<center><strong>Boys’ Basketball</center></strong>
Norwich 65, Windsor 46
NORWICH – Norwich coach Tom Collier thought Windsor might present his club with its most significant test to date. Turns out, Collier was wrong.
Norwich shredded the Black Knights in the middle two quarters, and led by as many as 30 points in the second half in the Tornado’s fourth straight win to start the season.
“I thought we played a very, very good defensive game, and our overall effort was very good,” Collier said. “We played really hard, and I have to give credit to Matt Burke and Carlos Ithier for their combined effort on Windsor’s point guard Josh Cady from endline to endline.”
The perceived advantage for Windsor came in its front line of Nate Wrighter, Jake Conroy, and Michael Beebe. That trio held a good size advantage over their Purple counterparts, yet the three players combined for just 10 points. Again, Collier was complimentary of his defense with Storm Cook, Mike Sutton, Mike Oralls, Jamison Luke, and Cody Barnes earning plaudits.
That defensive effort was evidenced from the rim to the floor, and Collier counted eight instances in the first half where one of his players hit the floor to dive for a loose ball. After a perfunctory opening quarter in which the host club led by five, Norwich created some distance starting the second quarter on an 11-0 run.
Reserve Mike D’Abbracio started the spurt with a nifty baseline drive on the right side that he completed left-handed to avoid a blocked shot attempt. Cook hit a short jumper in the middle of the salvo, and Sutton had the last five points making it 27-12.
Windsor was held without a field goal in the period until the last minute of the quarter, and after Cook’s short baseline jumper off a Sutton feed, Norwich took a 35-17 lead into the locker room.
Despite 38 percent shooting for the game, the Norwich margin advanced to 51-25 at the end of three, and 63-33 midway through the fourth quarter. Sutton had 17 points to lead the balanced Norwich attack, and Cook finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and two blocked shots.
“We didn’t shoot it that well, but we did make them play at our tempo,” Collier said. “Sutty and Burkey really pushed the ball tonight, and it was like watching a NASCAR race. I still believe there is room for improvement, and we’ll keep working to get better each and every day.”
Norwich’s junior varisty team won its third straight game beating Windsor, 66-54. Chris Jeffrey had 18 points and 14 rebounds in the win, Jordan Vinal scored 14 and pulled down nine rebounds, and Jake Walsh had 11 points and six assists.
Windsor: Tyler Webb, 0; Mike Niggli, 2 0-1-4; Marc Latini, 0 2-2-2; Josh Cady, 6 2-3-14; Frank Martino, 2 2-4-8; Andrew King, 1 0-0-2; Tucker Harpell, 1 0-0-3; Chris Swartwood, 0; Michael Beebe, 1 0-0-2; Cody Stone, 1 0-0-3; Jake Conroy, 1 1-2-3; Nate Wrighter, 2 1-3-5. Totals: 17 8-15-46
Norwich: Brendon Budd, 0 0-0-0; Michael Oralls, 2 0-0-4; Mike Sutton, 7 2-4-17; Chris Trevisani, 1 0-0-3; Carlos Ithier, 1 0-0-2; Colin Stewart, 2 0-0-4; Zan Stewart, 1 3-4-6; Matt Craig, 0 0-0-0; Matt Burke, 2 0-0-4 ; Storm Cook, 4 1-2-10; Mike D’Abbraccio, 3 0-0-6; Jamison Luke, 3 1-2-7; Cody Barnes, 0 2-2-2. Totals: 26 9-14-65 .
Winds. 11 6 8 21–46
Norwich 16 19 16 14–65
Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: (N) Cook, Z. Stewart, Sutton, Trevisani, (W) Martino 2, Stone, Harpell. JV: Norwich won 66-54. Officials: Barker, Vinsevich.
Sherburne-Earlville 56, Canastota 38
CANASTOTA – Sherburne-Earlville overcame a slow start on the offensive end to beat Canastota Friday in Center State Conference play.
Leading by only three at the break, 21-18, Austin Jasper scored nine in the third quarter, while Kevin Vibbard Jr. and Derek Capria had four apiece. Capria hit a three at the end of the third quarter to extend the lead to 15 points.
“Our defense played pretty well to keep us in the game, and in the third quarter we started to move the ball around better to get better shots,” said S-E coach Kevin Vibbard Sr.
Jasper had 14 of his team-high 19 points in the second half. Ben Khoury added 10 points for S-E (5-1), who meet Oneonta Friday, Dec. 27 in the Unadilla Valley tournament.
S-E: Elijah Morris, 1 2-2-5; Cody Marango, 1 1-2-3; Julienne Alsheimer, 2 0-0-4; Derek Capria, 2 1-2-7 ; Ben Khoury, 4 2-6-10; Austin Jasper, 7 5-8-19; Brady Elderkin, 0; Keith Rose, 0; Kevin Vibbard Jr., 3 0-0-6; JP Osborne, 1 0-2-2. Totals: 21 11-22-56.
Canastota: Bailey Curtis, 1 3-4-6; Joe Vaccaro, 1 1-2-3; Matt Russitana, 2 0-1-5; Anthony Sicilia 3 1-2-9; Ryan Zophy, 1 0-0-2; Brandon Lawrence, 0; Brad Eisenhut, 2 1-2-5; Jake Purdy, 1 0-0-2; Tyler Jeffries, 0; Aaron Quaglia, 0; Jesse Cellemore, 2 0-0-6. Totals: 13 6-11-38.
S-E 8 13 20 15–56
Can. 11 7 8 12–38
Fouled out: (C) Lawrence, Eisenhut. Three-point goals: (DSE) Capria 2, Morris, (C) Curtis, Russtana, Sicilia 2, Cellemore 2. JV: S-E won 47-43.
Unadilla Valley 59, Deposit 51
DEPOSIT – Unadilla Valley remained unbeaten in Midstate Athletic Conference play turning back a pesky Deposit club Friday night.
