THE SPORTS REPORTS: NEWARK VALLEY'S GARDNER NAMED ALL-REGION GIRLS BASKETBALL 'PLAYER OF YEAR;' FIVE OTHER TIOGA COUNTY GIRLS MAKE THE LIST (2024-03-31)

The Sports Reports
Very few players can dominate both ends of the basketball court like Newark Valley’s Cha Gardner. The Sports Reports “Girls Basketball Player of the Year” averaged a double-double for a second straight season with 22 points and 14.7 rebounds per game.

She also averaged 4.96 blocks, 4.1 assists and 2.7 steals in leading the Cardinals to a 21-2 record, along with repeats as the IAC South Large School and IAC Large School champion, and a runner-up finish in the Section IV Class B tournament.

The IAC South Large School MVP, who swept all of this season’s All-Tioga County (NY) major awards, set the school career scoring record (1,414 points) and also pulled down (1,072) career boards.

Edison senior Payton Littlefield, the “Offensive Player of the Year,” averaged nearly 25 points a game, while being the focus of opposing defenses.  Scored 523 points and hit 90 3-pointers this season, and finished her career with a school record 1,725 points.  She also averaged 6.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game.

“Defensive Player of the Year” Addy Wheeler of Athens has been tabbed as a superb defender and excellent all-around player. The averaged five steals and 1.3 blocks per game. She also averaged 11.5 points, five rebounds and 2.8 assists, while nailing 23 3-pointers.

Elmira freshman Mariah Matias, the “Newcomer of the Year,” registered 18 double-doubles in 21 games this season. She established school records for rebounds in a game (28), and a season (301). She averaged a double-double with 16 points and 14.3 rebounds per game, and also averaged 3.1 steals and 1.2 blocks a game.

Horseheads’ Andy Scott guided the Blue Raiders to STAC and Section IV Class AA championships to earn the “Coach of the Year” honor. Horseheads went 18-5 with three losses coming against state finalists, including the eventual Class AA champs. The Raiders compiled a 16-game win streak, second longest in his 26 years with the program.

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PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cha Gardner, Newark Valley
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Payton Littlefield, Edison
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Addy Wheeler, Athens
NEWCOMER OF YEAR: Mariah Matias, Elmira
COACH OF THE YEAR: Andy Scott, Horseheads

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FIRST TEAM
Cha Gardner, Newark Valley: See above

Payton Littlefield, Edison: See above

Mariah Matias, Elmira: See above

Sophia Bonnell, Horseheads: The senior averaged 16.5 points, 5.5 assists and five rebounds a game. Had a 2-to-1 assist to turnover ratio and averaged two steals a game, shooting 41 percent from 3-point range with 73 threes this season and 179 for her career, both second in school history.

Taylor Rae Jones, Williamson: repeats as the All-Tioga County (Pennsylvania) Girls Basketball ‘Player of the Year’. Jones scored 20-plus points eight times and hit double-digits in 21 of the Lady Warriors’ 24 games, averaging 15.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 4 steals and 2.1 assists per outing while going over 1,000 points in her career.

Kaylin Sterling, Troy: The power forward averaged 13.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.7 steals, 3.0 assists per game. The NTL “Player of the Year” and Northern Tier Sports Report “Co-Player of the Year” led Troy to an undefeated league season and final four of District 4 Class AAA Tournament.

Alyssa Parks, Troy: A shooting guard, she averaged 11.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.1 steals. The Northern Tier Sports Report “Co-Player of the Year” was a very good defensive player along with her effort on offense.

SECOND TEAM
Addy Wheeler, Athens: See above.

Leah Beebe, Northeast Bradford: The point guard averaged 13.2 points, 4.2 assists and 3.6 steals. Led NEB to District 4 title game and NTL Small School title. Very good shooter and defender.

Chloe Brandenburg, Wellsboro: The All-Tioga County (PA) “Offensive Player of the Year” scored 14.7 points per game with 50 3-pointers on the season. She hit a three in all but two games, had multiple threes in 15 of the Lady Hornets’ games and had three games with five deep balls. She added 3.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Madison McEvoy, Owego: The junior point guard / shooting guard averaged 16.3 points per game with 54 3-pointers to her credit. She also averaged 3.5 assists, 3.5 steals, 3.1 deflections, 2.5 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per contest. Additional honors included BCANY Section IV first-team, Stars and Stripes Classic (selected by officials), Charlie Sibley Memorial all-tournament team, More Than A Game Tournament MVP and STAC Central/East All-Conference.

Cassie Doane, Owego: The senior forward/center was one of just three Tioga County (NY) players to average a double-double with 10.9 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. She also averaged 1.5 assists, 2.0 steals, 2.0 deflections, 0.9 blocks and had five charges taken. Named BCANY Section IV honorable mention and STAC Central all-division.

