VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S TOMASSO EARNS 'PLAYER OF YEAR;' ATHENS' MILLERS, BLACKMAN, AND WAVERLY'S WESTBROOK ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2021-08-04)

Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY "” Sidney Tomasso may not have had the type of season she and her peers were hoping for, but the Waverly senior had quite a season nonetheless, and is the 2020-21 Valley Sports Report Girls Basketball "Player of the Year."

Athens senior Kayleigh Miller was the "Offensive Player of the Year," while Waverly 8th-grader Addison Westbrook was the "Newcomer of the Year," Athens senior Hannah Blackman was the "Defensive Player of the Year," and Athens' Brian Miller was the "Coach of the Year."

Tomasso scored 24.2 points per game, scoring more than 20 in 11 of her 13 outings. She also was among the team leaders in 3-pointers (38), rebounds (6.3 per game), assists (2.5), and steals (4.4). She also dropped in a school-record tying 42 points in a win over Owego.

A heady player, Tomasso was dangerous whenever the ball was in her hands, with the ability to score in transition, from behind the 3-point arc, driving to the bucket, or in the intermediate game - whether with a runner or a mid-range bucket.

She was also very good on defense, especially getting in the passing lanes for steals that created easy buckets for her and her teammates.

Tomasso's numbers also came against a much-tougher schedule than the Lady Wolverines would normally play in the IAC, as they butted heads in home-and-aways with Horseheads, Elmira, and Owego, and played Corning once, while also playing IAC powerhouse Newark Valley twice.

Unfortunately for the Lady Wolverines, who posted an impressive 11-2 record, there was no postseason in New York.

A dead-eye shooter from behind the 3-point arc, Kayleigh Miller graduates fifth all-time on the school's scoring list with 1,187 points, and first all-time with 222 career 3-pointers.

This season, Kayleigh Miller averaged 17.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. She shot 80 percent from the free-throw line, and 40 percent from the field.

A good all-around player, Addison Westbrook was primarily a spot-up shooter (and a very good one at that) for the Lady Wolverines this season. She scored a career-high 23 points, including six 3-pointers, in a win over Tioga, and

A gifted all-around athlete, Blackman didn't score much, but she was a "defensive stopper" for the Athens Lady Wildcats. Blackman was tasked on a nightly basis with guarding the opposition best backcourt scorer.

Brian Miller directed the Lady Wildcats to a 17-7 record in 2021, including a 54-42 win over Milton in the District 4, Class AAAA quarterfinals. The season ended in the semis with a 32-25 loss at Shamokin.

Athens is 39-12 under Miller the last two seasons.

The 2020-21 Girls Basketball Super 7:
Sidney Tomasso, senior, Waverly: See above.

Kayleigh Miller, senior, Athens: See above.

Caydence Macik, junior, Athens: An athletic low-post player, Macik was a standout on both ends of the floor for the Lady Wildcats.

Macik led Athens at 17.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.8 steals, and 2 blocks per game. She also averaged 2 assists per game.

Kennedy Westbrook, sophomore, Waverly: A gifted scorer, Kennedy Westbrook was also among the best defenders in the area.

Very dangerous in transition, and also taking the ball to the bucket in the half-court set, Westbrook could also knock down the 3-pointer. She averaged 14.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 5.8 steals per game.

Olivia Ayres, senior, Tioga: A deadly 3-point shooter, Ayres improved in all facets of the game during her truncated senior season.

She graduates as the school-record holder for most 3-pointers in a season (69 during her junior year) and for most 3-pointers in a single game - 7, which she accomplished four times, including once during her senior season.

Eve Wood, senior, Tioga: A gritty point guard, Wood did a bit of everything for the Lady Tigers.

She could knock down the 3-pointer, get out on the fast break, found the open man, and hit the boards.