VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: SAYRE'S PELLICANO NAMED 'PLAYER OF THE YEAR;" TIOGA'S PALMER, BOMBARD, ATHENS' FRIEND, WAVERLY'S JUDSON ALSO EARN TOP HONORS ON ALL-VALLEY BOYS BASKETBALL TEAMS (2025-03-27)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY — Senior Nick Pellicano topped the 1,000-point plateau, and led a veteran Sayre team into the PIAA playoffs. He is the 2024-25 Valley Sports Report Boys Basketball "Player of the Year."

Tioga junior Dominic Palmer is the 2024-25 "Newcomer of the Year," while Athens junior James Friend is the "Defensive Player of the Year," Tioga sophomore Jackson Bombard is the "Breakout Player of the Year," and Waverly's Lou Judson is the "Coach of the Year."

A fierce competitor and top-notch defender, Pellicano can knock down the 3-point, but was more apt to penetrate for the mid-range jumper, or take the ball all the way to the bucket.

His numbers suffered a bit for playing through a mid-season illness, but Pellicano averaged 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.8 steals per game.

He shot 45 percent from the field, and knocked down 14 3-pointers.

Pellicano finished his career with 1,158 points, which is eighth all-time at Sayre.

Palmer developed into a force in the paint in his first varsity season with the athleticism and timing to block shots, and the physicality to rebound.

He averaged 10.3 points, 10 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.8 steals per game.

At 6-4 and possessing a long wing span, Friend became a force in the paint, blocking 70 shots (3.2 per game) this season for the Wildcats. He also averaged 4.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1.6 steals per game.

A floor general in the truest sense of the word and a fiery competitor, Bombard averaged 10.4 points, 4 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3 steals per game. He shot 69.3 percent from the free-throw line, and knocked down 31 3-pointers on the season.

After graduation, injury, and early enrollment at college, Judson returned just one player from last year's rotation on a team that won the Section IV, Class B title.

He cobbled together a young team that got better and better as the season progressed.

Waverly earned the second seed after an 11-9 season in the STAC, then returned to the Class B finals with wins over Watkins Glen and Lansing, before falling to Dryden in the championship tilt.

BOYS BASKETBALL
Player of the Year: Nick Pellicano, Sayre.
Newcomer of the Year: Dominic Palmer, Tioga.
Defensive Player of the Year: James Friend, Athens.
Breakout Player of the Year: Tioga's Jackson Bombard.
Coach of the Year: Lou Judson, Waverly.

2024-25 Boys Basketball All-Valley Super 7
Nick Pellicano, senior, Sayre: See above.

Hogan Shaw, junior, Waverly: A dynamic 3-point shooter, Shaw knocked down a school-record 68 3-pointers this season. He averaged 16.5 points, 3 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.6 steals per game. He shot 37 percent from 3-point range.

Porter Daddona, junior, Waverly: A force in the low-post with good post moves and a nice touch, Daddona got better as the season progressed. She averaged 11.3 points and 6 rebounds per game. He shot 66 percent from the free-throw line.

Hudson Trump, senior, Sayre: A heady player, Trump became a force in the low post, but he could also step out and knock down a 3-pointer.

Trump averaged 10 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. He canned 13 3-pointers on the season.

Jase Babcock, senior, Athens: An athletic and versatile presence on the floor, Babcock averaged 11.2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.

He shot 42 percent from the field, and knocked down 19 3-pointers on the season.

Jackson Bombard, sophomore, Tioga: See above.

Dominic Palmer, junior, Tioga: See above.

Honorable Mention
Ryan Ressler, senior, Sayre: A physical presence in the paint, Ressler averaged 9.5 rebounds, 6.4 rebounds 0.9 assists, 1 steal, and 1.5 blocks per game.

All-Valley Super 7 Newcomers
Dominic Palmer, junior, Tioga: See above.

Porter Daddona, junior, Waverly: See above.

James Miller, junior, Tioga: A threat from the perimeter and dangerous in transition, Miller averaged 11.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1 assist per game.

Ben Shaw, sophomore, Waverly: A top-notch defender, Shaw averaged 6.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1 steal per game.

Lucas Schultz, sophomore, Athens: A smooth shooting lefty, Schultz averaged 5.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1 assist and 1.8 steals per game. He drained 11 3-pointers on the season.

Gavin Kithcart, sophomore, Tioga: A wide-body in the low post and a tenacious rebounder, Kithcart averaged 8.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and 1 block per game.

Kam Wheeler, sophomore, Athens: A steady hand on the floor and a strong defender, Wheeler will see much more time next season for the Wildcats.

All-Valley Defensive Super 7
James Friend, junior, Athens: See above.
Ben Shaw, sophomore, Waverly;
Peter Jones, senior, Athens;
Troy Rosenbloom, senior, Athens;
Ryan Ressler, senior, Sayre;
Dominic Palmer, junior, Tioga;
Nick Pellicano, senior, Sayre.

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