FROM THE PRESS BOX: A CRYSTAL BALL LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2023-24 BOYS BASKETBALL SEASON (2023-03-19)

It was a good year on the boys basketball hardwoods in the Valley, with all four teams qualifying for postseason play, and three of them winning at least one game.

Tioga finished with a 15-9 record, advancing all the way to the Section IV, Class C title tilt before bowing out to eventual state semi-finalist Moravia, while Waverly was 19-3 with its season-ending loss coming in the Class B semifinals.

Athens finished the season at 16-9, losing in the District 4, Class 4A semifinals, and again in the consolation game — one win shy of PIAA playoff berth, while Sayre won its first-ever NTL Small School Division title to earn berths in both the NTL Showdown and District 4, Class AA playoffs — losing both games to finish 12-12.

The season was also marked by outstanding performances by four young men — Waverly junior Joey Tomasso (30.9 points per game, 50 3-pointers, 51.8 percent shooting percentage), Athens senior Mason Lister (18.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game — 51 percent shooting percentage), Sayre senior Jackson Hubbard (25.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 53 3-pointers), and Tioga junior Evan Sickler (22.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 58 3-pointers).

What does the crystal ball say lies in store for the 2023-24 season?:

Athens Wildcats: The Wildcats lose another batch of talented seniors, led by Lister, Lucas Horton, and Chris Mitchell, but the cupboard is not bare.

Athens returns Korey Miller, Xavier Watson, and Kolsen Keathley, who all started or saw significant time, along with junior Conner Mosher, and sophomore Jase Babcock, who flashed the ability to score at the varsity level in limited time this season.

Athens will also have re-enforcements from a JV team that went 21-1 this season.

Prediction: If everyone returns next season, the Wildcats will have five experienced and talented starters. Coach Jim Lister will need to cultivate some depth, but he has good numbers to work with. Athens has had trouble scoring at times the last two years, and it lost three of its top four scorers. … 2023-24 regular-season record: 14-8.

Sayre Redskins: Virtually no one, aside from first-year coach Jon Ward and his team, expected Sayre to go 12-10 in the regular season, and win its division, but the Redskins did just that.

The chances they can do it again take a big hit with the graduation of Hubbard, and Zach Garrity, but the Redskins do return sophomores Nick Pellicano, who could replace a lot of Hubbard’s scoring punch, Mikey Griffin, and Hudson Trump. There are also two or three freshmen returning that should help the cause.

Prediction: The Redskins have the framework for a sequel to 2022-23, but Ward will need to bring along his youngsters quickly because they will need to contribute next year. … 2023-24 regular-season record: 11-11.

Tioga Tigers: The Tigers will return virtually en tact next season, but the Section IV landscape for them will be a bit different for them with a move to Class B. The new cutoff for Class B is 222 students, and Tioga is at 222 on the nose.

Of course, Class B might be a better option for Tioga than Class C as Moravia, which beat the Tigers in the Class C finals, also returns everyone next year.

Tioga won’t have any problems scoring with Sickler likely to top 20 points per game again next year, and classmates Ethan Perry, Valentino Rossi, and Gavin Fisher, as well as sophomore Shea Bailey all capable of averaging double-digits.

Prediction: With Newfield being hit hard by graduation and a key player defection to prep school, the Tigers will be the favorite in the Small School Division. And, despite the move up to Class B, they should be in the mix for a Section IV title, but it will likely have to deal with another late start if its football wins another state title as expected. … 2023-24 regular-season record: 15-5.

Waverly Wolverines: The Wolverines lose a pair of seniors in Isaiah Bretz and Nate DeLill, but return the vast majority of its scoring and rebounding.

Tomasso is only 138 points away from becoming the school’s all-time leading scorer, and is within striking range of 2,000 career points with another season like this season, and possibly a couple more games in the postseason.

The Wolverines have had a hard time getting past the Class B semifinals in recent years, but state re-classification has bumped Owego, Norwich, and Windsor up to Class A.

Chenango Forks and Chenango Valley remain in Class B, and Lansing, Trumansburg, and Tioga have bumped up from Class C, so they will have plenty of competition next year, but Waverly could be the preseason favorite in Class B.

Prediction: Tomasso’s return is obviously the cornerstone of the Wolverines’ continued success, but his supporting cast, which has another year under its belt, should be even better next year. … The biggest question facing the Wolverines: will they face a tougher regular-season schedule in the STAC, or stay in the IAC. … 2023-24 regular-season record: 19-1 (IAC).

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