Section IV Hoops: High Performing Underclassmen in the STAC

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a significant number of freshman and sophomores that are playing contributing roles on their varsity teams this year in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference. Keep reading to learn who they are and how these young fellas are positively impacting games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Preston Ocker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Maine-Endwell High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Preston Ocker is a 6'0 combo guard for the Spartans from Maine-Endwell High School and is in the graduating class of 2026. Even as a freshman, Ocker seems to exhibit a lead by example style of leadership, always locked in and always plays hard, dives for loose balls, takes charges, doesn't take breaks. The freshman has started games for the Spartans and is often in at the end of the game when critical decisions and plays are required. Ocker is strong with the ball, solid passer and makes good decisions with the ball in his hands. Knockdown shooter from the catch and will make you pay if he gets off a 3 point attempt. Scrappy defender, creates a ton of deflections that lead to steals and ultimately fast break opportunities for his team.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Stephen Dowdall","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Norwich High School","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"Interstate","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Stephen Dowdall is a 5'11 point guard from Norwich High School and is in the graduating class of 2025. Dowdall is physically strong and uses his strength both on offense and defense. Defensively he is comfortable pressuring ball handlers and created several turnovers for his opponents in the game we watched him play. Offensively he is the primary scorer for his team and can score both from the 3 point line and also has the ability to penetrate the lane and score from the paint. Dowdall has a quick release  into his jump shot off the dribble, and uses the dribble to find space and create shots for himself. In the Norwich vs #1 Chenango Forks game, Norwich was clearly outmatched, but Dowdall continued to play hard and remain focused, mounting a significant comeback at the end of the third quarter. Looking forward to watching Dowdall and his team develop in the years to come.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Brady Carr","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Oneonta High School","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Brady Carr is a 6'4 forward from Oneonta High School and is in the graduating class of 2026. Carr is good rebounder on both ends of the floor, uses his positioning well to gain advantage for offensive rebounds especially. Has the ability to knock down 3's off the catch. In the game we watched he knocked down a few of them after relocating to the corner, impressive balance and footwork for a freshman forward that is sprinting to open space for a shot. Carr is a solid post defender and can sit down and move his feet on the perimeter as well.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Jordan Benowski","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77248","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Chenango Valley High School","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"City Rocks","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Jordan Benowski is a 5'11 shooting guard from Chenango Valley High School and is in the graduating class of 2025. Benowski is a knock down 3 point shooter with a quick release, has the ability to find space and spot up for open shots against zones, capable of hitting contested shots. Displays a high basketball IQ and the ability to make good reads on offense. Good passer, creates passing lanes with his dribble and finds teammates with passes that are on time and on target. Defensively he can pressure a ball handler and stay in front, good communicator of the defensive end as well.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Luka Ioannisci","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"77247","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Maine-Endwell High School","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Luka Ioannisci is a 6'4 guard/forward from Maine-Endwell High School and is in the graduating class of 2026. Ioannisci is a highly skilled, athletic player that can get it done from both the inside and the outside on the offensive end of the floor. Capable of knocking down 3's off the catch, especially against zones that are slow to close out on shooters. Capable of driving past defenders and finishing in the paint, has great touch and connects on floaters and runners often. Extremely efficient from both the high post and the dunkers spot, makes quick decisions and shows the ability to correctly read the defense.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63f3cd1d4dff5"} /-->