Boys basketball: Avon hands Olmsted Falls a loss ... and Amherst the outright SWC title in the process

AVON — The Avon defense didn't make things easy on Olmsted Falls. Playing their first game in more than 10 days, the Bulldogs started slow and Avon capitalized with a big first half then held on for a 47-40 Southwestern Conference win Monday night. The Bulldogs (13-4, 10-3 SWC) entered the game tied with Amherst in the SWC loss column, but needed to win its four remaining league games to force a split for the conference crown. The Comets, who already locked up a share of the SWC title at 14-2, clinched the outright championship thanks to the loss. "We know they like to space out the floor, drive and attack then look for open shots," said Avon senior Dominic Rini, who led the Eagles with 12 points. "Honestly, Connor Allomong, Niko Pappas and Mike Matlak just played really good defense on them, creating really good defensive stops, steals and getting out on fast breaks for us to get open shots." Avon (11-8, 10-5) shut out Olmsted Falls in the first quarter and the Bulldogs didn't make their first field goal until 2:15 into the second quarter — a Carson Balfour 3-pointer that cut the Avon lead to 13-4. Allomong, who also hit double figures for Avon with 10 points, scored four in the second and helped continue the Eagles' smothering defense, which ultimately resulted in a 19-4 lead with 2:57 to go in the half. Olmsted Falls made just one of 18 shots to that point. "We were taking our defense and turning it into offense," Allomong said. "When we were pressuring them, we got stops and turned it into offense. It was just the game plan." The Bulldogs found their rhythm after a timeout, shooting 15-of-32 the rest of the way, closing the half with seven points and holding Avon to seven in the third quarter as they cut the lead to 31-23. Charlie Ciolek, one of the Bulldogs' top scorers, was held scoreless in the first half and only had two points entering the fourth, but he came up big when Olmsted Falls needed him the most, scoring 11 points down the stretch to lead all scorers with 13. But despite his efforts, the first-half hole was too deep to overcome. Olmsted Falls cut the deficit to five points on six occasions in the fourth quarter, but never got any closer as Avon responded with a score every time. The Eagles closed the door by connecting on four of six free throws in the final 45 seconds. "We've had a lot of close games like this," Avon coach Mike Fitch said. "We have a lot of senior guards who are experienced with the basketball, make the right decisions and make free throws. I have faith in those guys. They do what they do." Contact Chris Sweeney at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com and follow him @CSweeneyCT on Twitter. Avon 47, Olmsted Falls 40 OLMSTED FALLS (40): Charlie Ciolek 5-3-13, Carson Balfour 3-0-7, Luke Dieckman 2-0-4, Jimmy Lippus 0-0-0, Michael Candow 1-1-3, Aaron Katitus 0-0-0, Alex Candow 3-0-7, Tanner Nelson 1-0-3, Spencer Lethbridge 1-0-3. Totals 16-4-40.AVON (47): Jacob Siegert 3-3-9, Mike Matlak 2-2-6, Colin Ladegaard 1-0-2, Dominic Rini 3-6-12, Niko Pappas 3-2-8, Connor Allomong 4-2-10, Max Emerine 0-0-0, Matt Fischer 0-0-0, Ben Rehner 0-0-0. Totals 16-15-47. Olmsted Falls&emsp;&emsp; 0&emsp;&emsp;11&emsp;&emsp;12&emsp;&emsp;17&emsp;—&emsp;&emsp;40Avon&emsp; &emsp;11&emsp;&emsp;13&emsp;&emsp;7&emsp;&emsp;16&emsp; —&emsp;&emsp;47 Three-point goals: Olmsted Falls 4-22 (Balfour, Alex Candow, Lethbridge, Nelson), Avon 0-11. Field goals: Olmsted Falls 16-50 (32 percent), Avon 16-43 (37 percent). Free throws: Olmsted Falls 4-9 (44 percent), Avon 15-24 (63 percent). Rebounds: Olmsted Falls 27 (Ciolek 9), Avon 32 (Matlak 7, Pappas 7). Total fouls: Olmsted Falls 22, Avon 18. Turnovers: Olmsted Falls 17, Avon 17. Avon 47, Olmsted Falls 40 OLMSTED FALLS (40): Charlie Ciolek 5-3-13, Carson Balfour 3-0-7, Luke Dieckman 2-0-4, Jimmy Lippus 0-0-0, Michael Candow 1-1-3, Aaron Katitus 0-0-0, Alex Candow 3-0-7, Tanner Nelson 1-0-3, Spencer Lethbridge 1-0-3. Totals 16-4-40. AVON (47): Jacob Siegert 3-3-9, Mike Matlak 2-2-6, Colin Ladegaard 1-0-2, Dominic Rini 3-6-12, Niko Pappas 3-2-8, Connor Allomong 4-2-10, Max Emerine 0-0-0, Matt Fischer 0-0-0, Ben Rehner 0-0-0. Totals 16-15-47. Olmsted Falls 0 &emsp;&emsp;11 12 17 — 40 Avon 11 13 7 &emsp;&emsp;16 — 47 Three-point goals: Olmsted Falls 4-22 (Balfour, Alex Candow, Lethbridge, Nelson), Avon 0-11. Field goals: Olmsted Falls 16-50 (32 percent), Avon 16-43 (37 percent). Free throws: Olmsted Falls 4-9 (44 percent), Avon 15-24 (63 percent). Rebounds: Olmsted Falls 27 (Ciolek 9), Avon 32 (Matlak 7, Pappas 7). Total fouls: Olmsted Falls 22, Avon 18. Turnovers: Olmsted Falls 17, Avon 17.