THE SPORTS REPORTS: ELMIRA'S ABRAMS NAMED GIRLS HOOP 'PLAYER OF THE YEAR;' NP-LIBERTY'S LITZELMAN ALSO EARNS TOP HONOR ON ALL-REGION TEAM (2023-03-30)

The Sports Reports
It was an exciting girls’ basketball season in our Pa. Northern Tier / N.Y. Southern Tier region, filled with incredible game and season-long performances by our local athletes, who The Sports Reports are proud to recognize with our “All-Region” teams and individual honors.

The Sports Reports All-Region Girls Basketball “Player of the Year” is Elmira senior Jalea Abrams., who scored 26.8 points a game and finished her career with 1,397 points, which is second all-time in school history.

The Queens College-commit was the Basketball Coaches Association of New York Section IV Class AA “Player of the Year,” and was the Southern Tier Sport Report “Player of the Year.”

“The Offensive Player of the Year” is Waverly senior Kennedy Westbrook. On the offensive end of the floor, Westbrook can score in transition, taking the ball to the bucket, or from 3-point range. She led the team with 19.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. She also knocked down 42 3-pointers, and joined the 1,000-point club.

Defensively, Westbrook led the Lady Wolverines with 5 steals, and 3.4 deflections per game. She was the Valley Sports Report “Player of the Year.”

Newark Valley’s Cha Gardner played a key role in the Cardinals’ second consecutive trip to the state playoffs and has been named The Sports Reports All-Region “Defensive Player of the Year.”  She averaged 14 rebounds, 15.7 points, three blocks (68), three assists and three steals per game.

Gardner dominated the game at both ends of the court and became the consummate all-around player. Her skill set earned her the IAC South Large School MVP, the BCANY All-Section IV Class B “Player of the Year,” and the Tioga County Sports Report “Player of the Year.”

NP-Liberty freshman guard Haley Litzelman is the “Newcomer of the Year.” She took over as point guard this season and averaged 9.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 3.1 steals per game with 54 3-pointers to help the Lady Mounties to a five-win improvement and into the District 4 Playoffs.

Newark Valley’s Greg Schweiger is the “Coach of the Year.” He led the Cardinals to a 22-1 record, a Section IV Class B championship and their second consecutive appearance in the state playoffs. NV also won its third straight IAC South Large School and IAC Large School titles, and Schweiger also recorded his 100th victory during the 2022-23 season.

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PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jalea Abrams, Elmira
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kennedy Westbrook, Waverly
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Cha Gardner, Newark Valley
NEWCOMER OF YEAR: Haley Litzelman, NP-Liberty
COACH OF THE YEAR: Greg Schweiger, Newark Valley

FIRST TEAM
Jalea Abrams, Elmira, Sr. - 26.8 PPG, 3.3 SPG;

Kennedy Westbrook, Waverly, Sr. - 19.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 4 APG, 5 SPG, 42 3-FG;

Paige Manchester, Towanda, Sr. - 19.2 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.3 SPG, 1.6 blocks PG, 2.6 APG;

Shannon Maloney, Notre Dame, Sr. - 18.4 PPG, 14.3 RPG, 3.1 SPG;

Cha Gardner, Newark Valley, Jr. - 15.7 PPG, 14 RPG, 3 blocks PG, 3 SPG, 3 APG;

Peyton Littlefield, Edison, Jr. - 21.4 PPG, 3.7 APG, 2.7 SPG;

Alyssa Dobson, Corning, Sr. - 15.9 PPG, 6 RPG;

Kayleigh Thoman, NEB, Sr. - 14.5 PPG;

SECOND TEAM
Gianna McGee, Edison, Sr. - 11.9 PPG, 7 RPG, 2.7 APG, 3 SPG;

Jenna DiNardo, Corning, Sr. - 12.4 PPG, 6 RPG, 4 SPG;

Sophia Bonnell, Horseheads, Jr. - 14 PPG, 5 RPG, 4 APG, 57 3-FG;

T.R. Jones, Williamson, Jr. - 13.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 3.7 SPG, 2.2 APG;

Layla Botts, Wyalusing, Jr. - 15.5 PPG;

Megan Wolf, Horseheads, Soph. - 13.5 PPG, 5 RPG;

Addison Westbrook, Waverly, Soph. - 12.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 3.5 SPG, 39 3-FG;

Hayley Beebe, Newark Valley - 14 PPG, 52 3-FG, 4 RPG, 3.3 APG, 3.1 SPG;

THIRD TEAM
Haley Litzelman, North Penn-Liberty, Fr. - 9.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.2 APG, 3.1 SPG, 54 3-FG;

Jayda Felker, Corning, Sr. - 11 PPG, 1.8 SPG;

Alyssa Parks, Troy, Soph. - 10.3 PPG;

Madison McEvoy, Owego, Soph. - 17.4 PPG, 4 RPG, 3 SPG, 2.2 APG;

Mallory Sheehan, Notre Dame, Jr. - 11.2 PPG, 1.8 SPG;

Molly Ward, Canton, Sr. - 7.2 PPG, 14.5 RPG, 3.9 SPG, 2.2 APG

Reese Howey, Tioga, Sr. - 9.7 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 2.6 blocks PG, 2.9 SPG, 1.8 APG;

Jordyn Gross, Horseheads, Soph. - 7 PPG, 10.5 RPG;

FOURTH TEAM
Ellie Clearwater, Elmira, Jr. - 11.8 PPG, 3.5 APG, 2.3 SPG, 3.5 RPG;

Addy Wheeler, Athens, Soph. - 9.4 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 3.7 APG, 4.4 SPG, 1 block PG;

Olivia Meisner, Williamson, Soph. 9.7 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 1.2 blocks PG, 1.9 SPG;

Jasmine Graham, Newark Valley - 9 PPG, 5 RPG, 2 APG, 2.5 SPG;

Karlee Barlow, Athens, Sr. - 11.7 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.2 APG, 2.7 SPG, 35 3-FG;

Alena Beebe, NEB, Sr. - 9 PPG, 2.3 SPG, 2.6 APG, 53 3-FG;

Peyton Shaw, Waverly, Jr. - 8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 2.6 SPG;

Chloe Brandenburg, Wellsboro, Soph. - 11.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 2 SPG, 39 3-FG;

Nicola Soper, Candor, Fr. - 8.6 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 2.3 SPG

ROOKIE TEAM
Haley Litzelman, North Penn-Liberty, Fr. - See above

Jordyn Gross, Horseheads, Soph.. - See above

Kaitlyn Sutton, Sayre, Fr. - 7.1 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 1.3 APG

Kameron Lightner, North Penn-Mansfield, Fr. - 6.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG;

Brynn Woodruff, Towanda, Soph.. - 8.5 PPG;

Chloe Bennett, Wyalusing, Soph. - 9.5 PPG;

Leah Beebe, NEB, Fr. - 4.4 PPG;

Charles Stroman, Edison, Fr. - 5 PPG, 5 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.2 SPG;

Nicola Soper, Candor, Fr. - 8.6 PPG, 11.6 RPG, 2.3 SPG