VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' WHEELER NAMED 'PLAYER OF THE YEAR;' WAVERLY'S OLMSTED, KELLY, ATHENS' KEMP ALSO EARN TOP HONORS ON ALL-VALLEY GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM (2025-03-26)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Athens senior Addy Wheeler put together a strong season on both ends of the floor and is the 2024-25 Valley Sports Reports Girls Basketball "Player of the Year."

Wheeler shares "Defensive Player of the Year" honors with Waverly sophomore Makenzie Olmsted, while Athens freshman Allie Kemp is the "Newcomer of the Year," and Waverly's Bob Kelly is the "Coach of the Year."

A fierce competitor, Wheeler packed the stat sheet on a consistent basis. She averaged 13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 4 assists, and knocked down 20 3-pointers on the season.

Wheeler was consistently put on the opposition's best player. She averaged 6.2 steals and 3 deflections per game.

Olmsted, a fiery competitor who has a non-stop motor, was consistently tasked with guarding the opposition's best guard and sticks to them like lint to a new suit. She was a key cog in Waverly's press that produced a lot of points this season.

Olmsted averaged 3 steals and 2 deflections per game.

Kemp knocked down some big shots for the Wildcats this season, and provided key minutes in the front court.

Kemp averaged 6.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, and canned 22 3-pointers. She shot 41.2 percent from field, and 68 percent from the line.

Bob Kelly has a couple state titles under his belt during his long coaching career, but this year may have been one of his best coaching jobs.

Kelly used his patented pressure defense to create scoring opportunities throughout the season, and directed his team to a 16-4 season, with three losses coming to Chenango Forks, which reached the state semifinals.

Waverly beat Forks in their first meeting of the season, but lost to the Blue Devils in the Section IV, Class B semifinals.

GIRLS BASKETBALL
Player of the Year: Addy Wheeler, Athens.
Newcomer of the Year: Allie Kemp, Athens.
Defensive Player of the Year: Addy Wheeler, Athens; and Makenzie Olmsted, Waverly.
Coach of the Year: Bob Kelly, Waverly.

2024-25 All-Valley Girls Basketball Super 7
Addy Wheeler, senior, Athens: See above.

Ryleigh Judson, sophomore, Waverly: A dangerous 3-point scorer who can also score in transition, Judson is improving her take-it-to-the-bucket game. She averaged 12.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.5 steals, and knocked down a Valley-high 46 3-pointers.

Addy Westbrook, senior, Waverly: An exceptional defender with the ability score from all over the court, Westbrook averaged 12 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. She canned 32 3 -pointers this season.

McKenna Jarvis, sophomore, Athens: A tremendous athlete, Jarvis picked up her game this season. She averaged 10.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 2.7 deflections per game. She made 10 3-pointers, and shot 41.6 percent from the field.

Abbie McGaughey, senior, Sayre: A rugged inside presence, McGaughey averaged 8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game.

Sara Bronson, senior, Athens: A premier defender and dangerous 3-point shooter, Bronson averaged 8.1 points, 4 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2 steals per game. She knocked down 22 3-pointers.

Kaitlyn Sutton, junior, Waverly: A good defender, Sutton got better and better as the season progressed. She averaged 8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, and canned 29 3-pointers on the season.

Honorable Mention
Rylee Lantz, junior, Sayre: A very good defender and rebounder, Lantz averaged 4.2 points, a Valley-high 9.8 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 1.9 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game.

All-Valley Newcomer Team
Allie Kemp, freshman, Athens: See above.
Liz Hunter, junior, Sayre;
Kaylin Twedt, freshman, Waverly;
McKenna Parrish, freshman, Sayre;
Alissa Vough, freshman, Athens;
Raegan McGaughey, freshman, Sayre.    

All-Valley Defensive Super 7
Addy Wheeler, senior, Athens: See above.
Makenzie Olmsted, sophomore, Waverly: See above.
Rylee Lantz, junior, Sayre;
Addy Westbrook, senior, Waverly;
Sara Bronson, senior, Athens;
Alissa Vough, freshman, Athens;
Kaylin Twedt, freshman, Waverly.

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