Austin Prep has endured a rough ride in its third NEPSAC season and first in Class AA. But Wednesday night marked a turning point for the young team.
The Cougars used an 18-5 run to open the second quarter an establish a double-digit lead, then survived a comeback attempt from Wilbraham and Monson to win at home, 60-55. It's the first Class AA win for Austin Prep (4-7) and it came in a big way against our eighth-ranked NEPSAC program.
"This was a huge win for them," Austin Prep coach Ushearnda Stroud said. "The maturity really showed."
Both teams are young and growing, and the matchup displayed several of the top juniors and underclassmen in New England. Specifically, the center battle between national No. 40 ranked junior Fope Ayo (Austin Prep) and Wilbraham and Monson star Caterina Ravosa lived up to expectations. Here are five standouts from the contest.
Angel Efosa, Austin Prep
Class of 2027, 5-11 guard/forward
Hometown: Lawrence, Mass.
Efosa logged an awesome breakout game with a team-high 19 points and five rebounds. Her straight-line drives gave the Titans problems all night. She's fast with long strides and really good at using step-throughs and up-fakes to get defenders out of position. Efosa got to the free-throw line often, especially late in the win. Stroud got on her early for her defensive engagement level, but I thought Efosa showed better moments later on.
Teammate Tiffany Burns emphatically said Efosa is "the next one up." Stroud compared Efosa to the early stages with her former Mass Rivals AAU star and current Duke sophomore Oluchi Okananwa. That's certainly a high bar, but Efosa's athletic tools and ability to play bigger than her size do draw similarities. She's acclimating to NEPSAC well after transferring from Whittier Tech.
"My NEPSAC adjustment has been good, even school-wise," Efosa said. "But the basketball — it's a different experience, but it's an experience that I cherish. I really love this type of basketball."
Tiffany Burns, Austin Prep
Class of 2027, 5-9 guard
Hometown: Methuen, Mass.
I was super impressed by Burns, who seemed unfazed by Wilbraham and Monson's pesky guard defenders. She tallied 17 points and five assists, making a couple of 3s and several driving layups and floaters. Burns shined as a passer and decision-maker. She played at her own pace and made a few well-timed passes inside to Ayo and Efosa, and I barely recall any egregious bad-pass turnovers.
"I think last year, something that I definitely struggled with was trying to make good decisions, mature decisions," Burns said. "... Knowing that I got these pieces around me, I know that they can hoop too. So just being patient and make sure that I can get good looks, not only for myself, but for them too. I think it's the most important thing as a point guard, especially if we're going to win big games like this."
Burns is one of the top prospects in the region's 2027 class, and after missing some early games due to injury, she's hitting her stride. She's received offers from Boston College, Providence, Merrimack and Siena, and Stroud knows decision-making is a key scouting point for colleges.
"You are judged on your assist-to-turnover-ratio and your decision-making, and it's been a tough start to the season," she said. "You have no easy games, everyone knows who you are, and they're scouting you, they're trapping you. ... I'm glad that she had a big game tonight."
Fope Ayo, Austin Prep
Class of 2026, 6-5 center
Hometown: Methuen, Mass.
My first takeaway from watching Ayo in game action: She has high catch points unlike almost anyone I've seen in NEPSAC. Ayo and Burns have established great chemistry; Burns will throw some high passes to places only Ayo can reach.
Ayo collected 10 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks. She's starting turn the potential of her size and talent into consistent production. Ayo made her decisions with the ball quickly, either going right up for a shot or looking to pass out to the perimeter, and didn't let double-teams bother her. I thought this was a solid defensive game from her, and even "solid" includes a couple of monster blocks and altered shots.
"We're seeing more of her athleticism and her quick decision-making," Stroud said. "She's processing information and processing the defense a lot more. She hasn't had a bad game, and we're not in any of these games without her leadership."
Caterina Ravosa, Wilbraham and Monson
Class of 2026, 6-2 forward
Hometown: East Longmeadow, Mass.
Ravosa took on a difficult matchup and dominated, racking up 27 points and 14 rebounds. She just didn't quit on possessions and recorded a bunch of offensive-rebound putbacks, plus some occasions where she was just in the right place at the right time for a loose ball. But she also opened the game with a 3-pointer and scored a couple times over Ayo in the post. I thought Ravosa did an admirable job defending Ayo too, and she was able to deny one post entry pass and force a turnover. This was her best game I've seen in-person this winter.
Selah Prignano, Wilbraham and Monson
Class of 2026, 5-9 guard
Hometown: Newington, Conn.
Prignano (10 points) and teammate Hannah Grudzien (11 points) found something in the fourth quarter. On back-to-back plays, Prignano drove from the left corner and dished an easy pass to Grudzien on the weak-side low block, where she was wide open for a layup. They even flipped it a bit later, with Grudzien throwing a dart from the corner as Prignano cut hard to that spot and scored. Prignano made a corner 3, and though she didn't have the shot falling all game, she was confident firing away. I also thought she did one of the better jobs defending Austin Prep off the dribble.
