VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: WAVERLY'S SHAW NAMED 'BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR;' ATHENS' BRIGGS, FRIEND, WAVERLY'S JUDSONS, TIOGA'S KITHCART ALSO RECEIVE TOP ALL-VALLEY HONORS (April 6, 2026)
Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY — Waverly senior
Hogan Shaw excelled on both ends of the floor for the Wolverines, and is the 2025-26
Valley Sports Report All-Valley "
Boys Basketball Player of the Year."
Waverly freshman
Braiden Judson and Athens
Aiden Briggs were named the "
Newcomers of the Year," while Athens senior
James Friend is the "
Defensive Player of the Year," Tioga junior
Gavin Kithcart is the "
Breakout Player of the Year," and longtime Waverly coach
Lou Judson is the "
Coach of the Year."
A very good defender, Shaw led the Valley, scoring 17.3 points per game and knocking down 58 3-pointers on the season, with a shooting percentage of 34.9 percent from behind the 3-point arc.
Shaw also average 3.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, and shot 69.3 percent from the free-throw line.
Shaw ended his career with 1,106 points and a school-record 183 3-pointers, as well a school-record 68 3-pointers in his junior season.
Braiden Judson and Briggs made immediate impacts for their respective teams in their first varsity seasons.
Judson averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, including 2.4 offensive boards, 1.2 assists, 1.1 steals per game. He canned 10 3-pointers on the season.
Briggs averaged 8.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1 steal per game. He knocked down 37 3-pointers on the season.
Friend was a force in the paint, blocking 4.2 shots per game, and altering many, many more. He also averaged 8.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Kithcart was an offensive force in the paint for the Tigers, using his frame to create space in the low-post. He averaged a double-double of 15.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game.
Judson guided Waverly to a 14-7 record in the rugged STAC. The Wolverines finished their season with an overtime loss to Oneonta in the Section IV, Class A semifinals.
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2025-26 ALL-VALLEY BOYS BASKETBALLPlayer of the Year: Hogan Shaw, senior, Waverly.
Newcomer of the Year: Braiden Judson, freshman, Waverly; and Aiden Briggs, freshman, Athens.
Defensive Player of the Year:: James Friend, senior, Athens.
Breakout Player of the Year:: Gavin Kithcart, junior, Tioga.
Coach of the Year: Lou Judson, Waverly.
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2025-26 Boys Basketball All-Valley Super 7Hogan Shaw, senior, Waverly: See above.
Porter Daddona, senior, Waverly: An athletic presence in the paint for the Wolverines, Daddona averaged 9.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1 assist per game. He also had 13 steals and 12 blocked shots in 20 games, and also knocked down 14 3-pointers.
Lucas Schultz, junior, Athens: A smooth lefty, Schultz averaged 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. He also had 14 blocks and 19 3-pointers on the season.
Gavin Kithcart, junior, Tioga: See above.
Jackson Bombard, junior, Tioga: A heady point guard, Bombard averaged 12.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.9 steals per game. He canned 21 3-pointers on the season.
Nick Grazul, senior, Athens: A bit under-sized, Grazul made up for it with heady play. He averaged 10.2 rebounds, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, and knocked down 13 3-pointers.
Ben Shaw, junior, Waverly: A fiery team leader and strong front court defender, Ben Shaw averaged 5.7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.8 steals per game, and made 10 3-pointers on the season.
Honorable Mention: Dominic Palmer, senior, Tioga: Athletic and high energy, Palmer averaged 10.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game.
All-Valley Super 7 NewcomersBraiden Judson, freshman, Waverly: See above.
Aiden Briggs, freshman, Athens: See above.
Jack Pipher, sophomore, Waverly:
Riley Johnson, freshman, Sayre:
Kam Wheeler, junior, Athens:
Rommel Suba, junior Sayre:
Sam Cheresnowsky, sophomore, Waverly:
All-Valley Defensive Super 7James Friend, junior, Athens: See above.
Nick Grazul, senior, Athens
Brady Landmesser, senior, Tioga
Dominic Palmer, junior, Tioga
Jack Pipher, sophomore, Waverly
Lucas Schultz, junior, Athens
Ben Shaw, sophomore, Waverly
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PAST WINNERSBOYS BASKETBALL "Player of the Year"2025-26 — Hogan Shaw, Waverly
2024-25 — Nick Pellicano, Sayre
2023-24 — Joey Tomasso, Waverly
2022-23 — Joey Tomasso, Waverly
2021-22 — J.J. Babcock, Athens
2020-21 — J.J. Babcock, Athens
2019-20 — Scott Woodring, Waverly
2018-19 — Dylan Ward, Waverly
2017-18 — Connor Hutchinson, Tioga
2016-17 — Hunter Bodine, Waverly
2015-16 — Hunter Bodine, Waverly
2014-15 — Brandon Fauver, Athens
2013-14 — Nate Williams, Sayre
2012-13 — Nate Williams, Sayre
2011-12 — Ryan Hewitt, Waverly
2010-11 — Nick Zwierlein, Waverly
2009-10 — Taylor Skerpon, Sayre
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