BY BRIAN FEESSouthern Tier Sports Report
BINGHAMTON — Missing two of their top three leading scorers the Corning Hawks girls’ basketball team fell to William Floyd 61-30 in the NYSPHSAA Regional final on Sunday at Visions Veterans Arena.
“It was hard without two of our starters,” Corning coach Alexis Wood said.
Star player Char Starns, who had a 33-point double-double in the sectional final, where she scored her 1,000th career point, missed the game after injuring her ankle in practice on Friday.
Char’s sister Evelyn, a senior starter, got a concussion at the end of the sectional final against Elmira.
“I am proud of them (The Corning players on Sunday),” Wood said. “I felt like they definitely stepped up. I thought they had a couple girls who could shoot and they scored.”
Without Char Starns, who is 6-5, and Evelyn, who is also over 6-foot the Hawks leaned on freshman Lucy Ferratella and sophomore Grace Kio inside.
“I’m proud of Grace and Lucy,” Wood said. “Lucy is only a ninth grader and Grace is only a sophoore and they both stepped up. They had big shoes to fill.
“We told them to go out and do what you do. We told Lucy and Grace to watch as much film on Evie and Char as you could and learn from that and be where you need to be,” Wood said.
Deanna Shaddock led Corning with 15 points, 13 in the second half. Kio had six points and Aubrey Rose finished with four points.
Katie Grover had three points and Ferratella finished with two points.
While it’s tough to play without key starters, younger players getting playing time in a state game can only help them next year.
“We are excited for next year already,” Wood said. “We already talked about it, because most of them will already know the feeling if we get here.”
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES
PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:
