Watkins, Herman, Kelly, Velletri and Ruff earn top Monroe County honors

Mariah Watkins (Webster Schroeder) led all Monroe County scorers in her fourth season in a varsity uniform on the way to Schroeder’s first sectional title in 47 years. Mady Kelly (Webster Thomas) eclipsed the 500-point mark for the first time in her career, while Mya Herman (Canandaigua) willed Canandaigua to the state semifinals. Ava Velletri (Brockport) topped Division III in points, assists and steals, and Claire Ruff (Honeoye Falls-Lima) led all Monroe players by a wide margin in assists and steals. The quintet earned Player of the Year honors as selected by Monroe County coaches. 

Watkins finished second on the list of Section V scorers with 586 points (24.4 PPG), 9.6 RPG, 3.6 SPG, 3.2 APG and 1.4 BPG and was named Monroe County Division I Player of the Year. The junior’s scoring binges include 12 20-point games and six 30-point games including a 36-point game on January 18 against Fairport. The junior posted 15 points including 10 in the second half on March 4th, when the Warriors captured their second sectional title win and first since 1976 in a 58-46 win over Penfield. The guard followed it up with a 32-point outburst in the Class AA Far West Regionals on March 11 in route to victory over Lancaster (VI). In the game, the junior exploded for 22 points after the break to overcome a 30-26 halftime deficit and the team advanced to the state semifinals to face Baldwin (VIII) on Friday. Watkins accounted for 39 percent of the Warriors’ points thus far, averaging 12 points more than any other player on the squad. In all, Watkins has recorded 12 double-doubles and finished one steal short of a triple-double on December 6 versus Webster Thomas. 

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Bella Pucci (Fairport) capped her senior season with 366 points (15.9 PPG), 102 rebounds (4.43 RPG), 92 assists (4 APG) and 49 steals (2.1 SPG) in 23 games to earn a First Team selection. The 5-foot-9 guard passed the 1,000-point mark for her career and finished with 1,203 points throughout four varsity seasons. Pucci dished out the most assists in Monroe County and third most in Section V Girls. Mallory Heise (Hilton) registered 395 points (18 PPG), 165 rebounds (7.5 RPG), 90 assists (4.1 APG) and 42 steals (1.9 SPG) in 22 games. She ranked third in rebounds in Division I and will enter her junior season 89 points away from 1000. Jackie Funk (Penfield) concluded her senior season with 388 points (16.9 PPG) in 23 games and 719 points through three varsity campaigns. The 5-foot-10 guard had six 20-point games and a 30-point performance on December 22 that front-ended a 12-game winning streak. Grace Alexander (Penfield) scored 339 points (14.7 PGG) and finished with seven 20-point outings. Bria Watkins (Webster Schroeder) currently posts 282 points (11.8 PPG) through 24 games including a career-high 36-point performance on February 13 in the final game of the regular season.

Kelly and Herman shared Division II Player of the Year honors. Kelly placed second among all Monroe County scorers with 502 points in 21 games (23.9 PPG) to earn an All-County selection for the second-consecutive year. The 5-foot-10 guard shot 40 percent from the field, and she had 84 rebounds (4 RPG), 63 steals (3 SPG). The senior accounted for nearly half of the Titans’ total points, with eight 20-point, two 30-point and three 40-point games, including  back-to-back 40-plus performances on February 7^th and February 9^th that started a four-game rally.

Herman led Canandaigua with 418 points (17.4 PPG),  4.6 RPG and 2.5 SPG, while shooting 43 percent from the field (31 percent from three).  The senior earned Class A Tournament MVP on the way to the Braves first sectional title since 2009. Herman dropped a game-high 25 points including 14 in the second half in the Braves 55-46 win over top-seeded Pittsford Sutherland to claim the Class A title. The four-year varsity player surpassed the 1000-point plateau and sits at 1,145 points for her career. The senior guard had eight 20-plus point games including three straight 25-plus point games. Canandaigua posted a 19-5 record and has won eight in a row heading into the Class A state semifinals versus Manhasset (VIII) on Friday.

Sadie Scott (Brighton) finished her junior season with 349 points (16.6 PPG), 146 rebounds (7 RPG), 30 steals (1.4 SPG) and 22 assists in 21 games. The 5-foot-11 recorded seven 20-point games and finished third in rebounds among Division II scorers. Kyleigh Chapman (Canadaigua) has registered 306 points (12.8 PPG) in 24 games and has gone over 15 points in 10 contests. Sydney Postell (Churchville-Chili) closed out her varsity career with 266 points (19 PPG) and earning All-County First Team honors for the second year in a row. The 5-foot-10 forward grabbed 117 boards, swiped 36 steals and dished out 19 assists in the 14 games she appeared in.

Ava Velletri (Brockport) closed out her four-year varsity career by posting 341 points (16.2 PPG), 220 rebounds (10.5 RPG), 82 assists (3.9 APG) and 63 steals (3 SPG) in 21 contests to garner Monroe County Division III Player of the Year. The senior guard finished third in rebounds among Monroe County players, posting 11 games with double-digit points and rebounds. She finished with a season-high 25 points and grabbed six boards in the Blue Devils’ final game despite falling 53-38 to Canandaigua in the Class A quarterfinals.

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Leora Cook (Sutherland) tallied 299 points (13 PPG), 80 rebounds (3.5 RPG), 34 steals (1.5 SPG) and 29 assists (1.3 APG) in 23 games, finishing second in points among Division III players. The junior guard’s top performance came on December 10^th when she registered 30 points and grabbed four boards to lead the Knights in their third straight win to start the season. Thanks to her efforts, Sutherland finished 19-4 despite falling in the Class A finals to Canandaigua. Cecilia Peinado Calvo (Sutherland) placed second on the Knights with 242 points (10.5 PPG), 106 rebounds (4.6 RPG), 55 assists (2.39 APG) and 48 steals (2.1 SPG) in 23 games. The sophomore posted 16 points, three boards, three steals and two assists in her varsity debut on December 2^nd.

India Williams (Gates-Chili) finished with 211 points (14.1 PPG), 124 rebounds (8.3 RPG), six steals (0.4 SPG) and three assists (0.2 APG) in 15 games. In her second varsity season, the junior forward recorded double-digit points and rebounds in five games, including a career-high 32 points and 14 boards on February 7^th. Dani Mooney (Mendon) scored 124 points in 22 games (5.6 PPG) and earned her first All-County First Team honor.

Claire Ruff finished her senior campaign with 186 points (8.5 PPG), 156 assists (7.1 APG), 83 steals (3.8 SPG) and 58 rebounds (2.6 RPG) in 22 games to earn Division IV Player of the Year and her second-consecutive All-County First Team selection. The guard ranks first among Section V Girls in assists. She has recorded four games with double-digit assists including a season-high 15 assists on February 13^th. Ruff finished with a double-double with 10 assists and 11 steals on January 6^th. The Cougars ended the season with a 15-6 record despite falling in the Class A quarterfinals.

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In her second varsity season, Shaye Angelo (HF-L) led the Cougars with 235 points (11.8 PPG), 67 rebounds (3.4 RPG), 37 assists (1.9 APG), 32 steals (1.6 SPG) in 20 games. The freshman finished third in points among Division III with eight 15-plus point games and one 20-point outing on January 3^rd. Alyssa Cowart (Eastridge) had 182 points (12.1 PPG), 69 rebounds (4.6 RPG), 64 steals (4.3 SPG) and 45 assists (3 APG) in 15 games. The eight-grader led Eastridge in points and ranked third in Division IV in steals.