Richie Bonney served notice on the Southern Tier Athletic Conference last season at Seton Catholic Central.

The Purple Tornado, already with one loss on the books to the Saints, made a double-digit comeback in enemy territory, and Bonney fueled the offensive charge. Bonney came off the bench and scored the bulk of his game-high 20 points over the final two quarters.

That game was merely a glimpse of Bonney’s potential. In Norwich’s first two games this season, the senior forward’s play was on full display – and he was nothing short of impressive.

In leading Norwich to a second straight Tom Schwan Tournament title, Bonney had a combined 44 points, 23 rebounds, five blocked shots, and he shot 63 percent from the field from a variety of spots on the floor. Bonney’s explosive play on the basketball floor has earned him our Evening Sun/Smith Ford LLC Athlete of the Week honor.

“Richie is very difficult to defend,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott summing up the difficulties opponents face.

In a blowout win over Oxford the first night of the tournament, Norwich banged home a team-record 11 three-pointers. Bonney, number three on Norwich three-point shooting list last year, made none of them. Instead, he flashed into the painted area to receive passes and knock down mid-range shots. He gathered entry passes in the post with his back to the basket, and fashioned a sweet turnaround fadeway jumper, and he was aggressive on the offensive glass adding some put-back baskets.