IAC GIRLS BASKETBALL: CANDOR FALLS TO STATE-RANKED UNION SPRINGS IN SMALL SCHOOL TITLE GAME (February 20, 2026)
By TIM TAYLOR
Tioga County Sports Report
DRYDEN — The Candor girls basketball team’s roster was a little thin, but its effort was enormous in a 67-49 loss to state-ranked Union Springs in the IAC Small School championship game at Tompkins Cortland Community College Friday evening.
The Coyotes suited up seven players, just two of whom are seniors. Union Springs started four seniors and has a handful of players from the 2024 state championship team.
“Hats off to them. They have every piece they need to be challenging for the section and maybe even past that,” coach Carl Kanoff said.
An early 9-0 run put the Wolves in control, 13-2, and they were still ahead by 11 before back-to-back baskets by Emmi Makie and Hazel Ray closed the gap to 17-10 heading into the second quarter.
“Our game plan coming in was to improve upon the last game we played when they beat us by 40, and that hole kind of put the damper on early, but then we clawed in and fought back, and made some adjustments and kept it respectful along the way.”
Madison Kalet, Allie Parker and Jenifer Daum, who combined for 12 first-quarter points, knocked down one 3-pointer apiece in the second as Union Springs built a 32-20 lead at halftime.
Consecutive baskets by Malley Heidl, preceded by a trey from Megan Williamson, narrowed the lead to 30-20 heading into the final minute of the half.
Williamson opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer to trim the margin to 32-23, but Amelia Schwarting’s try and a pair of free throws by Daum made it 37-23. Williamson and Parker traded buckets, then Kalet went on a hot streak, scoring five straight baskets to build a 49-25 cushion for the Wolves.
She scored the majority of her points on breakaways, most of which came in the first and third periods.
“Great player,” Kanoff said. “That certainly was the difference of them pulling away. I'm sure she had at least 16 just on the breakaways, and you lose by 22, so you look at the difference there.
“How do you combat that? We're dog tired. We’ve got a short bench,” Kanoff said. “The girls are giving everything they’ve got.”
Shawna Conklin halted the surge with a basket at 2:36, and Williamson and Makie followed with one bucket each to make it 49-31, but Kalet canned a trey to give Union Springs a 52-31 advantage heading into the final frame.
Daum scored 13 points in the final period while Williamson put up a half-dozen for the Coyotes, and Makie and Heidl tacked on one 3-pointer apiece.
Kalet and Daum shared scoring honors with 24 points each. Kalet had a pair of threes and Daum added one while going 5-for-5 at the free throw line. Parker had eight points and Schwarting added two treys.
Williamson finished with 16 points, including two 3-pointers, and had two rebounds and two steals; and Makie chipped in with 11 points (one 3-pointer), five rebounds, one assist and one steal.
Ray contributed eight points, was 4-for-4 at the stripe, and pulled down 12 rebounds; Conklin had five points, 10 boards, five assists and five steals; and Heidl recorded seven points (one 3-pointer), seven rebounds and three steals.
“We're disappointed to lose, but you look for the silver lining, keeping it close down the stretch, improving upon last time,” Kanoff said. “And now we build on that for our sectional game. Hopefully we get these girls a playoff win.”
The Coyotes (14-4) will host Newfield (9-10) at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the Section IV Class C Girls Basketball Championships.
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PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.
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