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Talented crop

Westfield’s Swanson leads group of stars ready for basketball season

OBSERVER File Photo Westfield’s Carson Swanson returns for his final season as the reigning OBSERVER/Post-Journal Player of the Year.

The 2024-25 high school basketball seasons begin for boys and girls this week. Judging from the area players returning to the hardwood, this is likely going to be another entertaining winter.

Following are some of the players to watch:

BOYS

CARSON SWANSON

WESTFIELD

OBSERVER File Photo Dunkirk senior Greg Orcutt comes back for one more year after averaging 19.4 points per game his junior season.

SENIOR

The reigning OBSERVER/Post-Journal Player of the Year and a New York State Sportswriters Association Class C First-Team selection, Swanson was also named the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 2 West co-Player of the Year after averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 assists, 5.7 rebounds and 5.5 steals per game for the Wolverines, who finished 20-3 overall and reached the Section VI Class C finals.

JAYDIAN JOHNSON

JAMESTOWN

SENIOR

OBSERVER File Photo Cassadaga Valley’s Emiley Anderson comes back for her final season of girls high school basketball.

The overall Erie County Interscholastic Conference and Division 1 Player of the Year, Johnson was also a First-Team OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star and a NYSSWA Class AA Fifth-Team All-Star after averaging 19 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.2 steals per game for the Red & Green (21-5), who won both the Section VI Class AA1 and crossover titles as well as the Far West Regional.

DREW HIND

RANDOLPH

SENIOR

The reigning CCAA Division 1 East Player of the Year, a First-Team OBSERVER/Post-Journal All-Star and a NYSSWA Class C First-Team selection, Hind averaged 23.2 points, 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 steals per game for the Cardinals, who finished 21-3 and reached the Class C Far West Regional.

OBSERVER File Photo Pine Valley’s Danielle West comes back for her final season of girls high school basketball.

CARTER BRINK

PANAMA

SENIOR

A NYSSWA Class C Second-Team selection and a OBSERVER/Post-Journal Second-Team All-Star last season, Brink was also the CCAA Division 2 West co-Player of the Year after averaging 25.7 points, 4.7 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game for the Panthers, who finished 20-3 and reached the Section VI Class C semifinals.

DOMINIC GONZALEZ

JAMESTOWN

JUNIOR

An ECIC Division 1 and a OBSERVER/Post-Journal Second-Team All-Star last season, Gonzalez averaged 13.2 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game for the Red & Green, who won both the Section VI Class AA1 and crossover titles as well as the Far West Regional en route to a 21-5 record.

See BASKETBALL, Page B2

ROGER MARKHAM

FALCONER

JUNIOR

A CCAA Division 1 East First-Team All-Star, Markham averaged 18 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.0 steals per game for the Golden Falcons, who won the Section VI Class B2 title, which was the program’s first since 1982.

GREG ORCUTT

DUNKIRK

SENIOR

A OBSERVER/Post-Journal Third-Team and CCAA Division 1 West First-Team All-Star, Orcutt averaged 19.4 points per game for the Marauders.

AVERY BROWN

SALAMANCA

SENIOR

A CCAA Second Team Division 1 West All-Star last season, Brown helped the Warriors to the Section VI Class B and Far West Regional titles en route to a 20-6 record.

GIRLS

SKYLAR HERINGTON

RANDOLPH

SOPHOMORE

An OBSERVER/Post-Journal First-Team All-Star, Herington was also a CCAA Division 1 East First-Team All-Star after averaging 22.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2.0 assists per game for the Cardinals, who finished 15-7 and lost in the Section VI Class C semifinals.

JADYN TROCKI

FREWSBURG

SOPHOMORE

The CCAA Division 1 East Player of the Year last season, Trocki averaged 19.8 points, 5.7 assists, 5.5 steals and 3.4 rebounds per game for the Bears, who won a Section VI Class C title and the program’s first Far West Regional crown.

EMILEY ANDERSON

CASSADAGA VALLEY

SENIOR

An OBSERVER/Post-Journal Second-Team and CCAA Division 1 East First-Team All-Star last season, Anderson averaged 24.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.9 steals and 4.0 assists per game for the Cougars, who finished 12-9.

QUINN PENCE

RANDOLPH

SENIOR

An OBSERVER/Post-Journal Second-Team and CCAA Division 1 East First-Team All-Star in 2023-24, Pence averaged 12.9 points 6.7 assists, 5.3 steals and 4.5 rebounds per game for the Cardinals, who finished 15-7 and lost in the Section VI Class C semifinals.

BELLA SIRIANNI

SOUTHWESTERN

SENIOR

An OBSERVER/Post-Journal Second-Team and a CCAA Division 1 West First-Team All-Star a year ago, Sirianni averaged 10.0 points, 3.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.0 steals per game for the Trojans, who won the Section VI Class B1 and crossover title as well as the program’s first Far West Regional title.

TEGHAN TROCKI

FREWSBURG

SENIOR

An OBSERVER/Post-Journal Second-Team and a CCAA Division 1 East First-Team All-Star in 2023-24, Trocki averaged 14.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 steals and 2.0 assists per game for the Bears, who won a Section VI Class C title and the program’s first Far West Regional title.

KAITLYN HORTON

PANAMA

SENIOR

An OBSERVER/Post-Journal Third-Team and CCAA Division 2 West First-Team All-Star last season, Horton averaged 9.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game for the Panthers, who won a Section VI Class D title and lost in the Far West Regional.

DANIELLE WEST

PINE VALLEY

SENIOR

An OBSERVER/Post-Journal Third Team and CCAA Division 2 East First-Team All-Star, West averaged 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.8 steals and 2.7 assists per game for the Panthers, who finished 12-9 and lost in the Section VI Class D semifinals.

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