ALL-TIOGA COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL: NEWARK VALLEY’S GARDNER LEADS THE WAY (2024-03-21)

Tioga County Sports Report
TIOGA COUNTY — Newark Valley’s Cha Gardner has been one of the elite basketball players in Section IV history, so it should come as no surprise that the Division I-bound senior repeats as the All-Tioga County Girls Basketball “Player of the Year.”

Gardner averaged a double-double for a second straight season with 22 points (506) and 14.7 rebounds (339) per game (10.2 at the defensive end). In the process, she set the school scoring record for and also pulled down more than 1,000 boards.

She also had 114 blocks (4.96 average), 96 assists (4.1) and 62 steals (2.7) in leading the Cardinals to a 21-2 record, which included a 21-game win streak, along with repeats as the IAC South Large School and IAC Large School champions.

NV was one of two Tioga County teams to record double digits in the win column, but was the only team to post single digits in the loss column. The majority of that is due to Gardner’s dominance at both ends of the court, so much that she has also earned the “Offensive Player of the Year” and “Defensive Player of the Year” accolades.

Candor Megan Williamson is the “Newcomer of the Year.” The freshman averaged 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.0 assist per game, and stepped up her level of play in the team’s late-season surge for the IAC South Small School title.

Her speed was key in the Coyotes’ ability to play man-to-man in a 42-40 tie-breaker win over Spencer-Van Etten to win the division. She also scored a game-high 19 points against Odessa-Montour to force a tie atop the division and also played a key role in Candor avenging an early-season loss to S-VE in late-January.

“Coach of the Year” Greg Schweiger continues to keep Newark Valley at the forefront of the IAC and in the hunt for Section IV championships on a regular basis.

Despite key graduation losses, the Cardinals continue to dominate, having advanced to the sectional title game during the previous four seasons it's been held. Schweiger is the only coach in Tioga County to post four consecutive 20-win seasons (excluding an 11-1 record during the 2021 COVID-19 campaign).

ALL-TIOGA COUNTY GIRLS BASKETBALL
Player of the Year: Cha Gardner, Newark Valley
Offensive Player of the Year: Cha Gardner, Newark Valley
Defensive Player of the Year: Cha Gardner, Newark Valley
Newcomer of the Year: Megan Williamson, Candor
Coach of the Year: Greg Schweiger, Newark Valley

First Team
Emmi Makie, Candor
Nicola Soper, Candor
Cha Gardner, Newark Valley
Cassie Doane, Owego
Madison McEvoy, Owego
Ryleigh Judson, Waverly
Paige Robinson, Waverly

Second Team
Adrianna Finta, Newark Valley
Aubrey Kwiatkowski, Newark Valley
Liv Short, Newark Valley
Ava Brown, Owego
Taylor Dalton, Owego
Lexi Herceg, Owego
Faith Brenchley, Spencer-Van Etten

Honorable Mention
Hazel Ray, Candor
Megan Williamson, Candor
Adriana Rich, Newark Valley
Kamryn Short, Newark Valley
Adriena Farmer, Spencer-Van Etten
Aubrie Kastenhuber, Spencer-Van Etten
Raegan Sudnikovich, Spencer-Van Etten
RaeAnne Feeko, Tioga
Taliah Speer, Tioga
Brilynn Belles, Waverly
Ashlen Croft, Waverly

NOTE: All-stars are listed alphabetically by school, then name.

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IN PHOTO: NV’s Cha Gardner.