By BILL COLLMER, Sun Senior Sports Writer
Eight area High-School Basketball teams will help kickoff the 2023-2024 Basketball season Saturday at Wayland-Cohocton High school. NOTE: On Saturday night, the girls game between Canisteo-Greenwood and Hornell has been postponed and the Hornell-Corning game is at 6 p.m.
At noon, boys’ games start with Wayland-Cohocton vs. Elba; Dansville vs. Marcus Whitman at 2 p.m.; Avoca-Prattsburgh vs. York at 4 p.m.; and Hornell vs. Corning at 6 p.m.
Hornell Lady Red Raiders
Coach: Jim Dagon
Last Season: 15-9, lost in the Class B State Qualifier game to Waterloo 48-38
Numbers: Junior Lillian Hoyt has made 140 3-Pointers the last two seasons combined. She’s hit 186 in her career.
History Lesson: Won First Sectional Title in 2022-2023 Season defeating Dansville 54-47
Key Returners:
Junior Lillian Hoyt 8.9 PPG (67 3-Pointers)
Sophomore Jordyn Dyring 12.8 PPG, 3.62 APG, 2.10 SPG
Sophomore Selena Maldonado 9.1 PPG, 3.6 SPG 3.23, RPG 2.3 APG
Sophomore Payton Bentley 7.0 RPG 1.5 BPG 1.5 SPG
Freshman Raegan Evingham 35% 3FG% (season long)
Sophomore Mia Nasca – 46.2% 3FG% (Jan/Feb – led team)
Top Newcomers: –
6-foot sophomore forward A’jonay Hawkins
Freshman Guard Alexis Smith
Junior Guard Zahra Mehr
Senior Forward (and foreign exchange student from Brazil) Larissa Bezerra
Fun Fact: – As a team Hornell made 195 3-Pointers last season.
Coach Dagon says: “We definitely have high expectations again this season. Last year, from the outside looking in, we were viewed as an underdog in the tournament. We had a very young group with only one senior, and so we were able to take some people by surprise, I think. Within our team we knew that winning the title was possible last year, but now that we’ve won it and returned all but one player, flying under the radar is no longer a possibility. We know that we will get every team’s best effort every night, and the girls are up for the challenge. We also know that we’ve got a very special group of returners and some key pieces coming up from last year’s JV team. Our main goal is to challenge one another to improve every day and to be the best version of ourselves. So far, the girls have lived up to (and gone beyond) that expectation, and if they continue on the path, they’re going to be tough to beat.”
Canisteo-Greenwood Chargers
Coach: Lester York 94-28 in six seasons at Canisteo-Greenwood
Last Season: 22-1 lost to Oakfield Alabama 49-45 in Class C1 sectional Championship game.
Numbers: Lillian Mullen Scored 430 points last season.
History Lesson: Senior Guard Lillian Mullen enters her sixth season on Varsity, she’s scored 1,767 career points, and also has 269 assists, 476 rebounds, 328 career steals.
Key Returners: Sr. Guard Lillian Mullen 18.6 PPG, Sr. Peyton Peters 8.0 PPG, Sophomore Bailey Mullen (374 career points, 81 career steals, 230 career rebounds) Jr. McKenna Ferris 3-year varsity player.
Top Newcomers: Freshman Harlie McCaffery
Coach York says: “Peyton Peters has been the quiet one that works so hard and never gets the accolades. Peyton is a great kid with the same similarities as Lillian. She is special also. I have never had her say a cross thing back to me and I respect just as much as Lillian both on and off the court. She is the quiet one in the trenches fights as hard as she can for 32 minutes and asks for nothing special. We are looking for her to be a big surprise this season also when Peyton does well, we do well and will take the pressure off Lillian. She is playing so hard to keep the basketball legacy for her family and her family is the Late Aunt Sam Peters, another great player from Canisteo-Greenwood. She told me once I am doing this to make my aunt’s passion my passion in the game of basketball and I will do whatever it takes to build on to Sam’s Legacy so she would be proud of me!!! I am proud coach her also. We are also expecting Bailey Mullen to go above and beyond any others’ expectations this year. She was our second highest rebounder last year with 139 rebounds and was our second shortest player at 5’2″. That’s why she called the badger she never gives up, wears her heart on her sleeve, Last year in the final quarter of the finals she tied up every loose ball and rebound there was along with sinking a great timely 3- pointer when we really need it at the last minutes. Bailey never quits, and this should be a great year for her.”
Fun Fact: Canisteo-Greenwood went from the Redskins to Chargers this season.
Corning Hawks
Coach: Mike Johnston
Last Season: 10-6, Lost in Section IV Class AA Championship game to Elmira.
