An exciting season on the local youth hardwood came to an end this week at Lakeside Elementary.
More than 200 players gathered in the school cafeteria for the Honesdale Missy Basketball Association’s annual banquet on Wednesday evening.
“What a wonderful group of girls!” longtime HMBA President Judy Goyette exclaimed. “I really think this was one of our best seasons ever.”
Awards & Accolades
The highlight of this year’s banquet was the presentation of awards for both the Senior and Junior Divisions.
Every team received recognition for the season and each coach handed out a trophy for his “Most Improved Player.”
Senior Division honorees included: Haley Cowger (Bullets), Anna Semler (Celtics), Megan Hedgelon (Lakerettes), Mackenzie Jackson (Sparks), McKenzie Blair (Jazz).
Junior Division award winners were: Olivia Meyer (Belles), Marissa Diehl (Cardinals), Mary O’Neill (Kernals) and Shianna Stoddard (Stars).
The season’s major awards for each division were also bestowed at this ceremony.
Morgan Birmelin of the Cardinals earned Senior Division Outstanding Defensive Player honors. The Belles’ Stacey Hart took home the trophy for Outstanding Offensive Player. Katie Miller of the Stars is the ‘09 Most Valuable Player. Taylor Parenti of the Belles was voted the Senior Division’s Leadership Award.
On the Junior Division scene, Jessica Carney of the Bullets walked off with the trophy for Outstanding Offensive Player and teammate Hannah Marin was named Outstanding Defensive Player.
The Celtics’ Sadie Borsdam earned MVP honors, while Jennson Gibbs...also of the Celtics... received the Junior Division’s Leadership Award.
At the Buzzer
The 2009 Senior Division championship game will be remembered as one of the year’s most exciting games.
This battle between the top two teams went right down to the buzzer before the Stars pulled out a 26-25 victory.
Coach Eddie Hart’s ballclub took an early 2-0 lead on Alison Martin’s first quarter basket.
The Stars then opened fire from the perimeter, hitting a pair of long-distance treys. Katie Miller led the assault with seven points in the second period. She was aided & abetted by teammate Jackie Knash, who added three.
Stacey Hart kept the Belles close all game long. The league’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year rattled the rims for a game-high 14 points.
Olivia Meyer chipped in with three, while Taylor Parenti and Kristen Schmale added a basket apiece for the Belles.
This contest took Maple City youth hoops fans on a genuine rollercoaster ride. The two teams traded leads right up until the final moments when Miller hit a miraculous shot at the buzzer.
