Boys’ Basketball

Oxford 55, Afton 44

OXFORD – Oxford shook off a slow start and an early 12-point deficit in the third quarter to finish its MAC Division II schedule at 10-0.

It was the tenth straight win for the Blackhawks (13-6), who play Unadilla Valley Saturday at 4 p.m. on their home floor for the league title. “I’m calling it (the slow start) the senior recognition curse,” said Oxford coach Tim Davis. “I don’t know what it was. We did everything else okay, we just didn’t shoot it well and couldn’t buy a basket.”

Afton led 25-15 at the break and scored the first basket of the second half. Oxford finished the quarter on a 23-6 run getting nine points from Trevor Nelson and eight from Scott Seiler. “We got a little spark going in the third quarter, but the shooting never was impressive,” Davis said.

Ben Burdick led four Oxford players in double figures scoring 19 points. Nelson and Seiler had 11 apiece, while Steve Locke scored 10.

Afton junior Bryant Winans netted 17 points.

Afton: Bryant Winans, 6 4-5-17; Joe Effrin, 0; Phil Sanford, 3 0-2-8; Matt Davy, 0 1-2-1; Karl Rogler, 3 0-1-7; Jacob Snyder, 1 0-0-2; Conor Tarbell, 2 0-1-4; Keith Lockwood, 1 3-4-5. Totals: 16 8-15-44.