2007-08 Varsity Basketball Summary
Overall Record: 12-9
The
Avon varsity basketball team entered the season with high expectations
and the goal of making the New England Class B Tournament. While the
team did not achieve all of its goals, it did have a successful season
finishing with an overall record of thirteen wins and eleven losses
while playing a traditionally rigorous schedule. Avon competed hard in
most every game, and with the exception of losses to two Class A
caliber opponents during the Christmas Tournament at The Hill School,
only one loss was by more than ten points. The team continued to fight
hard throughout the season and still had an outside shot of making the
post-season up until the final night. While falling short of the
initial goal of making the tournament, a winning record and
consistently competing hard in most every game makes the 2007-2008
season an overall success.
There were plenty of highlights from
both the team and individual perspectives this season. The team had
almost perfect bookend highlights to the season, starting off with a
tough win against a Salisbury team that would go on to finish fourth in
New England. Then, in the next to last game of Avon's season, an
incredible final play earned the victory versus sixth-ranked Taft.
Trailing by two points with only 3.5 seconds to play, the team executed
a final play to perfection. Blaise Driscoll '08 sent a long pass to Tim
Brechbuehler '09, who then quickly sent another pass to Joe D'Amelio
'08. D'Amelio then took one dribble, pulled-up, and drained a
three-point shot for a buzzer-beating win. It was the best ending in
recent memory.
From an individual standpoint there were also a
lot of great accomplishments and moments. Leslie Spalding '08 was the
recipient of this year's Truman Johnson Award for his dedication to the
sport of basketball and to his team, while Captain Langley Young '08,
who played hard and consistently all year while being a leader by
example, received this year's Coaches Award. Khaseem Greene '08 was
awarded the Game Changer Award, for his ability to single-handedly turn
the momentum of a game in Avon's favor. Joe D'Amelio played a vital
role for the team this year as a both a point-guard and a scorer. He
finished the season first on the team in assists and second on the team
in scoring, and was awarded the team's Most Valuable Player Award. Tim
Brechbuehler finished the season first on the team in scoring,
rebounding, and blocked shots, which earned him the distinction of
being this season's Most Outstanding Player. The team also had three
players recognized by the Tri-State League: both Khaseem Greene and Tim
Brechbuehler were voted onto the First Team All-League, while Joe
D'Amelio was selected to the Second Team All-League.
The team
says goodbye to nine of its players: Captain Langley Young, Blaise
Driscoll, Joe D'Amelio, Khaseem Greene, Leslie Spalding, Matt Doyle
'08, Ben Riley '08, Jerome Wilkins '08, and Blair Campbell '08. The
coaches want to thank all of the graduating players for their hard work
and their contributions to the Avon Basketball Program and would like
to give special recognition to three-year varsity team members at Avon,
Langley Young and Blaise Driscoll. We wish all of these graduating
players only the best in all of their future pursuits. The team returns
a small but solid nucleus of rising seniors Tim Brechbuehler, Terrell
Whiting '09, Chris Marx '09, and Steven Heller '09.
The team wants to thank everyone who came out and supported them this year. 
