By Robert Jeffrey

Sun Sports Contributor

UTICA- After falling at the hands of eighth ranked team in Class B – the Sabers of Susquehanna Valley the night prior – the Tornado turned around hungry for a win at Class AA NYS Honorable Mention Utica Proctor the very next day on Friday, Jan. 27.

With the contest hanging in the balance for the entire game with neither team getting an edge on one another, the Raiders ultimately claimed the victory over the Purple Tornado by a score of 37-36. In what was a very competitive game throughout, all of those who looked on were on the edge of their seat.

From tip-off the tempo of the ensuing contest was going from fast, to very fast. The lady Tornado and Raiders exchanged baskets in the first period of play still unable to gain a clear cut advantage as the first quarter ended in a 12-12 tie.

However, without a late first quarter three-pointer by the Purple’s own Katelyn Dowdall, it could’ve been a three point advantage for Utica Proctor. The Tornado would win the first half of play as they edged out the Raiders by one-point. The Tornado held a 19-18 lead, but no-matter how slim of a lead it might’ve been, it was a lead nonetheless.

The Raiders ran out of their respective locker-room to start the third quarter with a barrage of two point field goals grabbing a 23-19 lead over the guest Purple. It wouldn’t be until a pair of free-throws from Norwich’s center Meghan Komendarek tied the game at 23 three minutes into the third period.

Komendarek who along with fellow senior Kara Evans, were responsibly for limiting the damage from Utica’s post presence in Da’Janay Miller-Peak and Achol Ajang who ultimately combined for 28 points of their team’s 37 in the game. The Raiders responded as they scored four more points before quarters end.

Without the gall of sophomore guard Triniti Myers who delivered with a three-pointer in the waning seconds of the third, Norwich would’ve been in a four point deficit entering the final quarter to play. Down 27-26 to start the fourth, the Tornado refused to give in.

After exchanging multiple buckets to start the fourth, Norwich once again found itself down-until a trifecta from Dowdall and a pair of free-throws from Evans put the Tornado once again in the hunt for a lead. Two possessions later, the Tornado offensive unit found Makenzie Maynard for an open three and she swished it home as the Tornado took a 34-32 lead in the final minutes.

Enter Raider forwards Achol Ajang and Da’Janay Miller-Peak. Refusing to let their team go down, Ajang was fouled on her shot. She sunk the first. And bricked the second, but a gliding Miller-Peak scooped up the offensive rebound and dropped it in for a two point score. The tables had turned and the Tornado were now down 35-34. On the ensuing possession, the Tornado patiently waited for their chance to strike and take the lead. Komendarek corralled a Halea Eaton missed lay-up, gave a perfect head fake and found herself at the free throw line to tie the game and possibly give the Tornado the lead. The first shot went down easy, and with the same finesse sunk the second to put the Purple in the lead.