Haley Kanner Selected to Hudson Valley Girls Basketball Team for Empire State Games

When it comes to high school sports in New York, there is no better place for an athlete to showcase his or her talents than the Empire State Games.

For Scarsdale's Hayley Kanner, it will be a time to shine and also a time to play with some of the best girls the Hudson Valley has to offer.

"When I was picked to be a member of the Hudson Valley team I was very excited," said Kanner. 

"A bunch of girls from my AAU team made it as well, so the whole experience has been less stressful and more enjoyable on and off the court."

Kanner led Scarsdale's girls basketball team to a 10-9 record last season and averaged a team-best 12.7 points per game.

Now with her inclusion on the Hudson Valley team, she is ready to show what she can do and play with some of the best girls from around the region.

"What I love most about playing with the best girls in the county is the level of play that they bring my game to while competing," she said. "Besides being great players, they are all great girls who just love the game, which is very contagious."

Ossining Girls Basketball Head Coach Dan Ricci, who is coaching the Hudson Valley team, has seen Kanner at her best during this past regular season and is excited at the opportunity to coach her and not against her.

Kanner had her second-highest scoring game of the season against Ossining with 21 points on December 12.

"I have always admired Hayley's game coaching against her during the season, said Ricci. "It has been a pleasure getting this opportunity to coach her myself."

The expectations for Kanner still remain high not only for herself, but for the team as well. The feeling is more than a plan to play well, but to win the whole thing.

"I think this team has a great chance of coming in first and winning it all," said Kanner. "The coaches did a great job of creating a team that works well together and we all are determined to play our best."

With Kanner adding a low post presence to an already good group of girls for the Hudson Valley team, the expectations are high. Ricci knows he has the best of the best on his team from the region. 

"All the girls on our team are the best players on their high school team and Hayley is no exception to that at Scarsdale," said Ricci. "We like how she communicates on the court and we feel that will help us play better defense as a result."