By Robert Jeffrey

Sun Sports Contributor

Frank Speziale Photo

NORWICH- If the fact that it was senior night didn’t hype the Norwich girls up, then maybe the fact that they were playing against rival Oneonta added to their motivation? But, then again it could’ve been the fact that a win here solidified the dominance of the Norwich girls’ basketball program, who would once again be undefeated in STAC East divisional play. Their last divisional loss? Try the 2013-14 basketball season against a Mariah Ruff led Oneonta Yellowjacket team. Norwich completed this spectacular feat last Friday, with a dramatic win over Oneonta 53-44.

With both teams set and ready, tip-off ensued and the first period of action went underway. Senior Makenzie Maynard got the offense roaring for Norwich within the opening seconds, driving for a lay-up and following that up two possessions later with another three-footer. For the opening half of the period, NHS got after the loose-balls early, at least until Oneonta’s offense woke-up. An indirect technical foul on the Norwich bench-due to an incorrect starting line-up in the home book sent the Yellow Jackets to the line, after both freebies, the score was 6-4 in favor of the Tornado. Norwich’s lead did not last long as the visitors scrambled and out-hustled the Tornado for the basketball, ultimately Oneonta took over the lead come quarter’s end 10-7.

Oneonta controlled the lead until 3:48 left in the second quarter when Kara Evans received a feed from Meghan Komendarek at the free-throw line and promptly buried the 15-footer, giving NHS the lead 13-12.

However, Oneonta regained the lead only seconds after losing it. Ava Eichler one upped Evans, by knocking down a trifecta to make it 15-13. With both teams trading baskets, it would come down to a pair of Maynard free-throws to determine who took the lead into the locker room. Going one for two at the line, Maynard gave Norwich the lead 18-17 at the half.

The third quarter proved to be just as exciting as the second quarter with Oneonta scoring the first points of the first half off of Tornado turnover. Not to be outdone, the Tornado’s Cierra Sherman knocked a trey from downtown to put the host Purple up 21-19.

As both teams traded baskets for the remaining of the quarter, it looked as though Norwich was going to take a 33-29 lead to the fourth. Once again, Ava Eichler responded knocking down another huge three for her team to cut the NHS lead to 33-32 entering the final period.

The fourth quarter did not disappoint as it started with a monster block from Norwich’s Komendarek – Kara Evans recovered the ball, driving the length of the court-laying it in for two. With the game still swaying in the breeze at 35-34 in Norwich’s favor, the Tornado received a blow to their offensive efforts with Makenzie Maynard receiving her fourth personal foul. With the fouls forcing her to take a seat with 6:56 left in the ballgame, Oneonta took advantage of Maynard’s absence taking the lead 36-35.

Meghan Komendarek avenged her fellow comrade’s absence by completing an old fashioned three-point play to put the Purple up 38-36 with 6:39 left.

With roughly five minutes left in the contest, the Tornado’s Taylor Hansen dropped in a three-point bomb putting the Tornado up 41-38, while Jordan Gaisford matched Hansen’s sharpshooting knocking down a three of her own to tie the game up with 4:09 left to play.

The Tornado’s offensive and defensive efforts doubled after another Meghan Komendarek old-fashion three point play with 2:12 left, to give NHS a 48-44 lead.

With the home town crowd chanting “defense,” causing the universal pendulum to sway in the Tornado’s favor – NHS capitalized due to their rejuvenated defensive energy. Their defense ultimately led to offense, as the Tornado forced the Yellowjackets into missed shots, causing them to foul and put Norwich at the charity stripe in an effort to extend the game.