BINGHAMTON – the Norwich boys varsity basketball team made history last Friday night when they traveled to Binghamton high school to leg crushing defeat to the Elmira Express, 73-51.
“It is a great testament to the kids they do everything, and worked all summer long. These kids work almost year-round, and they’re so dedicated they earned this,” said Norwich head coach Brian Collier. “Our team, well we’re really balanced, a lot of guys don’t get a lot of opportunities. Other teams have kids shoot a lot of times. With our team we’ve replaced the me with we. And when they get opportunities they capitalize.”
Norwich would lead the game impressively for almost the entire duration. The Tornado would only trail The Express briefly as the Express jumped out to 2-0 lead to start the game, besides this brief 2-0 lead to start, Norwich was in control.
“It’s all because of the coaching, he tells us to come out strong ever game. We just have got to keep coming out strong,” said Norwich’s number 10, Carlos Ithier as he spoke on the quick start in the first.
Norwich would come out on fire as they trounced Elmira on both sides of the ball, going on a 13-2 run in the first quarter.
The second quarter proved slightly opposite, as the Tornado seemed to settle in comfortably instead of keeping their edge they possessed in the first quarter.
Norwich would get outscored 16-12 to close out the second half, as the Tornado held on to a slight lead at 29-27.
Jamison Luke went down with a serious looking injury in the first half, something that may have helped propel The Express to a late second quarter push to close the gap.
“In the second half we just came out, we were 29-12 in the third quarter. Jake Walsh came out great. We had some injuries in the first half, and The kids got a little distraught. But they all really played for Jamison in the second half,” said Collier.
Carlos Ithier hit a big 3-point shot to start the third quarter, to help spark the Tornado on to an impressive second half win.
Ithier finished the night with a team and game high of 21-points, where he shot 77.8 percent on field goals, and went 3-4 from the charity stripe.
“Carlos is the best player in Section IV, no questions asked. All year he’s shot almost 50% from the field averages 17-points a game, he guards the best guy, he’s been showing all year why he should be considered the best player,” said Collier following the win.
Ithier's hot play on the night opened up the lanes for fellow teammate Jake Walsh and Jordan Vinal, who put up 14 and 11-points respectively.
Notably Chris Jeffrey, who filled in for the injured Jamison Luke, grabbed a team high 8-rebounds to go with his 6-points.