History Lesson: Corning West won Class B Sectionals in 1998, Corning-Painted Post won Class AA Sectionals 2017 and 2022.
Numbers: Seventh Grader Nolyn Proudfoot made 43 3-pointers last season. Proudfoot played 29 minutes per game.
Key Returners: Gavyn Hogue, Caleb Anderson, Nolyn Proudfoot. Gavyn Hogue earned a starting role half way through the ’22-’23 campaign. Gavyn averaged 6.0 ppg and 3.0 RPG, Nolyn Proudfoot started every game as a 7th grader averaging 29 minutes per game. Nolyn averaged 11.0 ppg, scoring double figures in 10 of 16 games, he shot 33% from 3, Caleb Anderson saw his playing time increase as the season moved along last season off of the bench. Caleb averaged 3.0 ppg
Top Newcomers: Jeremy Spears, Kyler Stevenson, Mekai Daniels, Nick Peet, Kohl Hogue, Tiegan Gill all played a considerable role on last season’s J.V STAC West Championship team.
Fun Fact: Originally a Section Five School Corning won Sectional Championships in Section Five in 1924, 1926, 1930, 1933, 1936, 1939, 1940 & 1965.
Fun Fact two: Proudfoot’s Mother Melissa (Declemente) Proudfoot was a two-time all-state pick for Corning West and one of the leaders on the 1995 Class B state championship team. She would go on to play at Division 1 Canisius College. In 78 Games Played at Canisius, she scored 489 points, grabbed 189 rebounds, dished out 105 assists, and swiped 64 steals Her husband Kevin Proudfoot ranks among the top rebounders in Elmira College history. During the 1999-2000 Season he averaged 12.7 PPG & 7.4 RPG. He is fifth all-time in career Rebounds at Elmira with 671.
Hornell Red Raiders
Coach: Kirk Scholes 15th Season
Last Year: 17-5, Lost to Wellsville in the Class B2 Semifinals.
History Lesson: Won A Sectionals in 1931, Class AA in 1945, 1953 & 1988. Won Class B2 in 2013
Numbers: Gennaro Picco dropped in a career-high 45 points, including six 3-pointers during Hornell’s 69-58 victory over York in early December last season.
Players to Watch:
Gennaro Picco Sr. 21.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.0 APG, 2.0 SPG
Pasquale Picco Jr. 9.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG
Wyatt Evingham So.
Aaron McInerney Jr.
Quinn Mauro Jr.
Xzavier Patrick Sr.
Marco Picco So.
Fun Fact: Gennaro Picco was named 12th Team All-State in Class B last season.
Coach Scholes says: “My expectations for the upcoming season are high. We have a bunch of kids that have some varsity experience. We only have two seniors, but I believe we are pretty seasoned with some returning underclassmen. I expect us to compete every night. I think as the year goes, we will get better and better at both ends of the floor. I think we have a chance to be in the mix in our league. Hopefully by sectional time we will be a seasoned group that is a tough out. We are focusing on getting better every day and really trying to become a good defensive team. We are looking forward to the season. We know we have a good schedule, and we know that our goals are attainable, but only with hard work and a commitment to team play!”
Showcase History: Defeated Wayland-Cohocton in inaugural Showcase 67-41
Avoca-Prattsburgh Titans
Coach: Brian Putnam 11th Season 185-41
Last Season: 25-2 won the section Five Class D1 Championship, Far Western Regional Championship
New York State Class D State Championship.
Numbers: Senior Macoy Putnam enters his Senior Season with 927 Career Points, 489 Assists & 316 Steals.
History Lesson: Prattsburgh won 12 Sectional Championships overall and were the 1991 NYS Class D State Champions finishing 29-0. Avoca won 5 Sectional Championships overall and were the 1989 NYS Class D State Champions finishing 28-0. Avoca-Prattsburgh has won Three Straight Sectional Championships and Back-to-Back State Championships.
Returning Starters: One
Key Returners:
Macoy Putnam-Senior guard, 14.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 8.4 APG, 4.6 SPG.
Top Newcomers: Freshman Carter Button
Freshman J.J Crowder
Junior Daniel Stilson
Fun Facts: Since merging teams Avoca-Prattsburgh is 63-2 overall. They won all 25 games last season by 19 or more points. The last two seasons they’ve won all four games in Glens Falls by double figures.
Fun Fact II: Coach Brian Putnam helped lead Prattsburgh to a New York State Class D State Championship in 1991 going 29-0. In the process he scored 52 points in a Sectional Game versus Batavia Notre-Dame which is tied for Second All-Time in Section Five History.
Coach Putnam says: “Expectations for the season is that the kids go out and compete every night. I don’t feel pressure nor should these kids. This is a different group; they need to find their own identity as the season goes along. I expect us to win games just like I always have, we as a team just need to figure out how all the pieces fit together.”
