Basketball
Schroeder has enough talent to challenge for another section crown.
Bishop Kearney is only a season removed from winning its own Class AA state title, and brings back AGR pick Klarissa Goode. Penfield, last year's section runner-up, is already off to a strong start following a blowout win over Fairport in the Patriots' season opener Dec. 1.
Another team to watch could be Hilton. The Cadets bowed out in the section quarterfinals last year, but retain all-state selections Ella Clark and Mallory Heise.
Section V girls basketball, Class A
Defending champion: Canandaigua Class A is wide open with Canandaigua's move to AA. Pittsford Sutherland is a logical successor, especially with forward Leora Cook (13 points per game last season) back in the mix. Sutherland was the No. 1 seed in last year's Class A tournament, but fell to the aforementioned Gray Wolves in the championship game.
Honeoye Falls-Lima is a team off to a hot start -- two blowout wins in two games to start the season -- that could take a step this winter.
Aquinas and Palmyra-Macedon, two teams up from Class B, return plenty of talent and should challenge come February and March.
Section V girls basketball, Class B
Defending champion: Waterloo (B1), Hornell (B2)
Waterloo was the class of Class B basketball last season. The Tigers made their fourth state final appearance in 2022-23 and captured their first state title.
After graduating three all-state selections (Morgan Caraballo, Jazzmyn Lewis, Natalie DiSanto), Waterloo will lean on a roster that features no seniors and only one junior. Sophomore guard Addison Bree will lead this year's youthful group.
Hornell, which fell to Waterloo in last year's regional qualifier, possesses a youthful roster in its own right. Last year's Red Raiders included three freshman -- including all-state pick Jordan Dyring -- and one eighth-grader in the playing rotation, and each returns this year with the benefit of experience.
Section V girls basketball, Class C1
Defending champion: Oakfield-Alabama
Oakfield-Alabama will lean on juniors Alea Groff and Caitlyn Ryan in its pursuit of a second straight section title.
Lyons, the top seed in last year's C2 tournament, will also be in play with guards Jayla Bell and Kamryn Bonnell leading the way. Bell, who made the AGR list and was named second team allstate, averaged over 22 points per game as a sophomore in 22-23.
Gone is last season's top tournament seed Canisteo-Greenwood, which moved to Class B this season.
Section V girls basketball, Class C2
Defending champion: Pavilion Pavilion has claimed C2 titles in three of the last four seasons, and looks to extend its run in 2023-24 minus two of its stars (Lauren Kingsley and Karlee Zinkievich) from last year.
Could Dundee/Bradford take the reins after falling to Pavilion in last year's final? Guard Kendall Parker, who was named to the AGR's second team in 2022-23, returns for her junior season and leads a team that features six seniors on the roster.
Keshequa, a Class D program last season, fell in the NYSPHSAA quarterfinals and brings back core members from last year's team, including guards Libby Bender and Braelyn Isaman.
Section V girls basketball, Class D
Defending champion: Andover/ Whitesville (D1), Keshequa (D2)
Class D shifts to a single bracket this winter.
Andover/Whitesville merged athletic programs in 2021-22 and is 2-for-2 in claiming section titles since (D1 in 22-23, D2 in 21-22). The NYSPHSAA tournament has proved elusive, however, as the team has dropped the Class D regional qualifier both seasons. A-W will need to replace the production of forward Vanessa Hall, who averaged 27 points a game last season.