IAC GIRLS BASKETBALL: CANDOR FIGHTS OFF NEWFIELD, CLINCHES SHARE OF DIVISION TITLE (January 30, 2026)
Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR — The Candor girls basketball team outlasted Newfield in an IAC South Small School barnburner here Friday night, 52-48, clinching a share of the division title in the process.
The Coyotes, playing without leading scorer Emmi Makie due to illness, received a career-high 28 points from Megan Williamson to keep pace with the sharpshooting Trojans, who knocked down eight 3-pointers.
Candor established a lead by taking the first quarter, 14-10. After
Williamson laid in the first points of the game, Malley Heidl hit a three,
followed by a Shawna Conklin layup and a trey from Williamson. Newfield
hit their first two threes to keep pace, but Williamson extended the lead
with a layup with six seconds remaining.
The teams traded baskets throughout the second frame, with the Trojans
getting 12 points from Egypt Smith-Henderson. Candor's scoring was well
balanced, as Williamson put in six, Conklin three on free throws,
Hazel Ray and Montana Vorhis with a bucket apiece, and Heidl with her
second trey of the night. Candor entered the half up 30-25.
Newfield shooting went cold in the third quarter, as Candor held the
Trojans to two 3-pointers. The Coyotes took advantage to run their lead
to 11 to end the frame. Williamson hit another three and converted a
traditional three point play to go along with another layup. Conklin and
Heidl each added buckets off offensive rebounds.
The Coyotes opened up the game at the start of the fourth with a three from
Williamson and a tough basket from Ray to increase their lead to 16,
47-31. A mix of turnovers and empty possessions allowed the Trojans to
storm back as they cut the lead to two in the final minute thanks in part
to a 12-0 run. Williamson and Conklin combined for five free throws as
Newfield attempted to stop the clock. Williamson iced the game at four
seconds when she converted her last two attempts at the line.
Smith-Henderson led the Trojans with 19 and Emily Taylor chipped in 16, with
four 3-pointers.
Williamson added eight rebounds and two steals to her game-high scoring.
On their Senior Night, Hazel Ray scored six and pulled down 16 rebounds,
while Shawna Conklin scored eight with 18 boards. Conklin added six blocks
to her impressive season total. Heidl scored eight with seven rebounds.
Montana Vorhis had five rebounds with her lone basket.
"I can't be more proud of this team this year,” coach Carl Kanoff said. ”Every obstacle or challenge — they have a response. Tonight, we had to not only change our gameplan,
but drastically change roles. While that led to some understandable mental
miscues, the effort they gave was out of this world. After the last two
games, Megan has certainly established herself as a high-level player. And
it was a great senior night performance for Hazel and Shawna, and they are
a big part of our ongoing success."
Candor (11-3 overall, 8-2 IAC) visits Spencer-Van Etten on Tuesday.
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IN PHOTO: Megan Williamson. … TCSR STOCK PHOTO.
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