This year, Bryce Sercu, Wayne Libby and Kordell Oakes are doing a better job of finishing.

It helps when the Panthers start like they did Thursday night.

Pine Valley went 9 of 15 from the floor and Sercu scored 10 of his game-high 20 points during the first quarter to jump-start Pine Valley to a 59-39 defeat of Cattaraugus-Little Valley in the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association East Division opener for both teams.

“He dominated the paint early, getting the ball into the high post, establishing his position, we did a good job of feeding him into the open spots. He connected, he finished with all of his takes going inside,” Pine Valley head coach Bobby Slisz said of Sercu. “When you have to collapse on a guy like Bryce, that opens up Kordell on a wing, Donavon (Gugliemi) on a wing, Wayne on the low blocks. Getting it to the middle and having him establish that he can score from there is going to change the way teams have to play us.”

Pine Valley’s Miles Volk puts up a shot during Thursday’s game against Cattaraugus-Little Valley. OBSERVER Photo by Matt Spielman

Libby followed Sercu with 17 points and Oakes had 15 for the Panthers, who improved to 6-1 on the season.

“No matter what, somebody should be able to get open looks and convert,” Slisz said. “When you have guys that are that special, it’s very hard to stop all three. You might stop one, you might stop two, but it’s very hard to stop all three.”

John Visnesky was the lone Cattaraugus-Little Valley (7-3) player in double figures with 13 points.

“These guys came out and took it to us. They played really well,” Cattaraugus-Little Valley head coach John Forster said. “We tried to get back into it there a little bit in the second half, and they hit a couple of big ones.”

Sercu scored the first 6 points of the game and 10 of his team’s first 12 before a bucket from Libby made it 14-2 and forced Forster to reluctantly call a timeout late in the first quarter. Libby and Oakes each added a late basket as the hosts led 18-7 after eight minutes.

The Timberwolves then turned the ball over 10 times in the second quarter, leading to 14 Pine Valley points and a 36-13 halftime score.

“The first half was great. We played really well, dominated the ball, moved the ball, on defense we were physical, we knew what we were supposed to do, we matched up and did our assignments,” Slisz said. “In the second half we kind of came apart a little bit, a little chaotic. I think we tried to play too fast. Overall it’s hard to be disappointed with a 20-point win.”

Pine Valley shot 16 of 32 (50%) from the floor and turned the ball over just seven times in the first half.

“They are really, really efficient in fast break, especially off of stops,” Slisz said of his team. “When you are talking about us against a press, it’s up and down. When they set up and they are patient, and run it the right way, they can dominate and pass the ball really well.”

Cattaraugus-Little Valley closed the third quarter on an 8-0 run to close the gap to 14 entering the final period, but a Sercu bucket and a 3-pointer from Oakes early in the fourth put any thoughts of a comeback to rest.

“We get a few possessions where things go our way, but our guys are working their butts off and get exhausted,” Forster said. “It takes a toll on you.”

For the game, Pine Valley was 26 of 58 (44.8%) from the field, including 3 of 16 (18.8%) from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 18 times.

Cattaraugus-Little Valley was 17 of 55 (30.9%) from the field, including 4 of 18 (22.2%) from 3-point range, and turned the ball over 22 times resulting in 21 Panthers’ points.

The Timberwolves will continue league play Monday at Franklinville while Pine Valley will visit North Collins that same night.

“They allowed them to climb back into the game, but then closed it off and put the foot down to end the game,” Slisz said. “That’s important to do when you are establishing yourself as a good team.”

NOTES: Sercu grabbed 13 rebounds and picked up six steals; Donavon Gugliemi had six assists; Libby grabbed six rebounds and had four steals; and Oakes had seven assists and seven steals for the Panthers. … Pine Valley won the jayvee game 48-38. Jon Sheldon scored 23 points for the Panthers and Derek Howland led the Timberwolves with 10.

CATTARAUGUS-LITTLE VALLEY (39)

Howland 2 0 5, Seamon 1 0 2, Frentz 4 0 8, Furl 2 0 5, Halterman 2 1 6, Visnesky 6 1 13, Frentz 0 0 0, Young 0 0 0. Totals 17 2 39.

PINE VALLEY (59)

Sercu 10 0 20, Butcher 0 0 0, Gugliemi 1 2 5, Libby 8 1 17, Volk 1 0 2, KoOakes 6 1 15, Miller 0 0 0, KaOakes 0 0 0, Gregory 0 0 0. Totals 26 4 59.

3-point goals–Howland, Furl, Halterman, Gugliemi, KoOakes 2.

Cattaraugus-Little Valley 7 6 15 11 — 39

Pine Valley 18 18 6 17 — 59

Jayvees: Pine Valley won 48-38.