IAC GIRLS BASKETBALL: CANDOR TOPS O-M IN DOUBLE OT (February 12, 2026)

Tioga County Sports Report
ODESSA — The Candor girls basketball team won a thrilling double overtime game, 65-64, at Odessa-Montour Wednesday night to extend its winning streak to 12 games and complete an 8-0 sweep of the IAC South Small School division.

Odessa’s leading scorer, Leah Antes, gave the Grizzlies the lead out of the gate, hitting a 3-pointer on their first possession.

The Coyotes answered quickly with a basket from Shawna Conklin and built a 10-5 lead midway through the quarter.

Odessa battled back with four points from the free throw line as Candor starters were tagged with fouls.

The Coyotes celebrated taking a 13-9 lead into the second frame after Megan Williamson’s half court heave went in at the buzzer.

Candor continued to add to its lead in the second, holding the Grizzlies to five points. The Coyotes received five points from Williamson, four from Emmi Makie and a 3-pointer from Malley Heidl. The 25-14 lead would be Candor’s biggest cushion.

The third quarter saw a reversal of fortunes as Candor starters got into foul trouble. The Coyotes, playing with only two reserves, saw Shawna Conklin and Hazel Ray sit the majority of the frame.

A defense that had held Antes in check for an entire half started to break down as the Grizzlies poured in 16 points, fueled by nine from Antes.

Williamson kept the Coyotes’ hopes alive with seven points that included two treys. Candor held onto a 35-30 lead heading into the last quarter.

The final frame was a wild affair as an exhausted Candor defense lost track of Antes on several occasions and she pumped in 12 points, including two threes, one that brought the game within one and the other to give Odessa the lead with 24 seconds remaining.

Ray was fouled and made one of two free throws to tie the game and ultimately set up overtime. Odessa took the frame, 22-17, as the teams deadlocked at 52 to end regulation.

All eight Coyote points in the first overtime came at the free throw line, where the team went 8-for-10, including a 5-for-6 performance from Ray.

Odessa got a three from Olivia Barr to knot the score at 60 with 15 seconds remaining.

After an Odessa layup in the second overtime, Williamson hit her fourth three of the night to give the Coyotes a 63-62 lead with two minutes remaining.

Antes would net a basket with a minute to go, and after back-and-forth empty possessions, Conklin grabbed a rebound and put in the game-winning hoop with 11 seconds remaining. Odessa had a last-second heave after two sideline out of bounds possessions.

Antes led all scorers with 34, 25 coming in the second half and overtimes.

Williamson scored 28 for the Coyotes and added five rebounds and four steals. Ray scored 12 to go with eight rebounds and three assists. Makie, who faced an “and-1” defense all night, achieved her 14th double-double, scoring 10 and grabbing 13 rebounds. She also had two assists, six steals, and two blocks.

Conklin put in eight points, and grabbed 18 boards to go with three steals and three blocks. Heidl added seven points which included two treys to go with two assists and three steals. Ally Mesick had four rebounds.

”It was probably a more enjoyable game to watch than to coach, although the parents told me that they were having as many heart palpitations as I was,” said coach Carl Kanoff. “Odessa has some fierce competitors and they played very well tonight.

“We have the flu running rampant among students and staff at school, and we certainly were not healthy tonight and had an even shorter bench than usual. I give all the credit to the girls for grinding for four quarters and two extra periods. That’s a lot of exhaustion and adversity, but that's why they are champions. Very proud of them. It’s a game they will remember for a long time.”

Candor finishes the regular season at 14-3 (11-2 IAC) and will face Union Springs at Tompkins Cortland Community College Friday, Feb. 20 for the IAC Small School championship.

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IN PHOTO: Shawna Conklin (12) and Hazel Ray.. … TCSR STOCK PHOTO.

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