BINGHAMTON – It began just over a year ago, and the mission was clear for Norwich: Win a Section IV championship. Over 90 games later, counting offseason and regular season games, mission accomplished.
The Purple Tornado, who had not played Elmira Southside in over two decades until two weeks ago, beat the Green Hornets for the second straight time, and staked its claim as the best Class A team in Section IV, 51-46, Thursday night at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
“At the beginning of AAU season last year, we made winning the Section IV Class A title our goal,” said Norwich senior forward Vaughn Labor, a three-year varsity player for NHS. “It’s been 11 months of hard work and it feels great getting there.”
Labor scored 21 points to lead Norwich, whose revolving door of various offensive weapons reared itself once again. A different player led Norwich in scoring in all three games, and Labor wasn’t even among the top four scorers in the previous contest.
“Norwich has smart kids and is so well-coached. If you take away one player, they’re just going to find someone else to hurt you,” said Elmira Southside head coach John Fetesch. “They’ll do a good job representing Section IV in Class A.”
Outside of the game’s opening bucket, Elmira Southside did not lead at any point in the game. Still, down to the Tornado 47-37 with 4:31 left, the Hornets found a way to make the game interesting.
Brent McLaurin hit a long jumper, Brad Bellinger converted a traditional three-point play, and Mike Backer hit a short jumper in the paint that closed the 10-point lead to 47-44 with just over 2 1/2 minutes left in the game.
Labor, who easily topped double-digit rebounds, was option A, B, and C the rest of the way, and Norwich did its darnedest to get their senior the ball. Labor responded with solid post position that led to four free throws over the last two minutes. He hit the first two with 2:18 left, and one apiece on two subsequent trips to help his team tuck away its 20th victory of the season. “I just try to be a team player every night and work my butt off,” Labor said. “It just so happened that tonight was my night.”
The championship game was the seventh appearance under longtime Norwich mentor Mark Abbott, who surpassed 300 career wins about six weeks ago. Thursday’s win represents another 20-win campaign for Abbott, and more importantly, the school’s fourth Section IV championship – first as a Class A school.
“This was our goal all along – a Class A championship,” Abbott said. “There has been a lot of time and effort to get this far, and to cap it with or 20th victory of the season...I’m just so happy for the guys. This is all about them.”
Corey Dietrich hit an early three, and Labor established his presence down low in the first quarter scoring three baskets from no more than three feet as Norwich led by three at the first turn.
