SECTION IV BASKETBALL: OWEGO TEAMS FACE STAC CHAMPIONS FOR CLASS B TITLES (2019-03-02)

Tioga County Sports Report
BINGHAMTON - Both Owego basketball teams have something to shoot for - other than the basket - when they take the floor this evening in the Section IV Class B championship games. Fifteen days ago, they lost in the STAC championship games and each faces the same opponent again as they battle for the right to represent the section in the state playoffs.

Both games are being held at the Floyd L. Maines Memorial Arena in Binghamton. The girls game begins at 5 p.m. and the boys start at 7 p.m.

GIRLS
No. 1 Owego (19-1) vs. No. 2 Norwich (20-1)
The Indians were minus eight players in the 73-49 STAC title game loss Feb. 15. They were without sophomore forward Evee Coleman, who is averaging 16.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.7 blocks and 1.9 steals per game, then lost senior guard Anna Felice (13.8 PPG, 4.8 APG, 2.8 SPG, 2.5 RPG) to a broken nose in the second quarter.

Owego is paced offensively by guard Kaci Donovan, who pumps out 26.9 points per game. She also averages 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.7 steals per outing. The Penn State-bound junior eclipsed 1,000 career points early in the season and also set the single season scoring record.

The Purple Tornado can knock down the 3-pointer as well as anyone and have several scoring threats, including Triniti Myers, Saige Benedict, Taylor Hansen, Sydney Coggins and Halea Eaton.

Norwich comes into the game ranked fourth in the state while the Indians are ranked No. 5.

The victor will host either the Section I or Section IX champ next Sunday at the Arena at a time to be determined.

BOYS
No. 1 Owego (18-3) vs. No. 2 Seton Catholic (18-3)
The Saints are the defending sectional champions and will most like rely on Tommy Dempsey, Tyler Rumpel, Marcus Dyes and Brett Rumpel for the majority of their scoring.

Owego counters with senior guards Kobe Bogart and Christian Sage, both of whom are averaging double digits. Bogart is scoring 21.2 points per game and pulling down 8.8 rebounds while Sage is scoring 15 points per game, and is averaging 5.9 assists and 3.5 steals.

Bogart also surpassed 1,000 career points this season and broke the school record for 3-pointers.

The Indians also have another threat outside the arc in Evan Hamed. Rob Merrill and Mike Wasyln round out the starting five while Isaiah Bishop and Brendan Evans could see plenty of action off the bench.

The winner will face either Lowville or General Brown next Saturday at noon at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.