Showcase History: Prattsburgh defeated York 71-69, Avoca lost to Elba 56-53, in the inaugural Showcase. Avoca-Prattsburgh defeated York 59-45 in the 2021 Showcase. York defeated A-P in last year’s showcase 77-69.
York Golden Knights
Coach: Ed Orman Jr. 18th Season
Last Year: 20-3, Lost in the Class C2 Sectional Championship game to Pembroke.
History Lesson: Won Class B Sectionals in 1939 and Class C3 in 2012 & 2022.
Numbers: Senior Jake Pangrazio enters his senior season with 821 Career points. Coach Ed Orman Jr. has 240 Career wins.
Returning Starters: Four
Key Returners:
Tyler Brady- 6’0 9.5 PPG, 5.0 RPG
Jake Pangrazio- 6’4 Sr. G, 16.6 PPG 9.0 RPG, 3.0 APG
Connor Rodwell Sr. 6’2 F- 8.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG
Joe Bauer Sr. 6’3” 11.0 PPG, 3.0 RPG,
Parker Bonafede- 6’1” soph G- 4.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Ryan Brady- 6’0” Soph F- 3.0 PPG, 4.0 RPG
Top Newcomers: Joe Munoz- 6’2 Sr F
Liam Ezard- 5’9 Jr G
Adam Szcech-5’6 Jr G
Fun Fact: Defeated Eventual Class D State Champion Avoca-Prattsburgh and Eventual Class C State Champion Randolph Last season.
Coach Orman says: “We had a really productive off-season and many of our guys played a ton of basketball both on the AAU Circuit and with our team. We’re really focusing on taking the season one day at a time. The Winter season is a marathon not a sprint and we have aspirations of playing our best basketball late in season. We will be a tight knit group, with the goal of playing our collective best each night and always focusing on finding a better version of ourselves. We will have our hands full just to get to the Semi-Finals and from that point on every game beyond it will be a battle.”
Showcase History: Lost to Prattsburgh 71-69 in inaugural Showcase. Lost to Avoca-Prattsburgh 59-45 in the second annual Showcase. Defeated Avoca-Prattsburgh 77-69 last season.
Wayland-Cohocton Golden Eagles
Coach: Brandon Davis
Last Season: 1-20 Lost to World of Inquiry in the First Round of Sectionals
History Lesson: Class CC Sectional Champion in 1995. Class B2 Champion in 2012
Numbers: There are 19 former Boys Basketball players from Wayland, Cohocton & Wayland-Cohocton in the School’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Key Returners: Matt Feinman Sr. Guard
Hunter Trischler JR Guard
Matt Clark SO Forward
Top newcomers: Carson Webster (JR., G)
Coach Davis Says: “Coming off of last year, our returners are ready to get back on the court and start competing again in a very tough LCAA Division 1. Even though we got a bulk of our starters back, we only have Five returners in total and are still a fairly young team. Our goal for this season is to continue to work hard throughout the year and grow together as a team and grow the program for the future as well.”
Fun Fact: 2012 Graduate Evan Englert was recently inducted into the Wayland-Cohocton Hall of Fame. He led the Golden Eagles to their last Sectional Championship in 2012. He was named Section Five tournament MVP and was named First Team All-Greater Rochester.
Showcase History: Lost to Hornell in inaugural Showcase 67-41, Lost to Wellsville 53-34 in Second Annual Showcase. Lost to Elba 52-26 in Last year’s Showcase.
Elba Lancers
Coach: Ciaci Zambito
Last Season: 7-15, Lost in D2 Sectional Semifinals to Jasper-Troupsburg
Numbers: Coach Ciaci Zambito is 114-51 in his career at Elba.
History Lesson: Have won four Sectional Championships, most recently in 2017.
Returning Starters: Three
Players to Watch:
Senior Angelo Penna 10.0 PPG, 12 RPG
Senior Mike Long (Did not play last season)
Senior Ashton Bezon 5.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG
Sophomore Nicholas Scott 6.0 ppg (Avg 15 ppg in sectionals)
Top Newcomers: 8th Grader Ryan Marsceill
Fun Fact: Elba made Finals appearances in 2017,2020, & 2022. They earned Number one seeds in 2016 and 2020.
Coach Zambito says: “Our Expectation for this season is to improve every day. We have a mix of experience with some young guys. Our goal is to be playing our best basketball towards the end of the season and into sectionals. Basketball season is such a special time in our town. Both the boys and girls take a tremendous amount of pride in representing our small town and community. We all feel a sense of ownership with it. Our future looks very bright. There is great interest from younger kids that will be making their way up through the pipeline. The tradition of our program is in a nice place and I’m very excited about that.”
