Big-time scorers and more: 12 players to watch in Section 4 boys basketball tournament
The 2024 Section 4 boys basketball tournament gets going Feb. 21 and concludes with championship weekend from March 1 to 3.
Here are a dozen players likely to have a big impact on sectional play.
Andrew Erickson, Seton Catholic Central
The senior guard completed regular-season play with 15.4 points per game on 49-percent shooting, 6.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.3 steals. He was a 23.8-per-game scorer as a seventh-team all-stater last season.
Zubayr Griffin, Johnson City
For the season, the 6-foot-3 junior guard averages 28.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 3.1 steals. Early this month, he scored a school-record 52 points and backed that his next outing with 43. He was a fourth-team all-state selection as a sophomore, his case strengthened by a 24.7 scoring average.
Maddox Hughey, Horseheads
Hughey has been among the most improved players in the section as a senior and the 6-foot-4 forward provides the Blue Raiders with a strong two-way presence underneath in their pursuit of back-to-back sectional championships.
Owego’s key three
Riley Loomis 14.2 points, 6.0 rebounds in the regular season; Joseph Palladino 12 points, 3.2 assists, 36 three-point goals on 37-percent accuracy; Ben Rollison 8 points, 5.8 rebounds, team-best 4.1 assists.
As a team, the River Hawks average 15.2 assists against 11.8 turnovers – “Love a team that shares the ball,” said coach Chris Evans.
More: Zubayr Griffin comes up big as Johnson City boys slip past Seton CC for STAC title
Jeremiah Parker, Elmira Notre Dame
Parker, a 5-foot-10 guard, leads the Crusaders in scoring at 20 per contest. His ability to hit from long range and quickness in driving to the basket make him a difficult defensive assignment.
Nolyn Proudfoot, Corning
After emerging on the STAC varsity scene last year as a seventh-grader, Proudfoot has established himself among the best offensive players in Section 4 in his eighth-grade season. He is averaging 19.7 points per game with both a potent 3-point shot and a strong mid-range game.
Evan Sickler, Tioga Central
The 6-foot-3 senior scored his 1,000th varsity point as part of a 34-point outing in mid-December against Odessa-Montour. He was second-team Class C all-state in basketball as a junior and last month was named first-team Class D all-state in football for a second consecutive state-championship season.
Joey Tomasso, Waverly
Tomasso got a late start to the hoops season after recovering from a physical football season. His scoring average of 30.9 points per game last season is down after Waverly’s transition from the IAC to the STAC, but Tomasso has still averaged well over 20 points per game in leading the Wolverines to the top seed in Class B.
Ryan Willett, Watkins Glen
Willett was one of the leading rushers in Section 4 during football season and has been a consistent double-digit scorer for the Lake Hawks in hoops.
Chris Woodard, Elmira
The 6-foot-3 senior forward/center was an all-state pick last season and has elevated his game this winter. He leads the Express at 17.7 points per game and is a strong rebounder and defensive presence.
This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Players to watch in Section 4 boys basketball tournament
