No team was a match for Avoca-Prattsburgh during the Titans past two state title runs.
In search of a three-peat Saturday morning, Avoca-Prattsburgh faced its toughest task yet. Section III champion Sackets Harbor came out scorching hot, and held on for a 58-57 win over the Titans in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class D semifinals Saturday morning at Glens Falls' Cool Insuring Arena.
Avoca-Prattsburgh star Macoy Putnam helped his Titans nearly overcome a double digit deficit, and controlled possession with a chance to take the lead in the final seconds. Daniel Stilson and JJ Crowder led the Titans in scoring, but they could not overcome Sackets Harbor's 12 made 3-pointers that doubled their total.
What it means
Avoca-Prattsburgh coach Brian Putnam's Titans finished the season 14-10 after coaching his fifth straight Section V title team, winning a Class D2 title with Prattsburgh before capturing four more throughout the merger. His latest son, Macoy, has played for each of those five section title teams.
Macoy Putnam was the only returning starter from a Titans roster that hadn't lost to a Class D team in nearly three seasons before Saturday morning. Avoca-Prattsburgh is 76-12 since the merger. The Titans went 11-0 in 2021, 27-0 in 2022 and 25-2 in 2023.
Sackets Harbor coach Jeff Robbins' Patriots (25-1) will play Section II's North Warren — a 51-46 winner over Section XI's Smithtown Christian — in the NYSPHSAA Class D championship game at 3 p.m. Sunday. Sackets Harbor won its only state title in 2012. North Warren lost in the 2023 NYS semifinals.
Top plays
The most important plays did not go in Avoca-Prattsburgh's favor. The Titans trailed by one with 39.5 seconds left, but Macoy Putnam lost the ball twice. He dribbled into Crowder and lost the ball, but his teammates forced a jump ball to retain possession with 17.3 seconds remaining. Sackets Harbor ripped the ball from Macoy on the ensuing possession with 2.6 seconds left.
Players of the game
Daniel Stilson
Avoca-Prattsburgh's junior big scored a game-high 23 points on 11-of-16 from the field. No defender stood a chance guarding Stilson. He finished a nice feed from freshman Carter Button to tie the game at 57 with 55.4 seconds remaining. Stilson is half of the Titans' twin towers, playing alongside Collin Hammond, who both hover over 6 feet. Stilson added 11 rebounds and a block Saturday, and scored 37 points in the section semifinals.
JJ Crowder
Avoca-Prattsburgh's freshman point guard scored all 15 of his points in the first half. Crowder shot 4-of-7 from the field. Each made field goal was a 3-pointer. Typically the smallest player on the court, Crowder's fourth trey pulled the Titans within the Patriots 34-31 at halftime. He briefly left the game with an injury in the third but soon returned.
Austin Griner
Sackets Harbor senior guard led the team with 20 points. Griner made his first four 3-pointers and had 17 points on five 3s in the first half, nailing long range darts from well beyond the college arc. All six of his field goals were 3s. The Patriots outscored the Titans from 3-point land 36-18. Griner added eight rebounds, two steals and a block.
Game balls
Macoy Putnam
The left-handed five-time Section V champion had 11 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two blocks. Putnam finished a tough fast break layup to pull within two points of the Patriots with three minutes left. Putnam was MVP of the NYS tournament as a sophomore in 2022 and was named the state's co-Class D Player of the Year in 2023.
Ethan Shi
Sackets Harbor's junior scored 15 points on four 3s. Shi split his free throws with 39.5 seconds left to break a tie at 57. Marcus Castine had 14 points and four assists. Jake Peters dished out six assists.
— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He has been reporter for 14 years. Follow him @MarquelSports on X or on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.
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