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Steuben County tourney breakdown: Canisteo-Greenwood, Avoca-Prattsburgh net wins in semis

Steve Harrison
·4 min read

The 2023-2024 basketball season is quickly coming to an end, and along the way is the first win or go home tournament to conclude the regular season for Steuben County basketball teams.

This year's tournament takes place in Campbell-Savona and the final four teams eyeing the county championship entering Saturday's semifinal round were No. 1 Canisteo-Greenwood, No. 2 Avoca-Prattsburgh, No. 3 Arkport-Canaseraga and No. 4 Hammondsport Lakers.

Prattsburgh has been crowned the Steuben County kings of the court 11 times since the inception of the tournament back in the 1980-81 season. Now teamed up with Avoca, the program entered Saturday looking for an eighth consecutive trip to the county finals being led by 2009 Section V Basketball Hall of Fame coach Brian Putnam.

This year's tournament brings a few new teams to the final four as the Chargers of Canisteo-Greenwood last made a finals appearance back in the 2015-16 season. Canisteo-Greenwood came in with an undefeated regular season in Steuben County, and after losing the first game of the season against the Hornell Red Raiders, C-G has rattled off 17 wins in a row and look to capture the program's first county championship since the 1998-99 season.

Hammondsport's Ben Dluzak (23) challenges a shot by Canisteo-Greenwood's Sage Klees Saturday in the Steuben County Tournament semifinals. C-G prevailed, 77-53.
Hammondsport's Ben Dluzak (23) challenges a shot by Canisteo-Greenwood's Sage Klees Saturday in the Steuben County Tournament semifinals. C-G prevailed, 77-53.

Arkport-Canaseraga came in as one of the streakiest teams around the county; when they are on, they are one of the top teams in all of Section V. Led by freshman Caden Carey, who finds himself on the 2023-24 All-County First Team, and coach Max Houy, this season has brought the excitement back into the basketball program for the Wolves. A-C hasn't been in the finals since the two school districts merged a few years back. Arkport last made the finals in 09-10 against Prattsburgh, and Canaseraga made its appearance back in the 99-00 season, capturing the title over Jasper-Troupsburg.

Hammondsport's last appearance was in 2013-14 as it captured the title with a win over the Wildcats of Jasper-Troupsburg. The Lakers are currently sitting in the fourth spot in Class D and looked to bring home the hardware from the finals Wednesday night, but up first was a matchup with the Chargers of Canisteo-Greenwood. The Lakers are led by seniors Isaiyah Ali and Peyton Crooks, both of whom will be playing in the Exceptional Senior game vs. the Allegany County Seniors on March 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Canisteo.

Avoca-Prattsburgh takes rubber match from Arkport-Canaseraga

Saturday's first final four matchup pitted the Titans of Avoca-Prattsburgh against Arkport-Canaseraga. Their third matchup would determine the trip to the county finals; the regular season was split as both teams lost at home against one another.

It was a back and forth first half as the Wolves saw the game plan working with penetration and kickouts to sharp shooters on the arc, but a buzzer beater by the Titans to end the first quarter gave A-P the lead and the Titans never looked back.

Arkport-Canaseraga junior center Kohler Preston lets a floater fly in the first half against Avoca-Prattsburgh Saturday night. A-P went on to a 60-43 victory. A-C will place in the consolation game Wednesday evening in Campbell at 5:45 p.m. against Hammondsport.
Arkport-Canaseraga junior center Kohler Preston lets a floater fly in the first half against Avoca-Prattsburgh Saturday night. A-P went on to a 60-43 victory. A-C will place in the consolation game Wednesday evening in Campbell at 5:45 p.m. against Hammondsport.

The newly crowned Steuben County MVP, Macoy Putnam, faced a box and one defense and didn't get many scoring opportunities but the senior and two-time state champion knew his game would be to distribute the ball as the Wolves would be looking to limit his chances.

Instead it was junior forward Dan Stilson piling up the points Saturday night. Stilson carried the team with a game-high 33 points as the Titans punched their ticket to the finals of the county tournament Wednesday night.

Top-seeded Canisteo-Greenwood defeats Hammondsport

The final matchup of the evening featured the No. 1-seeded, high-flying Canisteo-Greenwood Chargers who came in with an unblemished county record and the No. 2 seed in Section V, Class B2. C-G starts three sophomores and two seniors, and it would be hard to say there is one leader on the team because on any given night any of the starting five could be the leading scorer.

The team is led by longtime county coach Brad Hoyt, who has instilled the team concept.

Canisteo-Greenwood sophomore Carson Chaffee puts up a shot between Hammondsport defenders Saturday night as the No. 1-seeded Chargers claimed a spot in the county championship against the A-P Titans. Chafee finished the night with 29 points and was also named to the All-County team this season.
Canisteo-Greenwood sophomore Carson Chaffee puts up a shot between Hammondsport defenders Saturday night as the No. 1-seeded Chargers claimed a spot in the county championship against the A-P Titans. Chafee finished the night with 29 points and was also named to the All-County team this season.

Hammondsport came out in the first quarter looking to slow the pace down and create a low scoring game in order to have a chance with the Chargers. Starting the game in a zone defense allowed the Lakers to take the lead after the first with a 13-10 advantage. During the break the Chargers switched their defense to a man-to-man full court press which caused all sorts of trouble for the Lakers, creating turnovers and fast break opportunities for C-G, which took a 31-23 halftime lead.

Nothing changed after halftime and the full court press continued to cause trouble for the Lakers as the Chargers cruised to a 77-55 victory, securing their spot in the finals and a showdown with Avoca-Prattsburgh Wednesday night in Campbell.

2023-24 All-County Team

MVP

Macoy Putnam, Avoca-Prattsburgh

First Team

Carson Chaffee, Canisteo-Greenwood

Caden Carey, Arkport-Canaseraga

JJ Reese, Canisteo-Greenwood

Steuben County 2023-24 Boys Basketball MVP Macoy Putnam puts up a shot over Arkport-Canaseraga's Ibra Ford as Avoca-Prattsburgh punched its ticket to the finals of the Steuben County Tournament with a 60-43 win Saturday. Macoy finished the night with 8 points.
Steuben County 2023-24 Boys Basketball MVP Macoy Putnam puts up a shot over Arkport-Canaseraga's Ibra Ford as Avoca-Prattsburgh punched its ticket to the finals of the Steuben County Tournament with a 60-43 win Saturday. Macoy finished the night with 8 points.

JJ Crowder, Avoca-Prattsburgh

Thomas Sirianni, Canisteo-Greenwood

Sawyer Troxel, Jasper-Troupsburg

Arkport-Canaseraga's Alex Vilkhu (21) puts up a shot over the Avoca-Prattsburgh defense in Saturday night's Steuben County semifinal matchup. The Titans earned the win for a spot in the finals.
Arkport-Canaseraga's Alex Vilkhu (21) puts up a shot over the Avoca-Prattsburgh defense in Saturday night's Steuben County semifinal matchup. The Titans earned the win for a spot in the finals.

Second Team

Dan Stilson, Avoca-Prattsburgh

Jim Ainsworth, Jasper-Troupsburg

Tim Vikhu, Arkport-Canaseraga

Ibra Ford, Arkport-Canaseraga

Jackson Kibler, Campbell-Savona

This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Steuben County tourney: Canisteo-Greenwood, Avoca-Prattsburgh net wins