FROM THE PRESS BOX: A GLIMPSE INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL — A LOOK AHEAD TO THE 2025-26 BOYS BASKETBALL SEASON (2025-03-27)

The boys basketball season in the Valley was a mixed bag in 2024-25.

Sayre qualified for the PIAA state playoffs with a third-place finish in the District 4, Class AA playoffs, and Waverly came within a win of repeating as Section IV, Class B champs.

Tioga, meanwhile, came up one win short of qualifying for the Section IV, Class C playoffs, but all in all, it was a pretty good season.

And Athens finished seventh in the combined District 4 / 11 Class 5A standings, and thought it had a playoff spot only to find out District 11 only takes six teams into the postseason as opposed to the eight the majority of Districts in Pa. take.

So what does the crystal ball have to say about the 2025-26 season. Well, the season is more than eight months away, so the sight lines are a bit murky, but here goes:

Athens Wildcats: Coming off a 9-13 season, Athens will graduate three starters, including leading scorer Jase Babcock, but will return 10 or 11 players who saw varsity time this season.

The Wildcats will again be looking for two or three consistent scorers with the most likely candidates juniors Nick Grazul and Adam Kemp and sophomore Lucas Schultz. Sophomore Gage Marmor could also provide some scoring punch.

Junior James Friend will be a presence in the paint, with sophomores Dom Robbins and Alex McQuay, and junior Talon Baglini also contributing in the paint.

Prediction: Athens should be improved in 2025-26, and should make a run at the postseason. In the NTL, Troy loses a ton to graduation, but has a great program, and NP-Mansfield also loses a large number of seniors. The Wildcats could make a run at a Large School title. ... 2025-26 regular-season record: 15-7.

Sayre Redskins: Speaking of losing a ton of seniors, Sayre will graduate 10 from a 16-10 team that qualified for the state playoffs.

The Redskins return junior starter Karter Green, and sophomore Declan Barry, who has seen quite a lot of action the last two season. Otherwise, there's virtually no varsity experience returning.

Prediction: Coach Paul Blythe has quite a job ahead of him. The Redskins need a lit of time together over the summer, and perhaps some help from the junior high team. 2025-26 regular-season record: 4-18.

Tioga Tigers: The Tigers will return virtually in tact in next season, led by sophomore Jackson Bombard and Gavin Kithcart, and juniors Dominic Palmer, James Miller and Ethan Landmesser.

Carter Stoughton could prove to be a big boost at the 2-guard, and junior Talon Wood should provide valuable minutes off the bench, but the Tigers will need another player or two up from the JV team to step up and produce.

Prediction: Coach Connor Hutchinson should be commended after his rookie season. Honestly, I didn't expect Tioga to win more than 2 or 3 games, yet Hutchinson directed the team to a 7-13 mark. Next year, should be better, but being in a division with Candor and Newfield won't translate into much more than a four- or five-win improvement. 2025-26 regular-season record: 12-8.

Waverly Wolverines: The Wolverines graduate just one starter from a team that went 13-10 and returned to the Section IV, Class B title game.

Waverly returns several juniors, led by Hogan Shaw, one of the best shooters in Section IV, Porter Daddona, and Ronin Ault, a trio of of sophomores — Ben Shaw, Carson Rockwell and Bryce LaForest,  and freshman Jack Pipher, who saw quality minutes in the postseason.

Prediction: The Wolverines should be improved, and will definitely be deep. So Waverly is a good bet to return to the Arena for their third Section IV title game appearance in a row? Well, Waverly bumps up to Class A and will have to get through the likes of Seton Catholic, Oneonta, and Maine-Endwell to get back to the Arena. 2025-26 regular-season record: 14-6.

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