SOUTHERN TIER SPORTS REPORT: WOLF HEADLINES ALL-STSR GIRLS' BASKETBALL TEAM (2025-04-02)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
The Horseheads Blue Raiders captured this year’s sectional AA hoops title, and senior Megan Wolf is this year’s all-Southern Tier Sports Report Player of the Year.

Wolf averaged 18 points, seven boards, four steals and three assists a game. She had 40 threes for a sectional championship team, that won sectionals for a second straight year.

She became the seventh player in school history to score 1,000 career points. She is also an elite defender who has been three-times all-conference, and was the Class AA BCANY Player of the Year this year. Committed to play D1 softball at Binghamton.

Elmira’s Mariah Matias is the offensive player of the year. Matias averaged 17.1 points, 13 boards and 2.7 steals a game. She averaged a double-double, despite being the focal point for other team’s defenses. Faced double and triple teams all year. Are up big in the sectional final with 20 points and 15 rebounds. BCANY Class AAA Player of the Year.

Char Starns of Corning is the defensive player of the year. She averaged 18 points, 15 boards and three blocked shots at 6-foot, 4-inches tall. She has multiple D1 offers.

There are co-newcomers of the year in Samantha Bonnell of Horseheads and Kalysta DeMark of Notre Dame.

Bonnell, an eighth grader, averaged eight points, six assists and three steals a game. Only turned the ball over one time a game as an eighth grader, for a 6:1 assist to turnover ratio. Ran the offense for a sectional championship team. Helped the team to a 16-6 record with five of the losses to state-ranked teams. Only second eighth grader to start on varsity for Horseheads. The other was future Division I player Amanda Scheifen (Canisius). Bonnell was a STAC division all-star.

DeMark, a junior, played varsity for the first time, putting up 12.2 points, 4.2 assists and 3.1 steals a game. She helped Notre Dame make th playoffs and was a first-team IAC all-star.

Alyvia Heath of Elmira is the sixth-player of the year. She came up big down the stretch and was a spark plug off the bench, while filling in as a starter at time due to injuries.

The hustle player of the year is Addison Taft of Elmira. She averaged 10.2 points and 3.4 steals a game and was the best perimeter defender on the team. Changed team’s offensive strategies with her defense. Committed to play D1 softball at Bucknell.

The coaching staff of the year is head coach Andy Scott, assistant Pat Bonnell and JV coach Jerry Laney of Horseheads. They were sectional and division champs. Over the past three years they won three STAC West titles, two STAC titles and two sectionals titles. The JV team won the STAC last year and were runner-up this year. They won the epiphany and Elmira Ref Tourney titles. The whole staff worked hard to make sure the girls were prepared and in the best position to win each game.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Megan Wolf, Horseheads
 Averaged 18 points a game, 7 rebounds, four steals and 3 assists. Hit 40 threes for a sectional championship team that won a second straight sectional title. Seventh player in school history to score 1,000 career points. An elite defender Was all state last year, has been all-conference three times and was the BCANY Section IV player of the year. Committed to play D1 softball at Binghamton.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Mariah Matias, Elmira
* Averaged 17.1 points, 13 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game. Averaged a double-double despite being focal point of other team’s defense. Faced double and triple teams all year. Came up big in sectional final with 20 points and 15 rebounds. BCANY Class AAA player of the year.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Char Starns, Corning
* Averaged 18 points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots at 6-foot, 4-inches. Has multiple Division I offers.
NEWCOMERS OF THE YEAR:
Samantha Bonnell, Horseheads:  
* 8th grade. Averaged 8 points, 6 assists and three steals a game. Only turned the ball over one time a game as an eighth grader for a 6-1 assist to turnover ratio. Ran the offense for a sectional championship team. Helped the team to a 16-6 record with five of the losses to state-ranked team. Only second 8th grader to play varsity for Horseheads and star, the other was D1 player Amanda Scheifen (She played at Canisius). STAC division all-star.
Kalysta DeMark, ND
* 12.2 points a game, 4.2 assists, 3.1 steals. Helped lead her team to sectionals in her first year at the school.
SIXTH PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jhamariah Maxwell, ND
* A versatile player who is a force defensively, while also providing an offensive punch off the bench. Is a spark plug for the Crusaders when she enters the game.
HUSTLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Addison Taft, Elmira
* Averaged 10.2 points, 3.4 steals. Best perimeter defender on team. Changed team’s offensive strategies with her defense. Committed to play D1 softball at Bucknell.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Horseheads Blue Raiders.
Head coach Andy Scott, assistant Pat Bonnell and JV coach Jerry Laney. Sectional champion and division champion. Three STAC west titles, two STAC titles and two sectional champions over the past three years. JV won the STAC last year and were runner-up this year and they won the Epiphany and Elmira Ref Tourney titles. The whole staff worked hard to make sure the girls were prepared and in the best position to win each game.

SUPER SEVEN
Megan Wolf, Horseheads
* See Above
Char Starns, Corning
* See Above
Mariah Matias, Elmira
* See Above
Samantha Bonnell, Horseheads
* See Above
Addison Taft, Elmira
* See Above
Kalysta DeMark, ND
* See Above
Jordyn Gross, Horseheads
* Averaged 10 points and eight rebounds a game. She is one of only five players in school history with 500 points and 500 rebounds for her career. STAC division All-star. Will play collegiately at Brockport.

SECOND TEAM
Alyvia Woodruff, Elmira
* Averaged 8 points, four assists and three steals a game. Top three-point shooter and playmaker for a sectional champion.

Maddie Ribble, Horseheads
* Strong defensive player. Averaged 7 points, five rebounds and three assists a game, while helping anchor the defense for a sectional championship team.

Mali Huffner, Edison
* Averaged 14 points and four steals a game. Second-team IAC all-star.

Peyton Sutryk, Notre Dame
* 14.5 points, 8.1 rebounds a game. MVP of their division that they won at the Palmer Tourney.

Ashaya Wallace, Elmira
* Averaged 6 points, four rebounds and 3.5 assists, with 3 steals a game. Strong defensive player. Guarded four different positions on the floor.

Meya Smith, Elmira
* Averaged 9 points, 9 rebounds and 2 blocks. First full-year as a varsity player and was a rim protector for the Express.

ROOKIE TEAM
DeMark
* See Above
Bonnell
* See Above
Addison Vendzales, Edison
* Had six games with nine or more points. Also had six games with 10 or more rebounds. Really came on later in the season. Scored in double figures in all three games the last week of the year.
Grace Kio, Corning
* Played half the season up on varsity and averaged 10 rebounds a game. 6-2 freshman

DEFENSIVE TEAM
Taft, Elmira
Emma Kamas, Horseheads
Charlee Stroman, Edison
Evelyn Starns, Corning
Jhamariah Maxwell, ND
Alyvia Heath, Elmira

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