Avon Dominates Brookside in a Showdown of Strength and Strategy

In a high-stakes nonconference matchup between two neighboring schools, Avon proved to be the stronger team on both sides of the court. The Eagles’ performance on January 3 was marked by physicality, strategic execution, and an impressive rebounding effort that left Brookside struggling to keep up.

Avon controlled the game from the start, using their size and strength to dominate the boards. They grabbed 46 rebounds compared to Brookside’s 28, with 21 of those being offensive rebounds. This allowed them to create second-chance points and maintain control of the game throughout.

“We knew with (Avon’s) length, strength and the way that they tried to defend, we packed in the paint, but they are going to send guys flying in (to get the rebound),” Brookside coach Larry Babic said. “You got to check someone out every time. We just watched. Then, they come flying in and they rebound (the ball).”

The Eagles also had a significant advantage in the turnover battle, which helped them gain momentum early in the game. Despite Brookside keeping pace initially, Avon’s second-quarter surge set the tone for the rest of the game. A 15-0 run before halftime gave them a commanding lead, and they continued to build on it in the third quarter.

“Our goal was to get offensive rebounds,” Avon coach Mike Fitch said. “I knew that we could.”

Key Performers and Game Highlights

Gavyn Kittelberger and Brookes Good were the top scorers for Avon, each contributing 14 points. However, it was Kittelberger who provided the crucial second-quarter boost. In a short span, he scored three straight field goals, two of which came off steals. This push allowed Avon to extend their lead and take control of the game.

“I think that we were settling in on outside shots,” Fitch said. “We had to focus on getting downhill, and then we knocked some down.”

Caden Krugman and Sam Griffith each led the team in rebounds with six, while Joey Ziegler added 11 points, including seven in the first quarter. Their balanced scoring and rebounding efforts were key to Avon’s success.

On the other side, Alex Arra and Zeke Lind were the only players for Brookside to score double figures, with 14 and 11 points respectively. Despite a strong start in the second half, Brookside struggled to close the gap, finishing with 43 points compared to Avon’s 72.

Coach Reactions and Team Reflections

Brookside coach Larry Babic was not pleased with his team’s performance, particularly the 14 turnovers that cost them valuable opportunities. “It is a good test for our guys,” he said. “They have pride, but you have not been able to play the big boys when they are on the schedule. We have not been able to rise to the occasion.”

Avon, on the other hand, remained focused on their strategy. “We knew that we started off slowly,” Kittelberger said. “We had trouble guarding on-ball, but we knew that we had to take it to another level, knowing that we had a bad practice the day before.”

Looking Ahead

With the win, Avon improved to 5-2 on the season and extended their winning streak to four games. They will look to continue their momentum when they face Midview on January 6.

For Brookside, the loss was their second of the season, both coming against Southwestern Conference opponents. However, the experience gained from playing Avon will be valuable as they prepare for upcoming games against Firelands on January 6 and Keystone on January 9.