By Rob Potter
CALLICOON — Three Sullivan County girls’ basketball players who helped their teams have very successful 2010-2011 seasons were recently named to all-state teams by the New York State Sportswriters Association.
Tri-Valley’s Jakki Pugh and Eldred’s Sage Owens were honored as Class C all-state and Livingston Manor’s Marissa Diescher was honored as a Class D all-state.
Pugh, a senior guard for the Lady Bears, was named to the Class C second team.
Owens, a senior center for the Lady Yellowjackets, was named to the Class C fifth team.
Diescher, a senior guard for the Lady Wildcats, was named Class D first team.
Pugh became the first girls’ basketball player in T-V school history to reach the 1,000-point milestone in a Feb. 3 victory over the Chester Lady Hambletonians. She finished her career with 1,182 points.
For the 2010-2011 season, Pugh averaged 22 points, seven assists and six steals to lead the Lady Bears to the Section IX Class C championship.
Owens helped the Lady Yellowjackets reach the Section IX Class C semifinals. She recorded several double-doubles in points and rebounds during the season.
In a Feb. 17 victory over Manor, Owens scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. In the Lady Yellowjackets’ loss to Millbrook in the Class C semifinals, Owens recorded a double-double of 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Diescher finished her career with 1,914 points. She scored 30 points in the Section IX Class D title game in which John A. Coleman Catholic High School defeated Manor, 44-34.
For the 2010-2011 season, Diescher averaged a double-double of 21 points and 11.5 rebounds. She also had 4.5 steals and four assists per game.
Diescher, Owens and Pugh were also honored by the Basketball Coaches Association of New York (BCANY) for their outstanding 2010-2011 seasons.
Pugh was honored as the Section IX Class C Girls’ Player of the Year.
Owens was named a Section IX Class C all-star and Diescher was named a Section IX Class D all-star.