Twenty local basketball players, 10 boys and 10 girls, have been selected to the All-Greater Cortland teams for their performances during the 2022-23 season.
The players were selected from the 10 local schools and were chosen based on statistics and the way they impacted games.
Here are the players selected:
BOYS TEAM
Conor Holland (Senior guard, Marathon, 27ppg, 6.5rpg, 3apg)
At times this season, it looked like Holland could score whenever he wanted. He used his speed and ball-handling to consistently create space, leading to looks he liked around the perimeter and at the rim. He had the ability to knock down jump shots and finish in traffic, which caused headaches for opposing defenses. Once Holland gained confidence, he scored at will and his ability to get teammates involved on offense gave them good looks. Holland finished as Marathon’s boys all time leading scorer with 1,606 points.
Evan Butts (Senior forward/guard, Homer, 19.9 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 1.6 apg, 1.6 spg, eight double-doubles, four 30-plus-point games)
Butts was a true leader for an injury-riddled Homer and saved his best performances for the end of the year. The do-it-all senior, who was nearly a unanimous first-team all-league selection, averaged 28 points and 14 rebounds over his final four games with three 30-point outings. Butts used his size to excel in the face-up game and improved his back-to-the-basket moves and outside shooting before his final season.
Ryan Mize (Senior forward, Tully, 15.0 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.5 apg, 2.9 bpg, 12 double-doubles)
There was no flash and flare to Mize’s game, but he was a truly dominant big man. Mize’s body control was second-to-none, and he used that to carve out space for offensive rebounds and post moves. He also had great defensive instincts, leading to eight games with four or more blocks — including a nine-block showing in his final high school game.
Abram Wasileski (Junior guard, Moravia, 15.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Wasileski was a true slasher and showed confidence in his jump shot this season. His biggest strength was getting to the rim, using his lethal first step to get by defenders and his jumping ability to finish. He consistently scored due to his movement off the ball, constantly cutting and weaving through the defense looking for openings, and his teammates didn’t fail to find him.
Joe Baylor (Sophomore forward, Moravia, 15.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.0 bpg)
Baylor was on a deep team full of quick guards and played as one of the bigs, but his skill set was that of a guard. He is quick at his size, consistently knocked down mid-range jump shots and stepped beyond the arc often. Baylor also could jump out of the gym and used that to finish around the rim, block shots and rebound.
Mason Slade (Senior guard, Groton, 19.2ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.7 spg)
Slade got it done on both ends of the floor for Groton all season. His biggest strength was once he got out and ran on the fast break and not many teams could slow him down with his speed and ability to finish in traffic. Slade had an ability to float in the air and move his body and finish shots that looked near impossible at times, but he got it done. He was often put on the opponent’s best perimeter scorer as well, and he made it difficult for them with his long arms and eye for the ball.
Xavier Scott (Senior forward, Dryden, 15 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 2.6 bpg)
Scott was a nightmare matchup for many teams down low. At 6’7” with long arms and a high vertical, he was able to shoot or finish over many defenders. He also was a double-double machine and a threat to achieve one every game. Scott was an interior presence on the defensive end. No shot was easy with him around and it was very difficult for teams to find quality looks with him in the paint.
Gaven Truman (Senior guard, McGraw, 20.3 ppg, 1.1 rpg, 2.7 apg, 1.3 spg, 2.8 3pg, four 30-plus-point games)
Truman was a pure sniper, as he was frequently found in the corner, where he liked to shoot or attack off the dribble. He knocked down big shots time and time again and was able to take over when his teammates needed him to. Truman was also an emotional leader for an upstart McGraw team, fully embracing the team culture and helping guide the Eagles to a bounce-back season.
Ben McGrath (Senior forward, Cortland, 13.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.2 spg, six double-doubles)
McGrath was one of Cortland’s few reliable players, taking the floor in every game and making an impact down low. The senior used his athleticism and instincts to grab rebounds and showed a vastly improved ability to finish in traffic. McGrath was a workhorse. With all the time Purple Tigers players missed, McGrath’s steadying presence kept Cortland afloat.
Ryder Forrest (Senior forward/guard, DeRuyter, 22.7 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, 3.5 spg, one triple-double, seven double-doubles)
Forrest wasn’t a flashy player, but his nose for the ball impacted games. Forrest was able to tip and intercept passes and start the fast break and also knew when to get out and run, where he was a reliable finisher through contact. In a season where DeRuyter could’ve had an identity crisis after losing multiple big-time scorers, the senior stepped up and took over that role.
