HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: NEXT YEAR SHAPING UP TO BE STRONG ONE FOR AREA HOOPS TEAMS (2022-03-24)

As good as this year was, with so much young talent in the area the future looks bright for area teams.

This year’s All-STSR Player of the Year, defensive player of the year and offensive player of the year are all underclassmen who will return next year.

Elmira’s Jalea Abrams, the All-STSR Player of the Year, scored 20 a game this season and has Division I interest and she’ll be back for the Express next year.

While Elmira graduates Terrific 10 players Megan Fedor and Lauren Miller, along with sixth-player of the year Amarionah Dixon, they have some strong talent returning.

Elmira, who won the STAC Championship this year also returns all-rookie team member Payton Ross in the backcourt and Ellie Clearwater, who is a strong outside shooter and is one of the All-STSR Five to watch next year.

With a strong JV team that won the STAC Championship. The JV team had some strong players with Liv Woodruff, Addison Taft, Laila Burchard and Caitlyn Wagner which should have the Express right back int he hunt next year.

The Corning girls won the sectional title this year and the regional championship and while they lose some talented seniors, including all-Terrific 10 pick Kellie Zoerb and all-defensive team pick Lexi Lapierre, they return defensive player of the year Jenna DiNardo.

DiNardo, one of the best all around player in Section 4, should team with fellow Terrific 10 player Alyssa Dobson, and all-unsung team player Jayda Felker to form a strong core as the Hawks return the three starters next year.

The team also returns rookie team member Kathryn Ouyang and five-to-watch pick Hannah Nichols who were key players off the bench this year.

Horseheads graduates the school’s all-time leading three-point shooter in Carly Scott and they graduate all-defensive team member Alexis Guzylak and all-unsung team member Emma Romanski, but they have a strong group returning next season.

The returning group for Horseheads is led by all-Terrific 10 pick Sophia Bonnell, a sophomore guard, and newcomer of the year Megan Wolf, a freshman.

The team also returns another all-rookie team member in Emma Kamas and they return five-to-watch pick Madisyn Matkosky as they should be right back int he hunt in sectionals next year.

The Edison girls’ basketball team had a year to remember making it to the second round of sectionals, nothing the first sectional win for the program in two decades.

Edison should be right back in the hunt next year with offensive Player of the Year Payton Littlefield, an 18-plus point a game scorer returning next year, as she’s just a sophomore.

The Spartans graduate all-defensive team picks Maren Lutz and Lexi Moore, but they return all-rookie team pick Mariana Jones, all-unsung picks Gianna McGee and Gabby Milazzo and five-to-watch player Harper Hoffman along with Charlee Stroman, who led the JV team in scoring before moving up to varsity.

Notre Dame has a younger team with all-Terrific 10 pick Shannon Maloney leading the way. The Notre Dame junior averaged more than 15 points a game this year for the Crusaders.

Notre Dame also returns all-unsung pick Lawson Bigelow and five-to-watch player Allie O’Brien.

Overall six of the 10 members of the Terrific 10 team return next year as next year is shaping up to be a special one for area girls’ basketball teams.