game, and must be careful to not look ahead of any opponent. Class A has demonstrated that on any given day, any team can win, but the Winged Beavers are in good shape to go dancing come March.

 

By Patrick Dalahan

December 10, Wellesley, MA - The 2-1 Avon Old farms WInged Beavers shipped up to Boston to take on the 0-0 Phillips Exeter Academy in the National Prep Roundball Classic, hosted annually at Babson College.

Exeter, led by Davidson Commit and transfer from BC High, Mike Loughnane, looked to start their season on a positive note. And in the 1st half, it certainly looked like the Big Red were well on their way to do so.

Exeter torched the nets in the first half, drilling seven 3-pointers. Loughnane finished the first half with 18 points, and without a single miss, too. As a team, Exeter shot 58% from deep, with UMass commit Rollie Castierya adding on with two threes of his own. However, Avon Old Farms battled back to end the half, as they were down by as many as 13 points, cutting the Big Red lead down to 3 heading into the break. 

In the second half, Avon Old Farms continued their rhythm from the end of the first, with Jeff Akintolu taking over. Akintolu, the England Native, dropped 13 second half points. The Big Red did not have an answer for the 6’8” stretch four, who was rising up and making tough shot after tough shot, as well as grabbing six boards.

Not far behind Akintolu was his roomate, and Fairfield Commit, Matt Curtis. Curtis, who played witn a blister on his hand, struggled to adjust to the wrap on his hand in the 1st. However, in the second half, Curtis was back to his normal self, drilling jumpers left and right, finishing with 19 points total. Akintolu finished with 21, with Christian Moore also in double digit scoring himself, finishing with 10 points. 

For Exeter, Mike Loughnane finished with one of the most efficient 27 points anyone will see in the NEPSAC this season, shooting and absurd 71% from the field, and 75% from three point land. Rollie Castierya finished with 19 of his own, shooting 50% from the field, and 40% from three, going 2 for 5 from beyond the arc. Andy Houghton finished with 8 points and Aidan Burke finished with 9, playing excellent defense on the perimeter all game. 

Following a defensive clinic by AOF in the second half, holding a dangerous Big Red offense to 20% shooting from beyond the arc, the Winged Beavers found themselves victorius for the second straight game, improving to a 3-1 record, and 3-0 against Class A competition. The Winged Beavers take on Brunswick this Wednesday, December 12th, looking to create a win streak heading into the Holiday Break.

 

By Patrick Dallahan,

December 9th, Avon, CT - Loomis Chaffee traveled to Avon Old Farms for a Friday night Founder’s League tilt between two Class A teams. Heading into the game, Loomis Chaffee stood with a 2-1 record, with wins over Deerfield and Westminster, while Avon Old Farms had a record of 1-1, coming off of a tough loss against Kingswood Oxford, looking to down Loomis for the first time since 2018.

Avon Old Farms came out hot once again, shooting 46.2% from deep. The Winged Beavers were led by post graduate Christian Moore in the 1st half, who tallied 13 of Avon’s 27 points. Jeff Akintolu, Jared Flaks, Tom Prendergast, and Matt Curtis also chipped in scoring wise. The story of the half, however, was the Avon Old Farms defense, who held Loomis Chaffee to a 29.2% field goal percentage, and 33% from beyond the arc. Loomis Chaffee had a tough time scoring the ball all game, only shooting 30% from the field. After the opening 16 minutes, the Winged Beavers held a 27-22 lead. 

In the second half, Avon Old Farms looked to hold on, and add to, their 5 point advantage over the Pelicans. Matt Curtis made sure that the Winged Beavers wouldn’t relinquish the lead, scoring 20 second half points, drilling four 3 pointers. Curtis finished with 22 points total, as Loyola Commit Jordan Stiemke of Loomis played excellent defense on the Fairfield commit in the 1st half.

Not far behind Curtis in scoring was Christian Moore, who tallied 16 points of his own, along with 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Tom Prendergast also finished with 14 of his own, as well as Jeff Akintoly chipping in with 9 points. 

For Loomis, point guard Caleb Crawford was excellent. Crawford hit five 3-pointers and showcased his elite athleticism and finishing ability at the rim. He finished with 20 points, with Jordan Stiemke adding 11 points, and Kingston Walker finished with 9. 

Avon Old Farms moved to 2-0 against class A competition, with the opportunity to make it 3-0 against Davidson commit Mike Loughnane and Phillips Exeter at the Roundball Prep Classic at Babson College. 

 

By Patrick Dalahan,

December 3, Salisbury, CT-  Avon Old Farms traveled up to their rival Salisbury School looking to set the tone for the season. And set the tone, they did.

To start the game off, post graduate and former Northfield Mount Herman guard, Christian Moore, knocked down a three pointer on the first Winged Beaver possesion. Avon would not relinquish the lead for the rest of the game.

The Winged Beavers came out hot in the first half, scoring a total of 40 points, while holding their Crimson Knight counterparts to just 22. Avon shot 40% from three in the first frame, with four of ten shooting, and converting on 10 of 17 from 2 point range, good for 58.8%. The Avon defense held Salisbury to 30.8% shooting from inside the arc, but allowed the Crimson Knights to convert on 4/7 on three point attempts, well above 50%.

In the second half, it was more of the same for Avon Old Farms, playing smothering defense on the Crimson Knights, this time holding them to only 11% from behind the arc. The Winged Beavers recorded six steals in both the first and second halves for a total of twelve, and took five total charges, three of which coming in the second half. By the end of the game, Avon Old Farms found themselves victorious, with a final total of 78-43.

Leading the way in scoring for Avon Old Farms was postgraduate, and Fairfield commit, Matt Curtis, who tallied up 21 points on 47% shooting from the floor. The Winged Beavers had three other players in double digits. Jared Flaks, Tom Prendergast, and Jeff Akintolu all finished with 11 points each. Prendergast led the way in assists and rebounds, as well, grabbing 8 boards and dishing 6 assists, while also recording 4 steals.

For the Crimson Knights, guard Holleder Novogratz led the way in scoring with 17 points. Holleder was connecting from deep, going 4 of 5 from three point range. Ashton Khoorchand was not too far behind, scoring 12 points of his own, while grabbing 10 rebounds. 

The Winged Beavers will be in action again on Wednesday, December 7th in a Founders League matchup against Gavin Griffiths and the Kingswood Oxford Wyverns. 

 

For more information on this team, please refer to

http://www.avonoldfarms.com