GIRLS TEAM
Catherine Apker (Senior guard, Homer, 18.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 3.5 apg, 6.2 spg, 2.0 3pg, one triple-double, 10 double-doubles)
A do-it-all player, Apker was the go-to player on a young Homer team. The senior guard broke numerous school records, including the scoring and 3-point shooting records, and always made sure she played with 100% effort. Apker was also a leader on and off the floor for Homer and made sure her impact extended beyond the court.
Mallory Turner (Senior guard, Cortland, 11.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.9 apg, 2.3 spg)
Turner’s will to win always showed in her effort, and the senior guard gave all of herself every time she went on the floor. Turner used her slashing and driving ability to free herself up for the 3-pointer, where she was one of Cortland’s best. Turner also was scrappy on the defensive end at the top of the Purple Tigers’ 2-3 zone.
Valerosa Gambitta (Junior guard/forward, Cortland, 14.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.1 spg, three double-doubles)
Gambitta didn’t make many threes, but she didn’t have to to be successful. Gambitta turned into Cortland’s go-to player during its run to the state semifinals thanks to her ability to get to the rim, finish through contact and draw fouls. The junior wing also hits the boards hard and can handle the ball in space to run the break.
Kendall Mack (Junior guard, Cortland, 11.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.3 spg, three double-doubles)
Mack knocked down plenty of big shots during the postseason, and that was just her second-best quality. The junior point guard broke Cortland’s girls basketball single-season assist record by a wide margin. Mack’s ability to get in the paint and distribute freed up her teammates for open looks and caused opposing defenses nightmares.
Claire Turner (Junior forward, Cortland, 8.2 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.3 bpg, 10 double-doubles)
Turner wasn’t as much of a scorer as her other standout teammates, but her presence made Cortland its most lethal. Her ability to dominate on the glass and alter shots in the middle of the Purple Tigers’ zone made her valuable on both sides of the ball. She also was good as a roller and knew what spaces to get to when other teams ran a zone.
Kahlen Cornell (Senior forward, Dryden, 12.3 ppg)
Cornell and her also-selected teammate Ava Henry were interior presences all season for Dryden and often handled the scoring load. She showed the ability to score consistently in the paint and also stepped into some jumpers confidently. Though rebounds were not tracked every game by scorekeepers, Cornell was a no stranger to the double-double. She is certainly known for her ability on the softball field, but she proved she is a multi-sport athlete with her play on the court.
Ava Henry (Senior forward, Dryden, 12.6 ppg)
Henry was a double-double threat every game, much like Cornell. The duo played very well off each other. Henry’s game lived in the paint, as she attacked on the block and rebounded at will. She also was a terrific shot blocker, making it tough for any player to shoot over her. When she scored 31 points against Marathon in December, she looked unstoppable.
Abby Ensign (Junior guard, Marathon, 16 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 spg, 2 apg)
Ensign stepped into the No. 1 scoring role for Marathon this season and she didn’t disappoint. She proved the previous season she could knock down a jump shot consistently and she did that again this year. When Ensign looked to attack the rim though, her game opened up even more. She was also an elite defender all season and often was matched up with the opposing team’s best player. She will certainly take on a similar role in her final season next year.
Chloe Hanson (Senior forward, Moravia, 8.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 2.1 spg)
Much like the boys team, the Moravia girls had balance all over the floor, but Hanson was the clear veteran leader of the group. She stepped up on both ends of the floor all season for the Blue Devils. She was a vocal leader on the defensive end and her active hands gave opposing offenses problems. On offense, she often attacked down low with good footwork and finishing ability, but was not afraid to step out and knock down a jump shot.
Ellie Dykeman (Junior guard, Groton, 9.4ppg, 2.0 apg, 3.5 spg)
Dykeman was often the primary ball-handler for Groton and did the most damage for it on offense. The Indians were a low-scoring team and thrived on the defensive end, and Dykeman got it done on both ends of the floor. She racked up the steals every game and looked to attack the rim on offense. Her 26 points against Trumansburg on Jan. 20 really showed off her offensive game, knocking down three 3-pointers all in one quarter and doing damage inside as well.
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Sports Editor Paul Cifonelli and Sports Reporter Matt Czeitner compiled the stats and recaps for this story.
* ppg — points per game, rpg — rebounds per game, apg — assists per game, spg — steals per game, bpg — blocks per game, 3pg — 3-pointers per game
