Evening Sun Report
Boys’ Basketball
Norwich 68, Owego 46
OWEGO – For the first time this season, Norwich didn’t connect on a three-pointer, and not one player scored more than 11 points.
After the first quarter, those statistics were relegated to insignificance as the Purple Tornado remained unbeaten at 14-0, and dealt the Indians their first home loss of the season.
“We struggled in the first quarter, especially with the footing, but we were able to make the adjustment,” said Norwich coach Tom Collier. “We started to pull away in the second quarter, and we took control in the third quarter.”
Owego was held to six individual free throws – and no field goals – in the second quarter as Norwich stretched its lead to 29-16 at the break. Michael Oralls and Zan Stewart were the lone NHS players to score four points in the second, and that paved the way for a dominant third.
Oralls and senior Michael Sutton had 12 of their team’s points, and Oralls layup at the third-quarter horn raised the NHS lead to 47-29 after three periods.
From there, it was simply mop-up time for NHS, who clinched at least a tie for the STAC East division title. “I felt Sutty came out and made some great plays in the third quarter,” Collier said. “The entire second half, we played very unselfish, we made the extra passes, and had a lot of easy layups.”
Equally impressive was the Norwich defense in holding Owego’s top scorers, Will Gladney and Brendan Hathaway, well below their season averages. The two Indians were limited to single-digit scoring through three quarters as Oralls and Zan Stewart locked down on defense. At the front of the NHS defense, senior guard Matt Burke was tenacious with his ball pressure, and completely disrupted the flow of Owego’s offense, Collier said.
Oralls led Norwich with 11 points, Stewart and Storm Cook netted 10 apiece, and Burke along with Sutton split 18 points down the middle. It was perhaps the best offensive balance for Norwich this season with eight players scoring at least six points. Cook added 15 rebounds to expand on his growing list of double-doubles.
“We played a great second half, and I can’t see us playing a whole lot better than that,” Collier said. “I’m really proud of (the team).”
Norwich hosts Chenango Forks Friday.
Norwich: Brendon Budd, 0; Michael Oralls, 5 1-2-11; Mike Sutton, 3 3-5-9; Chris Trevisani, 0; Carlos Ithier, 2 2-3-6; Zan Stewart, 4 2-2-10; Matt Craig, 0; Matt Burke, 4 1-5-9; Storm Cook, 5 0-0-10; Mike D’Abbraccio, 2 2-2-6; Jamison Luke, 3 1-2-7. Totals: 28 12-21-68.
Owego: Zach Thomas, 2 4-4-9; Brendan Hathaway, 4 1-2-11; Tyler Ford, 3 0-0-6; Zane Paradies, 0; Adam Blackwell, 0; Sam Smith, 0; Ethan Mead, 0; Michael Yanchus, 1 0-1-2; Duncan Spicer, 0 2-2-2; Will Gladney, 4 4-5-14; Vinny Pitts, 0 2-2-2. Totals: 14 13-16-46.
NHS 11 15 21 21–68
Owe. 10 6 13 17–46
Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: (O) Gladney 2, Hathaway 2, Thomas. Officials: Dadamio, McPeek.
Unadilla Valley 59, Bainbridge-Guilford 33
BAINBRIDGE – Unadilla Valley raced to a 41-10 halftime lead over B-G in Wednesday’s road victory.
David Dufresne’s 11 points topped the Storm, and Nick White added 10 points. “They were getting up and down the court and crashing the boards,” said B-G coach Greg Warren. “They were just too big and too athletic for us.”
Lucas Butcher had 13 points to top B-G.
UV: Bryant Maynard, 3 0-0-6; David Schwab, 0; Dalton Miner, 0; Steven Gillette, 0; John Schermerhorn, 2 0-0-5; Nick White, 4 2-2-10; Jared Hanslmaier, 0 3-4-3; David Dufresne, 5 1-2-11; Brett Hanslmaier, 2 0-0-4; Nate Shackleton, 4 0-0-8; Mason Alford, 2 1-2-5; Willie Lamont, 0; Hank deGlee, 3 1-1-7. Totals: 25 8-11-59.
B-G: Dylan Moffitt, 3 0-0-7; Adam Bauerle, 0; Brian Tequin, 0; Bailey Green, 1 0-0-3; Lucas Butcher, 4 4-5-13; Ryan Jones, 1 0-2-2; Kyle Hanvey, 0; Dakota Johnson, 0 1-2-1; Phil Ives, 0; Mike Carlin, 3 0-0-7. Totals: 12 5-9-33.
UVall 21 20 7 11–59
B-G 3 7 13 10–33
Fouled out: none. Three-point goals: (UV) Schermerhorn. (BG) Moffitt, Carlin, Butcher, Green. JV: UV won
Greene 62, Delhi 42
GREENE – Greene moved one victory from clinching the number two seed in the Midstate Athletic Conference playoffs in Wednesday’s win over visiting Delhi.
The Trojans secured control with a 20-5 first quarter, and led by 14 at halftime. Brandon Davis scored 11 of his 15 points in the first two quarters, and Zach Wentlent bucketed seven of his 11.
Justin Ekstrom added 11 points for Greene in the victory.
Delhi: Michael Staples, 1 6-6-8; Ben Branigan, 1 0-0-2; Alex Cantwell, 1 0-0-3; Alex Specht, 0 2-2-2; Nate Denison, 4 5-5-15; Brandon Mole, 1 1-2-3; Jacob Zinkevich, 2 0-2-4; Brandon Lein, 2 1-2-5. Totals: 12 15-19-42.
Greene: Zach Wentlent, 5 0-0-11; Luke Day, 0; Joe Miranda, 4 0-0-8; Luke Erickson, 1 0-0-2; Cameron Race, 3 0-0-7; Justin Ekstrom, 5 0-0-11; Brandon Davis, 6 3-4-15; Colin Brooks, 4 0-0-8. Totals: 28 3-4-62.
Del. 5 16 9 12–42
Gre. 20 15 12 15–62
