Boys’ Basketball
Norwich 66, Horseheads 46
HORSEHEADS – Making its second 100-mile road trip in three days, the result in Friday’s matchup with Horseheads was much more pleasing than last Tuesday’s STAC playoff loss to Elmira Southside.
“This was a good one to play,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott, who said this meeting with Horseheads was his first encounter with the Blue Raiders in his 24-year coaching tenure. “Rather than sit on that loss heading to sectionals, we needed to get back on the floor and play well.”
Norwich was able to wipe the sour taste from the 24-point loss to ES out of its mouth in the first half building an 11-point halftime lead, and extending it to 16 entering the fourth quarter. Josh Borfitz led NHS (16-3) with 20 points, and had nine in the first and third quarters. Richie Bonney added 14 for the Purple Tornado as well. “Horseheads lost to Elmira Southside by just two points a couple of weeks ago, so they were no slouch,” Abbott said. “Horseheads is more of a perimeter-oriented team and didn’t have the bangers that Southside has. It was a different style of play, and a better matchup for us.”
Norwich is idle until next Friday when it hosts the winner of Oneonta and Owego in the Section IV, Class B playoffs.
Statistical notes: Norwich won the rebounding battle, 32-19 led by Bonney’s team-high 11. Bonney also had a team-high four steals... .Derek Hughes totaled a team-best 12 assists, and Borfitz was an economical 7-for-10 from the field in reaching his 20-point total.
NHS: Casey Edwards, 1 0-0-3; Dennis Oralls, 2 1-2-6; Richie Bonney, 3 8-10-14; Jacob Kelly, 0 1-2-1; Frank Somich, 0; Josh Borfitz, 7 3-3-20; Seth Thomsen, 1 1-1-3; Jon Foulds, 3 0-0-6; Alex Williams, 1 0-0-2; Derek Hughes, 1 1-2-3; Andrew Austin, 2 3-4-7; Josh Favaloro, 0 1-2-1; Zach Martinson, 0. Totals: 21 19-26-66.
Horseheads: Mike Abrunzo, 3 0-0-6; Tom Wahl, 1 0-0-3; Nick VanBrunt, 1 0-0-3; Nick Naldach, 0 0-2-0; Tyler Nolan, 0 6-8-6; Ryan Sindelar, 0 1-2-1; Bobby Beaman, 5 0-0-13; Dylan Manwaring, 4 0-0-12; Justin Stowell, 1 0-0-2. Totals: 15 7-12-46.
NHS 15 16 18 17–66
Hhds 10 10 13 13–46
Fouled out: (H) Nolan. Three-point goals: (N) Borfitz 3, Edwards, Oralls, (H) Manwaring 4, Beaman 3, Van Brunt, Wahl. Officials: Edwards, Chalk, Simmons.
Syracuse Academy of Science 84, Otselic Valley 42
SYRACUSE – Syracuse Academy of Science may have staked its claim as the team to beat among Section III, Class D teams after Friday’s rout of Otselic Valley.
“We walked into a buzzsaw tonight,” said Vikings coach Dave Loomis. “From our perspective, we didn’t play that bad. We played hard the entire game. (SAS) is a team that plays Class C and B schools in the Onondaga League, and they were 18-2 this year against those school. They are a very good team. I’m reasonably pleased and happy. Thirteen wins isn’t that bad after losing all five starters last season.”
Lovell Ellick had 23 for SAS and Dakeem McLain netted 22 in the win.
Dusty Davis paced OV (13-7) with 12 points.
OV: Trevor Marston, 0 3-6-3; Brock Rounds, 3 0-0-6; Chris Neal, 0 3-8-3; Grace, 0; Dusty Davis, 5 0-0-12; M. Larkin, 0; D. Comfort, 0; Karl Graham, 2 3-5-7; DJ Worden, 0; D. Day, 1 0-0-2; Brandon Coye, 0; Matt Williams, 1 2-2-4; E. Rounds, 1 3-4-5. Totals: 13 14-25-42 .
SAS: McGriff, 0 1-2-1; Guins, 5 3-3-13; Edwards, 1 1-2-3; Reader, 1 0-1-2; Jones, 4 3-4-11; Lovell Ellick, 9 4-5-23; Newgone, 1 0-0-2; Thomas, 1 0-0-2; Dakeem McLain, 7 6-10-22; Young, 2 1-2-5; Jackson, 0. Totals: 31 19-29-84.
OV 8 15 13 6
SAS 23 19 18 24
