IAC GIRLS BASKETBALL: SHORT-HANDED CANDOR AVENGES EARLY-SEASON LOSS WITH 56-41 WIN OVER O-M (2025-02-13)

Tioga County Sports Report
CANDOR — Short-handed Candor opened the fourth-quarter with an 11-2 run to earn redemption from an early-season loss with a 56-41 win over Odessa-Montour here Thursday night in IAC South Small School Division girls basketball action.

Candor, playing with just six players, opened the scoring with baskets from Emmi Makie and Claire Rollins before Odessa hit a 3pointer to close the gap to 4-3.

Rollins knocked down two 3-pointers in the quarter to help the Coyotes to a 16-10 advantage at the end of the frame.

The Grizzlies battled back as Candor played without a sub for 12 minutes with Hazel Ray relegated to the bench with foul trouble.

The Coyotes managed only two field goals as they fell behind to O-M's offensive surge and entered the half trailing, 26-23.

The teams played a dead-even third quarter until a Makie 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining cut O-Ms lead to two entering the final frame.

The Coyotes took the lead with a five-point burst. Following a Grizzlies' bucket, Candor put together another six-point run, sparked by a putback by Ava Fernando, to take a seven-point lead.

For the second game in a row, Candor helped themselves from the foul line, hitting seven free throws down the stretch.

With the game nearly in hand, Makie scored Candor’s remaining 10 points, including a 3-pointer and a traditional three-point play. She was also 3-for-3 from the line in the final minutes.

Makie led all scorers with 23 points, and registered a double-double with 13 rebounds. Megan Williamson scored 15 and also earned a double-double with a career-high 14 rebounds to go with three steals.

Rollins scored 11 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and had three steals, while Ray scored five points and pulled down eight rebounds, Fernando grabbed eight boards, and Malley Heidl pulled down three boards and had one assist.

Candor finishes the regular season at 14-3 and rounded out IAC league play at 9-2.

Next up is the IAC overall championship Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Tompkins-Cortland CC. It will be a rematch of last year’s contest as the Coyotes draw reigning state champion Moravia (14-2), winner of the North's Small School Division.

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IN PHOTO: Candor's Emmi Makie. ... TCSR STOCK PHOTO.

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