Boys’ Basketball
Norwich 72, Susquehanna Valley 48
NORWICH – Norwich made good use of its ability to shift to another gear, and did so almost on command in Thursday night’s victory over Susquehanna Valley at Norwich High School.
The unbeaten Purple Tornado (12-0) toppled Susquehanna Valley for the second time this season picking up the intensity whenever the Sabers built a smidgen of momentum. Norwich also fought off a potential letdown just two days removed from an emotional victory over Oneonta.
“I thought Brian (Collier, assistant coach) gave a great speech before the game,” said Norwich coach Tom Collier. Brian Collier’s oration centered around a team not buying into its own hype. “I think Brian’s speech had an effect on them.”
Michael Oralls posted a double-double for NHS scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Oralls even tossed in a three-pointer, his first of the season, to give Norwich a 49-25 lead early in the third. Mike Sutton had 15 points and five assists, Zan Stewart scored 13, and Jamison Luke came off the bench to score a season-high 11 points, while adding eight rebounds in his most productive game of the season. Storm Cook scored just six points, but dominated the glass with a season-high 16 rebounds.
Norwich used a 13-3 run midway through the opening quarter to take a 22-9 lead. Sutton had 11 in the first quarter and Oralls six. Sus Valley trimmed that margin back, and moved to within 23-18 in the first minute of the second quarter after a pair of Dave Matthews free throws.
Norwich quickly responded with eight straight points, and extended the margin to 44-23 at the break when Stewart canned a 25-foot three-pointer just before the halftime buzzer.
The solid bench production of Luke, Matt Craig, and Brendon Budd were singled out by Tom Collier in his post-game analysis. “Matt and Brendon are our eleventh and twelfth guys, but I thought they came in and did a great job for us,” Collier said. “That really is the strength of our team – our depth – and this really is a team from top to bottom.”
Norwich’s junior varsity team improved to 10-2 beating the Sabers, 64-32. Dallas Marango had 10 points and eight rebounds, Tre Bonham scored 10, and Alex Wehrli grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Norwich plays at Chenango Valley Saturday.
SV: Kyle Novobilski, 0; Jake Hawley, 2 1-1-6; Alex Grassi, 0; David Matthews, 5 4-4-14; B.Caroway, 0; Jake Lamantia, 0; Will Gorman, 1 0-0-2; Jason Fiorentino, 0 1-2-1; Cam Manchester, 1 0-1-2; Austin Haskell, 5 0-0-11; Shayne Rodriguez, 1 0-0-2; Caleb Reynolds, 3 0-0-6; Jared Waitkovics, 2 0-0-4. Totals: 20 6-8-48.
Norwich: Brendon Budd, 2 0-0-6; Michael Oralls, 5 5-6-16; Mike Sutton, 5 4-6-15; Chris Trevisani, 0; Carlos Ithier, 2 0-0-4; Colin Stewart, 0; Zan Stewart, 5 1-2-13; Matt Craig, 0; Matt Burke, 0; Storm Cook, 3 0-0-6; Mike D’Abbraccio, 0 1-2-1; Jamison Luke, 4 3-4-11. Totals: 26 14-20-72.
SVall 14 9 15 10–48
NHS 23 21 13 15–72
Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: (SV) Haskell, Hawley, (N) Budd 2, Oralls, Sutton, Stewart 2. JV: Norwich won 64-32. Officials: T. Davis, Linehan.
Sherburne-Earlville 67, Central Valley Academy 35
SHERBURNE – Sherburne-Earlville clinched its third straight Center State Conference Division One title powering past Central Valley Academy Thursday.
S-E received nine points from Elijah Morris in the first quarter, and 10 from Kevin Vibbard Jr. in the second to establish a 35-11 halftime lead. It was a far cry from the first meeting between these two clubs when the Marauders squeaked out a four-point victory.
“We just came out and established ourselves with some great defense,” said S-E coach Kevin Vibbard Sr. “We had four in double figures and another with eight points. We’re sharing the ball, making the extra pass, and continuing to play excellent defense.”
Vibbard Jr. scored a team-high 13, Morris had 11, while Austin Jasper and Cody Marango netted 10 apiece.
The Marauders (12-3) host Canastota next Friday.
CVA: Mark Bough, 0 1-2-1; Johnson, 0 2-2-2; Schutz, 0; Connor Day, 0; Matt Klaussner, 0 2-2-2; Will Murray, 1 0-0-2; Keagan Perez, 1 0-0-2; Mitchell Werenczuk, 1 0-0-2; Ryan Spoonbugh, 3 3-4-10; Tyler Miller, 0; James Baylor, 1 0-0-2; Jared Marquissee, 4 1-2-9; Jacob Sweeney, 1 0-0-3. Totals: 12 9-12-35.
S-E: Elijah Morris, 5 0-0-11; Adam Palmer, 0; Cody Marango, 4 2-4-10 ; Nicklas Stefansen, 1 0-0-2; Derek Capria, 3 2-2-8; Ben Khoury, 2 3-4-7; Austin Jasper, 4 2-3-10; Brady Elderkin, ;1 0-0-2 Keith Rose, 1 0-0-2; Kevin Vibbard Jr., 5 1-2-13; JP Osborne, 1 0-0-2 . Totals: 27 10-15-67.
CVa. 8 3 13 11–35
S-E 17 18 17 15–67
Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: (SE) Vibbard 2, Morris. C) Spoonbugh, Sweeney. JV: S-E won 74-70. Officials: Ciotoli, Woody.
