Locals to play in BCANY Hoops Festival
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Two players from the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association will participate in the Basketball Coaches Association of New York Girls Summer Hoops Festival this weekend.
Baya Oehlbeck and Emmersen Crawford, both from Sherman, have been named to the Buffalo/Western New York roster.
In its 14th year, the tournament replaces the former Empire State Games, bringing together some of the best boys and girls basketball players in the state. Hosted by Monroe-Woodbury High School, just south of West Point, the three-day event runs Friday through Sunday.
This year's head coach for the Buffalo/WNY team will be Grace Licata of Amherst. She will be assisted by Sarah Tully (Amherst), Maya Dils (Amherst), Emily Spiedel (Lancaster) Ari Carey (Lancaster) and Melissa Linder (Starpoint)
In addition to Oehlbeck and Crawford, the roster includes Taryn Ashley and Lucy Giordano (Amherst), Bellarose Milligan and Isabella Ceccarelli (West Seneca West), Maria Kiwanian (Starpoint), Maddie Carron (North Tonawanda), Julia Lyman (Lancaster), Eponine Ziolkowski (Sacred Heart), Teagan Ferris (Mount Mercy) and Sophia Krajewski (Buffalo Seminary).
The Summer Hoops Festival has plenty of history. WNBA superstar Breanna Stewart is a notable alumnus who was part of the first-ever BCANY championship team.
The Buffalo squad opens pool play against Suffolk at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, and at 6:30 p.m. Buffalo will face Rochester. On Saturday, the Buffalo squad will face Hudson Valley and Capital at noon and 5:30 p.m. respectively. Action concludes on Sunday with championship and consolation games.
Recent local participants in the girls BCANY tournament include Kymi Nance (Dunkirk), Kylie Schnars (Panama), Skylar Herington (Randolph/St Mary's), Alexys Neckers (Clymer), Kiera Loberg (Panama) and Christopher Dole, 2025 BCANY Head Coach (Panama)