Brady Mayo scores 45, Beaver outlasts Avonworth in OT to share section title
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Saturday, February 8, 2025 | 12:47 AM
Beaver’s Brady Mayo celebrates after scoring against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo shoots a 3-pointer against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo drives to the basket against Avonworth’s Carson Bellinger (1) and Thomas Werner during their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo drives to the basket to score against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Junior Marino shoots a 3-pointer as Avonworth’s Noah Goetz defends during overtime in their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Junior Marino celebrates after scoring against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo scores past Avonworth’s Noah Goetz during their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo works against Avonworth’s Carson Bellinger during their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo pumps his fist after scoring against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Rowan Carmichael shoots a 3-pointer over Beaver’s Brady Mayo during their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Noah Goetz shoots a 3-pointer over Beaver’s Junior Marino during their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Avonworth’s Rowan Carmichael scores past Beaver’s Junior Marino during their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Jake Peluso celebrates after hitting a 3-pointer against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo shoots a 3-pointer against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo shoots a 3-pointer against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo celebrates after scoring against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo drives past Avonworth’s Noah Quinn during overtime in their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo scores against Avonworth’s Noah Quinn during their game on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Beaver’s Brady Mayo celebrates after scoring against Avonworth on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, in Ohio Twp.
Brady Mayo found a way to let his coach know he wasn’t feeling stressed, even surrounded by a standing-room crowd in a nail-biting atmosphere that ultimately needed overtime.
“He was at half-court guarding, and he looked at me and he winked,” Beaver coach Jason Bumblis said. “I swear to God. I looked at my (assistant) coach and said, ‘We’re good.’”
Viewed as a rematch between Mayo and top WPIAL scorer Rowan Carmichael, it was Mayo who delivered a game-high 45 points Friday night as Beaver defeated No. 2 Avonworth, 76-75, in overtime to earn a share of the Section 2-4A title.
The WPIAL’s second-leading scorer, Mayo made four 3-pointers, but also drew fouls and made 17 of his 18 free throws.
“It’s hard (to defend him) if he’s going to knock down 30-foot shots like he was and get to the rim,” Avonworth coach Joe Frank said. “We’ve got tough-nosed kids who can defend. They battled him all night. But you tip your hat. He made plays.”
Carmichael scored 31 but fouled out in the fourth quarter.
A steal by Beaver’s Philip Marino with 4.1 seconds left in overtime sealed the victory, earning the Bobcats their fourth section title in program history. They are only four years removed from consecutive last-place section finishes.
“I’ve watched a lot of Beaver basketball games. They weren’t very good,” Mayo said. “So coming through (the program), I always wanted to be the team that left a mark. … Our goal is not done. But this is one step toward our goal.”
Beaver (18-4, 8-2) and Avonworth (17-4, 8-2) will share the section title.
“It means everything, but the job isn’t done,” said Marino, who scored 15 points. “This is just our first step to the next level.”
The WPIAL will announce playoff pairings Monday.
A 6-foot-1 senior guard, Mayo scored five points in the first quarter, 18 in the second, eight in the third, 12 in the fourth and two in overtime. He also was tasked with guarding Carmichael.
“He’s special,” Bumblis said. “He’s generational.”
Avonworth won 57-53 when these teams met Jan. 14 at Beaver. Carmichael scored 44 points in that win. Mayo had 19.
This time, Mayo and Carmichael traded shots for three quarters, but the Avonworth star ran into foul trouble after halftime. Carmichaels picked up a fourth foul with 2:31 left in the third quarter and fouled out on a charging call with nearly 4 minutes left in the fourth.
Noah Goetz kept Avonworth afloat by scoring 25 points, with 16 in the fourth quarter and overtime. But Carmichael’s early exit on senior night was surprising. This was the first time he’d fouled out all season.
“He just plays so hard,” Frank said, “and just didn’t get a couple of calls.”
Avonworth trailed 62-60 when Carmichael fouled out but took the lead twice on late 3-pointers by Goetz and Billy Onyshko. The Antelopes led 66-64, until Mayo drew a foul and made two free throws with 1:13 left in regulation.
The teams entered overtime tied at 66.
“We showed a lot of toughness,” Frank said. “Our guy goes down and we still battled them.”
Beaver broke a 73-73 tie in overtime with a 3-pointer by Marino with 1:40 left. Goetz pulled Avonworth within a point by making two free throws at the 38-second mark.
A Beaver turnover with 34 seconds left gave Avonworth one final possession, trailing 76-75. The Antelopes called a timeout with 14.9 seconds left to set up for the final shot. Goetz drove toward the paint but took a tumble and lost the ball.
Beaver ran out the final 4.1 seconds.
“We wanted the ball in Goetz’ hands because he was the hot guy coming down the stretch,” Frank said. “Unfortunately, he just blew a tire.”
It was Avonworth that ended Beaver’s football season a few months ago — with Mayo being a top football player, too — so that rivalry carried over to the winter.
“That was a tremendous game,” said Bumblis, in his first year as Beaver’s coach. “It was big for our kids. Our school doesn’t have a good basketball history. That was only our fourth section title in 100 years. The kids knew that.”
Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.
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