NORWICH – Norwich took a business-like approach to its final home game of the season, and after four quarters of action, punched out with a 63-37 victory over Susquehanna Valley in the Section IV Class B semifinals.
Norwich, who won the Class A title a year ago, play for the Class B boys’ basketball championship on Friday night against Seton Catholic Central at 7:45 p.m. at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. The last back-to-back sectional titles for the Tornado came in 1993-’94 when they went on to win consecutive state titles. “It would be nice to go back-to-back, and it certainly will not be easy,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott. “The whole focus of this program is beating good people and winning championships.”
Norwich (18-3) posted one of its most impressive wins of the season in the first meeting the with the Sabers administering an 81-41 drubbling.
This time around, SV (8-11) got off to an 8-3 lead in the first quarter highlighted by Matt Cornwell’s driving two-handed dunk. Norwich responded with a 22-2 spurt including 20 points over the last 3:45 of the first quarter.
Norwich took its first lead on Richie Bonney’s spot up three making it 10-8, but Cornwell tied it one final time for the Sabers on a driving layup at the 2:36 mark.
Edwards vaulted Norwich in front drilling a three ball after a Bonney kick-out pass, and reserve Jon Foulds sparked the Tornado offense hitting a floater in the paint, then canning a three-pointer with five seconds left in the quarter to elevate the advantage to 23-10.
“I was not keen on our focus and intensity the last couple of games, and it was almost like it was becoming a grind,” Abbott said. “We needed to be more passionate and intense, and I thought we did a good job of that tonight. We had great balance on both ends of the floor, and that’s the way I like to see us play.”
Josh Borfitz had two three-pointers in the third quarter as Norwich was able to stretch its lead out to 27 points. Borfitz led NHS with 16 points, Edwards had 12, and Bonney, despite foul trouble, came through with 10.
