APEX Amazing Athlete: June Piorkowski, Liverpool girls swimming. Piorkowski earned Section III’s best finish at the NYSPHSAA championships November 21 at Webster when she took third place in the diving competition. 

Atlas Fence All-Star: Braedan Taggart, Skaneateles boys ice hockey. The Lakers won its season opener 4-2 over Canandaigua on November 28 at Allyn Arena helped by Taggart earning two goals plus an assist. 

B&B Lumber Big Mover: Cayden Summerville, LaFayette boys basketball. Summerville had 21 points, 13 rebounds and four steals to help the Lancers rout Hannibal 63-29 on November 28 in the Zebra Classic at Liverpool High School.

Byrne Dairy Prime Performer: Sophia Johnson, Westhill girls volleyball. Johnson’s 33 assists helped the Wolf Pack swept Charles G. Finney in three sets on November 22 to win the state Class B championship in Glens Falls.

Clifton Recycling Rewarding Effort: Owen Dougherty, Jamesville-DeWitt boys volleyball. The Red Rams won the state Division II championship November 23 in a five-set classic over Eastport-South Manor as Dougherty had a triple-double of 25 kills, 22 assists and 13 digs.

CNY Softwash & Pressure Washing Superstar: Winston Jones, Bishop Ludden-Grimes boys basketball. When the Gaelic Knights beat University Prep 48-43 in the November 29 Zebra Classic at Liverpool Jones stepped up with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds.

Fire Brothers Red-Hot Performance: Keymora Woods, Nottingham girls basketball. Woods was dominant in the Bulldogs’ 48-23 victory over South Jefferson on November 29 piling up 28 points to outscore the Spartans by herself.

F.W. Webb Winning Effort: Thomas Roy, Hamilton boys soccer. Roy scored late in the second half to give the Emerald Knights the lead in the November 16 state Class D final against Fillmore in a game ultimately ending in a 4-4 draw.

The Image Press Icon: Tim Scheemaker, Baldwinsville boys soccer. After nearly three decades at the helm which produced 11 Section III titles and two trips to the state championship game, Scheemaker announced his retirement at season’s end.

Little York Plantation Play of the Week: Jhadon Gary, Christian Brothers Academy football, returning an interception 64 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the state Class AA semifinal against Buffalo Bennett to help clinch a 34-14 victory for the Brothers.

Mabey’s Moving and Storage Major Mover: Kyleen Brady, Auburn girls cross country. Brady picked up an 18th-place finish in the November 22 New York State Federation Championships at Bowdoin Park in a time of 18 minutes 51.3 seconds.

Mirbeau Inn and Spa Megastar: Niko Martinez, New Hartford football. Martinez netted two touchdowns in the Spartans’ furious rally in its Class B regional final against Owego even though it ultimately resulted in a 36-34 defeat.

M. Lemp Jewelers Rewarding Effort: Antwan Aiken, Institute of Technology Central boys basketball. Aiken’s 19 points, most of it from four 3-pointers, pushed the Eagles past Henninger 62-54 in the November 29 season opener for both teams.

Mooney Marketing Group/Bristol 7 Enterprises Major Performance: Mattingly Dorchester, Carthage girls volleyball. Dorchester picked up 10 kills, six digs, two assists and two aces helping the Comets edge Camden in five sets on November 28.

Nye Automotive Mark of Excellence: Giovanni Lang, Whitesboro football. Despite Whitesboro’s 46-22 loss to Union-Endicott in the November 22 Class A regional final Lang produced a team-best 118 rushing yards on just 10 carries.

O’Hara Electric Electrifying Play: Cece Powell, Marcellus girls soccer, scoring late in the second half of the November 16 state Class B championship game to clinch a 2-0 victory over Livonia and the Mustangs’ second consecutive state title.

Onondaga Flooring Outstanding Achievement: Mason Buczek, Cicero-North Syracuse boys volleyball. Buczek finished with 190 digs to lead the Northstars in its run to the Section III Division I championship and a state tournament appearance.

Potter and Perone Special Performance: Mason Marland, Morrisville-Eaton football. Marland’s two early touchdowns on a 43-yard run and 25-yard pass completion set the tone in the Mavericks’ 56-21 win over Taconic Hills in the November 22 eight-man football regional semifinals.

Premier Hardwood Premier Player: Kash Gordiner, Belleville-Henderson boys basketball. Gordiner’s double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds plus five assists helped B-H defeat Watertown IHC 57-50 in the November 28 season opener.

Purcell Paints Prime Performer: Max Delporte, West Genesee ice hockey. The Wildcats shut out Mohawk Valley 6-0 in its November 26 season opener at Shove Park led by Delporte’s two goals and one assist.

Rockbridge Investment Management Risk Taker: Emily Waldron, Central Square girls basketball. Despite a season-opening 67-53 defeat to Baldwinsville on November 29 Waldron still managed 17 points and eight rebounds.

Senke CNY Garage Door Sensational Star: Brenden Lee, General Brown football. Though the Lions lost 49-22 to Chenango Forks in the November 22 Class C regional final Lee still provided a big highlight with a 63-yard touchdown run.

Sierson Crane and Welding Superstar: Gia Kinsey, Jamesville-DeWitt girls basketball. In her Red Rams debut Kinsey’s 19 points helped push her side to a 57-39 victory over Central Valley Academy on November 29 in the Henninger Tournament.

Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists Stellar Athlete: Hannah Ellerson, Cincinnatus girls soccer. Earning a shutout in goal in her most important match of the season Ellerson helped the Lions beat Chazy 1-0 on November 23 and win the state Class D championship.

Top Notch Roofing Top Star: Jake Woolbert, Cazenovia boys cross country. Woolbert finished in the top 10 among Section III runners and 67th overall during the November 22 New York State Federation championships at Bowdoin Park.

University Sports Shop/Manny’s Major Moment: Phil Rudolph, Fayetteville-Manlius girls tennis coach, announcing his retirement after 40-plus seasons at the Hornets’ helm which included a 329-match win streak which spanned 20 years.

U.S. Army Athlete of the Week: Vivian Pilon, Marcellus girls swimming. Pilon recorded the best finish of any Section III girls swimmer at the November 21-22 state championships in Webster when she took ninth place in the 100-yard freestyle.

Wilkins RV Winning Player: Elise Jackson, Syracuse West girls basketball. Syracuse West defeated Massena 51-38 in its November 29 season opener propelled by Jackson scoring 19 points, nearly half of it from three 3-pointers.

Wonder Windows Winning Performance: Toran Zehr, Lowville football. Zehr threw for 775 yards and 11 touchdowns while running for five other scores in the Red Raiders’ run to the Section III Class D championship.