VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' WHEELER, WAVERLY'S JUDSON HEADLINE ALL-VALLEY GIRLS HOOP TEAM; WAVERLY'S ROBINSON, KELLY, ATHENS' BURGESS, JARVIS ALSO EARN TOP HONORS (2024-03-20)
Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY - Athens junior
Addy Wheeler and Waverly freshman
Ryleigh Judson posted very strong seasons on young teams. They share the 2023-24
Valley Sports Report Girls Basketball "
Player of the Year" honors.
Athens sophomore
Abby Burgess, and freshman
McKenna Jarvis were immediate contributors in their first varsity seasons and share the "
Newcomer of the Year" honors, while Waverly senior
Paige Robinson is the "
Defensive Player of the Year," and Waverly’s
Bob Kelly is the "
Coach of the Year."
Wheeler, a superb defender and excellent all-around player, averaged 11.5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals, 2.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. She also knocked down 23 3-pointers on the season.
Judson, a natural scorer who can knock it down from anywhere on the floor, averages 15.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.1 deflections, and 1.2 steals per game. She also made 42 3-pointers on the season, and shot 84.6 percent (55 of 65) from the free-throw line.
Burgess, a top-notch defender and excellent ball-handler, averaged 6.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 assists. She also made 21 3-pointers on the season.
Jarvis, who was most dangerous in transition, averaged 7.4 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 1.2 assists per game.
Robinson was a lockdown defender in the half-court, and a terror for opposing ball-handlers in Waverly’s pressing defense. She averaged 2.4 steals, and 2.7 deflections per game, to go along with 7.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
Despite a 9-10 record, Waverly’s season can be interpreted as nothing but successful.
Bob Kelly’s team not only lost its top returning scorer in Addison Westbrook to a season-ending knee injury at the outset of soccer season, but lost senior Peyton Shaw in a tragic car accident in early December.
The Lady Wolverines responded to adversity and were 7-1, then 8-2 to start the season, before losing eight of their final nine games — all with a roster that featured three freshmen and three 8th-grader, who were all getting regular playing time.
The 2023-24 All-Valley Super 7:
Addy Wheeler, junior, Athens: See above.
Ryleigh Judson, freshman, Waverly: See above.
Paige Robinson, senior, Waverly: See above.
McKenna Jarvis, freshman, Athens: See above.
Abby Burgess, sophomore, Athens: See above.
Ashlen Croft, senior, Waverly: Croft got better and better each year of her varsity career. She averaged 5.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.7 deflections, and 1 assist per game.
Abbie McGaughey, junior, Sayre: A physical, hard-nosed player, McGaughey averaged 5.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game.
Honorable Mention: Brilynn Belles, sophomore, Waverly.
All-Valley Super 7 Newcomers
McKenna Jarvis, freshman, Athens: See above.
Abby Burgess, sophomore, Athens: See above.
Taliah Speer, junior, Tioga: A fiery competitor, Speer averaged 8.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.8 deflections per game. She knocked down 25 3-pointers on the season.
Payton Black, freshman, Sayre: A heady player, Black showed flashes of brilliance, and should develop into a presence on both ends of the floor for the Redskins.
RaeAnne Feeko, sophomore, Tioga: A tremendous athlete, Feeko got better and better as the season progressed. She should be an offensive force for the Tigers the next two seasons.
Maci Wheeler, 8th-grader, Waverly: Ultra-quick, Wheeler was a presence on defense for the Wolverines, and she started scoring more toward the end of the season. She should be much more of a factor in coming seasons.
Mackenzie Olmsted, freshman, Waverly: A non-stop dynamo on defense, Olmsted is going to be a major force in Bob Kelly’s defensive scheme for years to come.
Honorable Mention: Waverly’s Lauryn Welles, Waverly’s Kendall Rockwell, and Tioga’s Mia Hall.
All-Valley Defensive TeamPaige Robinson, senior Waverly
Addy Wheeler, junior, Athens
Abby Burgess, sophomore, Athens
RaeAnne Feeko, sophomore, Tioga
Liz Shaw, senior, Sayre
Mackenzie Olmsted, freshman, Waverly
Meghan Flynn, senior, Sayre
———————
GIRLS BASKETBALL
"Players of the Year"
2023-24 — Addy Wheeler, Athens / Ryleigh Judson, Waverly
2022-23 — Kennedy Westbrook, Waverly
2021-22 — Kennedy Westbrook, Waverly
2020-21 — Sidney Tomasso, Waverly
2019-20 — Sidney Tomasso, Waverly
2018-19 — Alex Tomasso, Waverly
2017-18 — Elle Nittinger, Waverly
2016-17 — Elle Nittinger, Waverly
2015-16 — Paige Wampole, Sayre
2014-15 — Morgan Westbrook, Athens / Paige Wampole, Sayre
2013-14 — Reylyn Schwartzhoff, Waverly
2012-13 — Sabrina Bowman, Waverly
2011-12 — Sabrina Bowman, Waverly
2010-11 — Kara McDuffee, Tioga
2009-10 — Kara McDuffee, Tioga
Print Friendly Version
