SECTION IV GIRLS BASKETBALL: WAVERLY RIDES BIG THIRD QUARTER TO 57-45 WIN OVER OWEGO IN CLASS A QUARTERFINALS (24 PHOTOS) (February 27, 2026)

Valley Sports Report
OWEGO — Fifth-seeded Waverly used a third-quarter blitz to take control of a close game on its way to a 57-45 win over fourth-seeded Owego here Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Section IV, Class A girls basketball playoffs.

The two teams split a pair of regular-season match-ups, with both teams winning on their home court.

Sophomore Maci Wheeler scored four points in the first quarter, and senior Brilynn Belles and junior Ryleigh Judson each canned a 3-pointer, but Owego outscored Waverly, 13-12, in the opening stanza, thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by Jenna McEvoy, four points by Marielle Searles, and a 3-pointer by Ashlyn Dalton.

McEvoy drained another 3-pointer in the second quarter, and scored five points, while Jana Nikulich connected from behind the arc and Eva Crawford added an old-fashioned 3-point play for the River Hawks, but Waverly equalled their output in the stanza, thanks for five points from sophomore Kaylin Twedt and four points from Judson. Owego led 26-25 at the half.

In the third quarter, senior Kaitlyn Sutton drained a 3-pointer and scored seven of her eight points, while Judson also knocked down a 3-pointer to fuel a 16-3 run that gave the Wolverines a 41-29 lead heading into the final eight minutes.

Judson scored seven points in the fourth quarter, knocking down a 3-pointer early and going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line down the stretch.

The Wolverines were 7 of 11 from the line in the final eight minutes to seal the win.

Judson led the Wolverines with 17 points, including a trio of 3-pointers, while Twedt scored 13 points, and Sutton had eight points.

Sophomore Kendall Rockwell scored six points in the win, while Belles added five points, and sophomore Lauryn Welles and Wheeler each chipped in with four points.

Dalton led Owego with 17 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, and McEvoy added 14 points, including four 3-pointers.

Waverly, now 9-11, will travel to Maine-Endwell Tuesday for a Class A semifinal-match-up.

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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly's Ryleigh Judson. IN TOP PHOTO: Waverly's Kaitlyn Sutton. ... PHOTOS BY DANIELLE STREETER PHOTOGRAPHY.

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