Showcase History: Defeated Avoca 56-53 in inaugural Showcase. Defeated Jasper-Troupsburg in year two 57-50. Defeated Wayland-Cohocton in the third Annual Showcase, 52-26
Marcus Whitman Wildcats
Coach: Greg O’Connor
Last Season: 9-13, lost in Class C1 Quarterfinals to No.1 Seed Rochester Academy
History Lesson: Gorham won sectionals in 1947, Middlesex won sectionals in 1965 & 1966. The schools merged to become Marcus Whitman in 1969. They won the Class A Championship in 1976. They won the Class C1 Championship in 2020.
Numbers: in two seasons Junior Brody Royston has scored 520 points.
Returning Starters: Four
Players to Watch: Junior Brody Royston G 16.0 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 5.0 APG
Junior Myles Prendergast, G/F 5.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG
Junior Logan Storms, G 7.0 PPG
Sophomore Tariku Blueye, G/F 9.0 PPG
Coach O’Connor says: “To me, expectations are the controllables, Effort, Attitude, Dedication, Respect. So, my expectations do not change much year to year. I expect the team to work hard, play disciplined each day, and have fun while being a good person. I expect them to appreciate the game of basketball and what it can teach individuals and teams.
Our goals are to be in the top part of FL East and to make a run at a sectional title. If we work on what we can control, then hopefully our expectations help us meet our desired goals”
Fun Fact –In 2020 Marcus Whitman opened the season defeating Caledonia-Mumford in the Hall of Fame Showcase at Wayland-Cohocton. After both teams won Sectionals they played the Class C State Qualifier at Wayland-Cohocton with Cal-Mum getting revenge this time defeating the Wildcats.
Fun Fact II: – Royston’s Mother Liz (Brown) Royston is a Basketball Legend at Marcus Whitman and currently coaches the Girls Varsity Basketball team. A 1996 Graduate of Marcus Whitman, Liz carried the Wildcats to back-to-back Section Five Class CCC Championships and New York State Final four berths in both 1995 and 1996. She holds the school records in career Points with 1,730, Assists with 377 and steals with 513. She was a two time All Greater Rochester Selection in both 95 and 96 and won Section Five Class CCC Tournament MVP both years as well.
Showcase History: Defeated Caledonia-Mumford 73-64 in inaugural Showcase. Lost to Caledonia-Mumford 59-56 in the Second Showcase. Lost to Dansville 40-37 last season in the third annual Showcase.
Dansville Mustangs
Coach: Dave Moodie 13th Season
Last Season: 14-8, lost to Leroy 49-47 in Class B2 Semifinals.
History Lesson: Dansville has never won a sectional Championship in Boys Basketball
Numbers: in 12 seasons Moodie has a record of 100-139 with one League title three semi-final appearances. He’s a two-time LCAA Coach of the Year recipient and one time Section Five Coach of the Year award winner.
Key Returnees: Zaiden VanDurme-Blackmom, Reid Martin, Nate Gardner, Reese Dixon and Anthony Morrow are all returning players from last year’s semi-final team. Although they will have increased roles this season, all of them were a part of last season’s success and contributed in a variety of ways. Reid Martin was a starter last year and has been on varsity since 10th grade. Reese Dixon had his best game of the season last year in the semi-finals. Their length and athleticism make them a tough match up. All of these seniors love to compete and are looking forward to this season.
Top Newcomers: Ivan Wolf-Mialky has great fundamentals. His size allows him to play inside, while his skills allow him to stretch the floor because of his ability to handle the ball and shoot it.
Caleb Knapp is a big strong kid who works relentlessly to rebound the basketball and finish inside.
Mark Sick – has really developed into a good shooter. He will be counted on to make shots when the opportunity presents itself.
Jake Kreiley is being called up to varsity this year. He is very athletic and extremely coachable.
Coach Moodie Says: “The past two seasons we lost in the semi-finals. As difficult as that was, it brought an expectation of winning and winning at a high level to our program. This year’s team was a big part of that. We approach each practice to prepare for the same results. We appreciate being invited back to this year’s showcase. Marcus Whitman was a tough opponent last year for us and will be again this year. I appreciate Coach Burke’s efforts in organizing this event.”
Fun Facts: During the 1994-1995 season Senior Brian Quinlan averaged 33.5 PPG. He went on to play for Alfred University, where he was the Empire Association’s Rookie of the Year in 1996. His career there included establishing a record for most 3-point field goals made in a career, and he currently is the fourth all-time leading scorer for the university with 1,487 points. He was inducted into the Section Five Hall of Fame in 2004.
Showcase History: Defeated Marcus Whitman last season 50-37
