By Patrick Newell
Sun Sports Editor
pnewell@evesun.com
At any time in a game, Oxford senior Haley Witchella could be a one-person fast break where she leaps for a defensive rebound, dribbles it up the floor past the defense as if it was standing still, then takes the ball to the hoop for a layup. In another moment, she might chase down an opponent dribbling the ball, block the shot, grab the loose ball, then rifle an outlet a pass to a fast-breaking teammate. Perhaps Witchella is merely patrolling the area surrounding the basket, an area she calls her own, and where few opponents traverse. Then again, Witchella may be on the perimeter knocking down a three-pointer for her team. Offensively and defensively, Haley seems like an omnipresent force. One who can score big, rebound big, defend with the best, while also possessing excellent ballhandling and passing skills.
“Haley is just an outstanding player, and I think every coach in the league recognizes that and wishes they had her,” said Greene girls’ basketball coach, Dave Gorton. Gorton has coached against Oxford and Witchella the past three seasons. “I admire her all-around game and she’s one of the most gifted athletes we’ve had in our league in a while. I’m partial to my players, but when I look at other teams, (Haley) is someone I’d like to coach.”
Witchella has led Oxford in scoring in all four of her varsity seasons, and recently reached a scoring milestone attained by only two other Blackhawks girls in school history. Against Sidney last Friday, Witchella cracked the 1,000-point barrier on a basket in the third quarter. The Blackhawks won that game on the heels of a win 24 hours earlier over Afton. The ensuing day, matching up with always-tough Bainbridge-Guilford, Witchella was charged with defending the top girls’ basketball scorer in Chenango County this season, Shania Vandermark. Witchella helped limit Vandermark to eight points, nearly 10 below her average, while doubling Vandermark’s total with a game-high 16 points. Witchella averaged 21 points in three Oxford wins to lift her team into the upper tier in the Midstate Athletic Conference, and she is this week’s choice as Smith Ford, Giant’s Warehouse/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
“She’s made huge strides for us over the last four years,” said Oxford third-year coach, Chris Palmer. “She’s improved her ballhandling and she’s making better choices. She’s a dominant defender and she’s learning to use her wingspan instead of trying to jump over people to block shots.”
The win over Sidney not only produced the milestone points, but also a stat-line that typifies her varied contributions. In addition to her game-high 26 points, she had nine rebounds, eight steals, and five blocked shots. For the season, she averages just around 10 rebounds, 3 1/2 blocks, and around four steals per game.
“Haley is a girl who likes to have fun, but she is also the leader of this team,” Palmer said. “The kids on the team will look for her to make a play when times are tough. She contributes for us in a lot ways, and we are a totally different team when she is not on the floor.”
Fortunately, Witchella is spending a lot more time on the floor as opposed to previous years when she would often find herself on the bench due to foul trouble. It’s all part of Witchella’s maturation from an athletic, raw freshman to an experienced senior who knows her presence on the floor is critical to her team’s success.
“As far as players in our league, I put her right up there in the top two with Hannah Kimmel (Harpursville),” Palmer said, who echoed Gorton’s statement. “She’s a player any coach would want on their team.”

Editor’s note: The artistic rendering of Haley Witchella was completed by Aidamarie Rull, a 1986 graduate of the Art Institute of Seattle. She may be reached by e-mail at aidamarie_rull@yahoo.com.