FROM PRESS ROW: CORNING'S STURDEVANT, HORSEHEADS' JOHNSTON NAMED ATHLETES OF WEEK; BREAKOUT STARS, UNSUNG HEROES OF WEEK ALSO NAMED (2021-12-21)

The winter sports season got into full swing last week as the last of the area teams kicked off their seasons.

It was a busy week, and it was a week full of big performances.

Its’ time to recognize some of those great performances as we name the Athletes of the Week, the Unsung Heroes of the Week and the Breakout Stars of the week.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
MEGHAN STURDEVANT, CORNING, BOWLING:
The Hawks bowler has had an absolutely dominant start to the season.

All of the area’s top series by girls have been by Sturdevant this year.

Last week she had a 735 series, with games of 243-245-247, the series was the best of anyone, boys or girls, in the match.

She followed that up with a 639 series. On Monday she had a 669 series, the best of anyone boys or girls, and she had a 279 game, also the best anyone, boys or girls had at the match.

GANNON JOHNSTON, HORSEHEADS, WRESTLING:
The Blue Raiders senior is wasting no time in his dual meet matches.

Horseheads wrestled two dual meets in the past week, against Johnson City last week, and against Binghamton on Monday.

In both matches Johnston had pins in under 15 seconds. He had a 14-second pin against Binghamton on Monday and last week he was even faster, needing just five seconds for a pin.

That’s two dual meet matches for the 285-pounder and he’s needed just 19 seconds to get the two wins.

UNSUNG HEROES OF THE WEEK
ALEX MCKERROW, ELMIRA, WRESTLING:
In his first year as a varsity wrestler McKerrow is coming up big for the Express.

McKerrow joined the wrestling team this year and he’s given the Elmira wrestling team a boost at 285.

At the Cunene Doane Tournament in Walton the senior finished third at 285.

He already had a big win earlier this year in a season-opening win over Vestal, getting a pin in the match.

GIANNA MCGEE, EDISON, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
The Spartans guard missed the start of the year with an injury, when she returned last week it was clear how much of an impact she makes for the team.

McGee had 10 points, six steals and six assists as the Spartans rallied for a win over SVE.

Not only did McGee have a strong first game of the season, her playmaking opened things up for teammates as Payton Littlefield had a career-high 30 points in the game.

BREAKOUT STARS
SOPHIA BONNELL, HORSEHEADS, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
The Horseheads sophomore had a career game on Monday in a win over Waverly.

Bonnell had a career-high 24 points on a career-high eight three-pointers for the Blue Raiders.

Bonnell hit two big threes in the fourth quarter, including one when Waverly got within a point. Bonnell also made a half-court shot right at the end of the half.

Behind Bonnell’s eight threes the Blue Raiders hit 15 threes in the game as a team.

Bonnell also had nine points against Vestal.

After starting the year 1-3, Bonnell has helped the Blue Raiders get back to .500.

ALYSSA DOBSON, CORNING, GIRLS’ BASKETBALL:
There are co-breakout performers of the week for girls.

The other breakout star is Dobson, who had 49 points in three games for the Hawks.

As good as Dobson was in games, she was even better in crunch time.

Dobson had 13 points against Vestal. The junior had 24 points against Maine-Endwell, with 12 of those points coming in the fourth quarter. Against Johnson City she had 14 points, 12 in the second half.

Dobson has helped Corning get off to an unbeaten start on the season.

AMAURI AND JEREMY TRUAX, HORSEHEADS, BOYS’ BASKETBALL:
The two traded big games for the Blue Raiders as they have started the year 3-0.

The two have combined for 100 points in three games. Amauri has 56 points in three games this year and Jeremy has 44 points.

In the season opener against Vestal Jeremy, a sophomore, had 22 points, while Amauri, a junior, finished with 16 points.

Horseheads then went to the Bishop Kearney Holiday Invitational and went 2-0.

Against Eugenio in an overtime win, Amauri had 18 points and Jeremy had 14 points.

In the most recent game, on Sunday against Leadership, Amauri had 22 points and Jeremy finished with eight points.