NTL GIRLS' BASKETBALL: REVAMPED TROY EXCITED TO DEFEND THEIR LEAGUE TITLE (November 30, 2025)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It’s a year of change for Troy girls’ basketball as they welcome a new coach and say good-bye to a talented senior class that led them to back to back NTL titles. However, the girls stepping in believe this won’t be a whole new book, just a new chapter that keeps the winning going.

“I love it,” lone returning starter Giana Renzi said about the new faces. “I played with these girls since I was younger. It’s definitely a different team than last year, but I’m really excited.”

Giana and Kyah Renzo are the only returnees who saw regular varsity action a year ago, and now they’ll be tasked with breaking the new girls into shape.

“I’m just very happy I get to take this big role on,” said Renzo. “I learned to keep my head up and play good defense, you’ve got to keep working as hard as you can - never stop.”

Giana played mostly off guard last year, using her shooting to stretch the floor, but will be looking to play more point guard this season. She plans to continue to play in your face defense up and down the court.

“I played wing most of the time, but this year I’m going to be playing point guard a lot more, just because we don’t have as many point guards,” she said.

Renzo came off the bench as a guard and forward, and will continue to be a versatile option.

“I’m definitely going to be a bigger communicator on the team this year,” she explained. “I will possibly be taking the ball down the court, and just making more shots, and finishing under the basket.”

Joining them will be a plethora of talent that’s been waiting in the wings - Raelynn Woodward, Emma Mickley, and Haidyn Watson.

“I am beyond excited to play with these girls this year,” said Woodward. “I learned a lot from watching last year, watching Giana, and now that I get to play with her, I think it’s amazing. I learned a ton, and I’m just very excited to use those skills this year.”

Mickley brings some size inside for the guard oriented Trojans.

“I just want to make sure to box out, and just make sure to give all that I have,” Mickley said. “I worked on defense and offense every day.”

She’s expecting it to be a big step up from JV last year.

“I’m excited to get to know the girls more, and to play at a more advanced level,” remarked Mickley.

Watson is coming off a strong volleyball season that saw her take a big step up in her role, and she’s excited to do that in hoops.

“Out of the three sports that I play, the third sport that kind of gets pushed aside for me, it feels great to come in here, and be the sixth man,” Watson said. “I’m super excited to play with my best friends. We’re all friends on and off the court, so I think that our friendship, and our chemistry off the court is going to be on point.”

Freshman Izzy Renzi will also be looking to make an impact this season.

“The level of aggressiveness, and just playing up to everyone else on the court,” Renzi said about what she’s learned about varsity hoops so far. “Just giving it all the time.”

It’s definitely a family affair for Izzy as she’ll be playing with her sister with their dad as the coach.

“It’s great,” Izzy said. “We don’t really play like sisters on the court sometimes, but we definitely have to change a lot and work together.”

Even with the turnover on the roster the Trojans are going to have a big target on their backs as the defending league champions from a year ago.

“We have to keep our energy up at all times,” said Woodward. “Our mood has to be high, and know that mistakes are OK. Keep your head up at all times.”

Most of these girls are coming off fall sports success, with the soccer and volleyball teams both winning league titles and making playoff runs. 

They’re hoping that carries over to the winter.

“I definitely think that’s giving all of us to look up to that,” said Watson. “We in volleyball won a district title this year, and in soccer they went super far. I think that all of us coming together from our fall sports definitely transfers into our drive for basketball.”

ROSTER
Giana Renzi
Izzy Renzi
Kyah Renzo
Raelynn Woodward
Emma Mickley
Haidyn Watson
Kylie Oldroyd
Jasmine Frisbee
Taylor Lee
Emilee Purcell
Zyra Hughson

SCHEDULE
Dec. 6 at Central Columbia, noon
Dec. 10 at CV, 7 p.m.
Dec. 12 vs Canton, 7 p.m.
Dec. 17 at NEB, 7 p.m.
Dec. 19 vs Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Dec. 20 at Jersey Shore, 11 a.m.
Dec. 27 vs St. Mary’s (At Elmira Tournament), 5 p.m.
Dec. 29 at Elmira Tournament
Dec. 30 at Elmira Tournament
Jan. 3 at Waverly, 11 a.m.
Jan. 7 at Towanda, 7 p.m.
Jan. 9 vs Athens, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Jan. 16 at NPM, 7 p.m.
Jan. 20 at Sayre, 7 p.m.
Jan. 22 vs Williamson, 7 p.m.
Jan. 27 vs NPL, 7 p.m.
Jan. 29 at Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Feb. 3 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.
Feb. 5 at Athens, 7 p.m.
Feb. 7 vs NPM, 7 p.m.
Feb. 9 vs Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

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