Girls' Basketball
Norwich 73, Waverly 49
NORWICH – Waverly played Norwich's type of game, and that proved quite unwise.
The Purple Tornado (13-6) advanced to their third Section IV championship game in four seasons dealing the Wolverines (17-3) just their third loss of the season Saturday at Norwich High School.
NHS will clash with six-time defending sectional champion Oneonta Saturday at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena. If Norwich matches the offensive proficiency it exhibited against Wolverine, Oneonta's long reign may be in jeopardy.
"We're very excited to get another shot at Oneonta, and more importantly winning the section," said Norwich coach Josh Bennett. "I feel like we haven't really given them our best yet, and I'm hoping we continue to peak at the right time."
Norwich senior Jennifer Borfitz, playing her final game on Norwich's home floor, had a game-high 23 points, while fellow senior Breanna Cashman netted 13.
Borfitz hit two three-pointers in the first quarter as Norwich constructed a 22-15 advantage. Borfitz and Cashman were instrumental in Norwich's dominant second quarter in which it expanded its lead to 43-23. Cashman scored twice in transition, and Kassidy finished a layup off a pass from Megan Komendarek as Norwich started the second with seven quick points.
Borfitz took over for the next few possessions scoring 11 straight points for Norwich including 7-for-7 from the foul line. Carin Kuhn capped the first-half onslaught pumping in a three ball.
"We knew coming in that (Waverly) was really good, and we had to bring our 'A game' like we did tonight," Borfitz said. "Tonight we had a lot of different players step it up, and we played great offense and great defense. All around, we played really well."
Waverly pressed Norwich through most of the game to force tempo, and was also in a man-to-man defense for the majority of the four quarters. The up-tempo pace and played right into Norwich's hands.
"I thought it was the best offense we have played all year, and it helped that they played a lot of man defense," Bennett said. "No one has really played us man-to-man all year, and we are a great offensive team against man. But last night, our spacing, execution, and passing were great in the halfcourt and in transition."
Borfitz is just happy to have another shot to play Oneonta. The senior all-state player was a starter on the 2012 club that fell to the Yellowjackets in the Class B final. "If we play like we did tonight, we’ll be okay," she said. "We'll have to take it to the next level to beat them; they're a very good team."
Waverly: Megan Wilbur, 0 2-2-2; Jordan Raupers, 3 6-6-12; Kylie Newman, 2 0-0-4; Breanna Featherson, 0 0-2-0; Taylor Bodine, 0; Katie McEvoy, 0 1-2-1; Emiley Myers, 4 1-1-12; Elle Nittinger, 0; Kiana Manuel, 0; McKhenna Mattison, 1 0-0-2; Reylyn Schwartzhoff, 7 2-3-16; Emily Goodwin, 0; Totals: 17 12-16-49.
Norwich: Carin Kuhn, 3 2-2-9; Caitlyn Brown, 1 0-0-3; Breanna Cashman, 6 1-2-13; Alexis Race, 0 1-4-1; Jennifer Borfitz, 6 9-10-23; Kassidy Seary, 1 1-2-3; Makenzie Maynard, 2 0-0-4; Meghan Komendarek, 3 1-3-7; Ashley Murphy, 0; Savannah Williams, 1 1-1-3 ; Shelby Benjamin, 1 2-6-4; Courtney Scheer, 1 0-0-3. Totals: 25 18-31-73.
Wav 15 8 16 10–49
NHS 22 21 19 11–73
Fouled out: (W) Schwartzhoff. Three-point goals: (W) Myers 3, (N) Borfitz 2, Kuhn, Brown, Scheer. Officials: D. Van Woert, J. Dadamio.
Elmira Notre Dame 45, Bainbridge-Guilford 44
ELMIRA – Elmira Notre Dame made a late-game rally to eke out a win over B-G Saturday, and advance to the Section IV Class C finals.
The Crusaders made up a seven-point deficit over the final 4 1/2 minutes to eliminate the Bobcats from postseason competition for the third straight season.