Ryleigh Judson, Waverly: The freshman averaged 15.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 deflections and 1.2 steals per game. She also made 42 3-pointers and shot 84.6 percent (55-for-65) from the free-throw line. Was a STAC Central/East All-Conference selection.


THIRD TEAM
Nicola Soper, Candor: The sophomore was one of three Tioga County (NY) players to average a double-double with 12.9 points and 21.1 rebounds per game. She also averaged 2.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per outing. Set school records in rebounding for both single game (35) and season (380). Finished with 182 offensive and 198 defensive boards. Had 14 double-doubles in 18 games and was chosen IAC South Small School MVP.

Olivia Meisner, Williamson: The junior was selected the All-Tioga County (PA) “Co-Defensive Player of the Year.” She blocked 48 shots on the season and had 50 steals while grabbing over seven defensive rebounds per game. She averaged 7.3 points per game and 10-plus rebounds, and also handed out 42 assists from the post.

Kenna Thomas, Williamson: Named the All-Tioga County (Pa.) “Co-Defensive Player of the Year,” the sophomore had 55 blocks and 43 steals, and averaged 11.1 points and eight rebounds per game.

Haley Litzelman, North Penn-Liberty: She averaged a double-double with 11.9 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest, and also averaged 3.2 assists, 2.7 steals and 2.6 blocks.

Megan Wolf, Horseheads: A junior, she averaged 14.5 points, five rebounds and three steals a game. She shot 46 percent from 3-point range, making 43. She has 700 career points through three years, but is also a key force defensively, locking up the other team’s best player.

Jordyn Gross, Horseheads: The junior averaged 10.5 points and 8.7 rebounds a game. Made 46% of her shots. Nearly doubled her scoring and rebounding totals from her previous season. The culmination was a 20-point effort in the sectional championship to propel Horseheads past Union-Endicott.

Emmi Makie, Candor: A freshman, she averaged 12.7 points (led team with 242 total), 7.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game. An IAC South Small School first team all-start, she recorded six double-doubles.

FOURTH TEAM
Mallory Sheehan, Notre Dame: The senior averaged 16 points, four rebounds, four deflections and 4.3 steals a game to lead the Crusaders this season.

Gabby Milazzo, Edison: A senior, she was the Spartans’ second-leading scorer at 9.3 points a game. She connected on 63 3-pointers, including eight treys in one game and seven in another. Milazzo also averaged 3.6 rebounds a game.

Hannah Nichols, Corning: The senior averaged 7.9 points, three steals and three assists a game, and shot 38 percent from 3-point range.

Kameron Lightner, North Penn-Mansfield: She averaged 9.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game.

Ella Churchill, Cowanesque Valley: The junior scored 11.2 points per game.

Brynn Woodruff, Towanda: A double-double player in scoring and rebounding.

Faith Brenchley, Spencer-Van Etten: A solid all-around player, the junior guard averaged 6.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.5 steals.

NEWCOMERS
Mariah Matias, See above.

Char Starns, Corning: The freshman averaged a double-double 10.2 points and 18.8 blocks, as well as 7.6 rebounds per game.

Giana Renzi, Troy: She averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 assists and 3.1 steals per game, and was a bulldog defender 1-on-1 with few turnovers.

Cailyn VanNoy, Canton: A freshman, she averaged 9.4 points, 3.1 assists and 3.3 steals.

Maddie Ribble, Horseheads: A freshman, her athleticism provided a spark off the bench. She came on strong later in the season with a career-high three 3-pointers in the STAC championship game and scored 14 points in a victory. Hit clutch threes in both sectional wins

Mali Hufner, Edison: A spark plug off the bench with athleticism and energy she led the team in steals on the season. Not asked to do a ton on offense, she had two 11-point games and a lot of big offensive rebounds.

Abby Burgess, Athens: A top-notch defender and excellent ball-handler, the sophomore averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 assists. She also made 21 3-pointers on the season.

McKenna Jarvis, Athens: Most dangerous in transition, the freshman averaged 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.2 assists per game.

Mya Maynard, Towanda: She was a double-double threat who had a nose for offensive rebounds.

Alysha Botts, Wyalusing: She was a double-digit scorer who led her team with assists as a freshman.

Taliah Speer, Tioga: A fiery competitor, the junior averaged 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.8 deflections per game. She also knocked down 25 3-pointers.

Megan Williamson, Candor: The freshman averaged 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Scored 19 points against Odessa-Montour and nine against S-VE in key games en route to the IAC South Small School title.

Emily Johns, Wyalusing: She came on late in the season as the starting center. Averaged double figures in the playoffs when the Rams made the state tournament.