By TIM TAYLORValley Sports Report
ATHENS — Candor pumped out 23 first-quarter points enroute to a 59-24 victory over Tioga in the consolation game of the 2025 CHOP Out Hunger Holiday Basketball Tournament here Tuesday.
The Coyotes led 23-7 after one quarter of play, then kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in the second period to build a 39-7 halftime cushion.
Candor would score the first two baskets of the third quarter before Tioga could shake its scoring slump.
With the Coyotes leading, 54-11, late in the third period, the Tigers’ Irie Lynch pulled off a steal and layup, then Kaylah Nelson duplicated the feat on Candor’s next trip up the court to make it 54-15 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Tigers would outscore Candor, 9-5, in the final frame.
The youthful Tigers continue to be a work in progress.
“We actually had some practice beforehand so that we can refresh what we're supposed to be doing,” coach Stephanie Hills said. “We started off decent and then we just stopped doing the things that we work on. We stopped boxing out, we don't rebound, and then we dig ourselves a hole that we can't get back out of because we also aren't offensively strong to be able to put the ball in the hoop. Unfortunately we start out okay and then just drift.
It didn’t help that their lone senior, Lydia Decker, went down with an ankle injury during Monday’s first round action.
“That's huge,” Hills said. “We don't have a lot of guards. She's one of our main guards, so we now have forwards playing in that position that don't know the position and/or are still weak in that position.”
Emmi Makie recorded a double-double for Candor with 26 points and 13 rebounds. She also had six steals and two assists. Megan Williamson contributed 21 points, including three-3-pointers, pulled down seven rebounds and had two steals.
Malley Heidl chipped in with eight points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists; Hazel Ray had four points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists; Shawna Conklin grabbed nine boards and blocked three shots; Ally Mesick added four rebounds and Deanna Rich tacked on three boards and one steal.
Both teams return to action Jan. 6 with Candor hosting Odessa-Montour and Tioga traveling to Groton.
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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
