STAC BOYS BASKETBALL: WAVERLY PICKS UP RARE WIN AT OWEGO; 68-63 IN OVERTIME (January 24, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
OWEGO — Owego Free Academy has been a house of horrors for the Waverly boys basketball program in recent years, but Saturday the Wolverines knocked down 10 of its 12 free-throw attempts in overtime to pull out a 68-63 win in STAC Central Division boys basketball action.

The Owego gym has been a particularly difficult environment for longtime Waverly coach Lou Judson, who was 0-5 there in his career entering Saturday's contest.

"It was just a typical game for us at Owego," said Judson. "Both teams were battling back-and-forth and the game could have ended up going either way.

"Fortunately, for the first time in my coaching career we were able to get the W at Owego," noted Judson.  "I was able to get the proverbial monkey off my back.

"We've been in these situations over the years, and we've lost these games. We've lost at the buzzer a couple of times, and found ways to lose games.

"Today, we found a way to win," added Judson. "It wasn't pretty, but we gutted out a tough road win."

Six different Waverly players put their names in the scoring column in the first quarter in a game-opening 21-16 run.

Senior Porter Daddona led the way for the Wolverines with five points, while senior Hogan Shaw and junior Ben Shaw added four points apiece.

Hogan Shaw scored five points, including a 3-pointer, and sophomore Jack Shaw connected from behind the 3-point arc as the teams battled to a draw in the second quarter, and the Wolverines led 37-32 at the halftime intermission.

Owego used a 17-11 advantage in the third quarter to take a 49-48 lead into the final eight minutes.

Waverly outscored Owego, 8-7, in the fourth quarter to force overtime, but made just 2 of 7 free-throw attempts in the stanza.

The Wolverines also had two opportunities to win the game in the final seconds, but missed two free throws with 6.7 seconds remaining, and a "forced" 3-pointer at the buzzer.

Ben Shaw scored Waverly's only bucket in overtime, and the Wolverines went to the free-throw line on six different occasions in the extra session, making 10 of 12.

"We just kept being aggressive, and we started making our free throws, where early in the game we were struggling from the line," said Judson.

"We were finally getting the ball into the paint," he noted. "Porter (Daddona) played a real good fourth quarter and overtime.

"And (Owego) had a couple starters foul out in overtime, which helped us," added Judson.

Daddona led Waverly with 17 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and 10 rebounds, while Hogan Shaw had 15 points, and three steals, and Ben Shaw, who was 8 of 9 from the free-throw line, had 14 points and three rebounds.

"I've been looking for that breakout performance from Porter (Daddona), and I think he had it today with his best performance of the season," said Judson.

"Ben Shaw has been steady for us all season, but probably had his best offensive game of the season for us today," he noted.

"And Hogan Shaw got his 15 points.

"Three guys in double-digits on the road is always nice," added Judson.

Pipher and freshman Braiden Judson scored seven points, while senior Carter Davies added four, and junior Bryce LaForest chipped in with two assists and two steals.

Calvin Smith, who had six 3-pointers, and Carter Rieg scored 19 points apiece for Owego, and Duke Snyder added 10 points.

Judson notes it will be the last time the Wolverines play at Owego against longtime coach Chris Evans, who is stepping down after this season.

"It has been so difficult to play at Owego," said Judson. "Coach (Chris) Evans has done an outstanding job at Owego for many, many seasons.

"I know this is his last season, and I'll be glad to see him go at the end of the season," laughed Judson. "It's bittersweet, he's run a great program and his teams are always prepared, just like they were today."

Waverly, now 9-4, is scheduled to play at Horseheads Monday, but the major winter snow storm enveloping our region Sunday makes that game unlikely.

The Wolverines are also scheduled to play at Lansing Wednesday and Norwich Friday.

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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Porter Daddona. ... VSR STOCK PHOTO.

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