Girls’ Basketball
Norwich 57, Windsor 30
NORWICH – Norwich honored outgoing seniors Hannah Runyon and Molly DeMellier before Monday’s contest against Windsor, then the Tornado went out and clinched its first STAC Central Division title in six seasons.
Runyon, playing her usual all-around game, led Norwich (12-2) with 20 points. The Purple are off to their best overall start since that 2005-2006 campaign when it went on to win the school’s second-ever Section IV title.
“This was a win for the program, and this situation (winning a division) is where we want to be every year,” said Norwich second-year coach Josh Bennett. “This is a special group of kids.”
Runyon and DeMellier made their usual impact on the Norwich team, who led 17-4 after one quarter, and stretched that advantage to 37-12 by halftime. Bryn Loomis had nine in the first half, Runyon added seven, and DeMellier added some key assists. “You know what you’re going to get from Hannah: She’ll make plays all over on defense, she’ll see the court well, and shoot it well,” Bennett said. “Even though Molly didn’t shoot it well tonight, she was all over the place and made some nice passes.”
Norwich forced 15 Windsor turnovers in the first half, and led 35-8 at one point after a pair of layups from Loomis.
“Every time we’ve played a great game, it’s our defense that pushes the offense,” Bennett said. “If we happen to struggle on offense, we are tough enough to lock down on defense and wait for the offense to come around.”
Norwich’s junior varsity defeated the Black Knights, 38-24. Sydney Chaffee had a game-high 18 points for the NHS juniors.
Norwich plays at Susquehanna Valley on Friday.
Wind. Leigh Martino, 1 0-4-2; Amy Goetz, 2 0-0-4; Brittany Birmingham, 1 2-2-4; Gina Suhadolnik, 0; Erika Corbin, 2 5-8-9; Melissa Kenyon, 1 0-0-2; Chelsea Van Zandt, 1 0-0-2; Catherine Sisson, 2 1-2-5; Ashley Kamp, 1 0-0-2. Totals: 11 8-17-30.
Norwich: Miranda Costin, 1 2-2-4; Jennifer Borfitz, 1 3-4-5; Brooke Bonney, 2 0-1-4; Cassie Sutton, 3 0-0-6; Devon Palen, 0 0-0-0; Molly DeMellier, 2 0-0-4; Bryn Loomis, 3 3-4-9; Hailey Dietrich, 2 1-2-5; Sophie Stewart, 0 0-0-0; Hannah Runyon, 8 2-2-20. Totals: 22 11-15-57.
Wind. 4 8 3 15–30
NHS 17 20 10 10–57
Fouled out: (W) Corbin. Three-point goals: (N) Runyon 2. JV: Norwich won 38-24. Officials: C. Miller, Hendrickson.
Sherburne-Earlville 50, Canastota 29
SHERBURNE – Sherburne-Earlville exhibited the strides it has made since the early part of the season rolling past Canastota Monday night for its seventh straight victory.
Early in the season, the Marauders edged the Raiders 38-33, their lowest scoring effort against a Center State Conference opponent this season. “The way we played defense tonight, it was definitely a team win,” said S-E coach Karen Mulligan. “There is definitely a difference in the way we are playing now as opposed to the first half of the season.”
Caitlynn Adams benefited from the Marauders’ defense and rebounding. Several times she leaked out on fast breaks in the first half to finish layups. Adams had 15 points in the first half lifting S-E to a 27-10 lead, and she finished with 21 points.
Bridget Irwin narrowly missed another triple-double scoring 10 points, while grabbing 13 rebounds and pocketing eight steals.
S-E (12-2) plays at Mt. Markham on Thursday. The Marauders beat the Mustangs by 28 points in the first meeting this season.
Canastota: Alexis Havens, 2 0-0-4; Ashley Delaney, 0; Allie Brinier, 1 1-2-3; Lindsay McGinley, 2 0-0-4; Jennifer Getty, 1 0-0-2; Emily Harp, 0; Shea Foster, 4 3-4-11; Jess Jones, 1 0-0-2; Danielle Carlone, 1 1-2-3. Totals: 12 5-8-29.
S-E: Sierra Morris, 0; Briana Vibbard, 1 0-0-2; Jordan Van Althuis, 2 1-2-7; Caitlynn Adams, 8 4-4-21; Karly Wagner, 0; Bridget Irwin, 4 2-2-10; Katherine Robertson, 3 0-0-6; Cassie Beaver, 2 0-0-4. Totals: 20 7-8-50.
Can. 5 5 10 9
S-E 9 18 11 12
Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: (SE) Adams 1, Van Althuis 2. JV: Canastota won 36-32 (OT). Officials: Reynolds, Klepfer.
Greene 44, Unatego 31
GREENE – Greene closed the game on a 14-1 run to earn perhaps its most significant win of the 2010-2011 season.
After Unatego’s Robin Foster hit two free throws to tie the game at 30-30, Greene took the lead on Kaitlin Gorton’s basket. Shannon Gregory and Jessica Brooks followed with layups to put the Trojans in command. “I felt this was our most compelte game of the year,” said Greene coach Dave Gorton. “This is a huge step for us. We allowed just one field goal in the second half. The defense was just fantastic.”
Greene had 26 defensive rebounds, its highest total of the season, Gorton said. Kaitlin Gorton scored 14 to lead Greene, Rebecca Smith had 10 points, and Andrea Day finished with eight points, eight defensive rebounds, and five steals. “Unatego was up there in our league standings,” Gorton said. “I don’t think we’ll be in the top four, but we were hoping to clinch fifth and get two more home games in our league playoffs. This win gives us an opportunity to do that.”
Greene hosts Sidney on Wednesday.
Unatego: Robin Foster, 0 2-2-2; Shelby Puffer, 2 3-6-8; Sarah Mannina, 2 3-4-8; Casey Manzanero, 2 2-4-8; Katrina Clark, 1 0-0-2; Kayla Talbot, 1 0-0-3; Katie Woods, 0. Totals: 8 10-16-31.
Greene: Rachel Turner, 2 0-0-4; Andrea Day, 3 0-0-8; Emily Conroe, 0; Jessica Brooks, 2 0-1-4; Kaitlin Gorton, 5 3-4-14; Rebecca Smith, 4 2-4-10; Natalie Greene, 0; Shannon Gregory, 2 0-0-4. Totals: 18 5-9-44.
Unat. 11 10 7 3–31
Gre. 15 10 5 14–44
Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: (G) Gorton, Day 2, (U) Puffer, Mannina, Manzanero 2, Talbot. JV: Unatego won. Officials: Wahila, Springer.
