CONKLIN – The cardiac kids of the Norwich Purple Tornado basketball team nearly completed another big comeback Friday night, pulling within two points late in the fourth quarter against Susquehanna Valley. However, the Sabers of Sus Valley came up big at the free throw line to hold on for win, 60-55. 

Norwich fell behind in the second quarter when they were faced with foul trouble, sending some of their players who were producing offensively to the bench before to the halftime break. The Sabers took an eight point lead into the intermission. 

In the third, the Purple Tornado and Susquehanna Valley match point for point, sending the Sabers into the final quarter still up by eight. Norwich, however, couldn’t be counted out just yet. 

Sus Valley started to pull away in the early minutes of the fourth, but the Purple Tornado went on a run to pull within nine points with 3:27 left. 

As Norwich closed the Sabers lead down two points with just over a minute remaining, J.T. Vinal of the Tornado came away with a steal and went the full length of the floor, making the layup to tie the game as a whistle blew. The official called a foul against Vinal, taking away the basket. 

Susquehanna Valley finished the game off at the foul line, securing the five point win. 

“Sus Valley was much more physical than we were and they used that to their advantage,” said Norwich head coach Tom Collier. “Kudos for them for playing as well as they did. We need to learn to be able to play through contact.” 

In the loss, Norwich saw Marcus Cashman lead their offensive production, scoring a game-high 26 points. Cashman went 7-for-11 behind the 3-point line, shooting 63.6-percent for 21 of his 26. 

“It was another great game for Cash [Marcus Cashman],” said Collier. “He’s been our rock for scoring this season as he has been very consistent. He’s been a great leader for us this season.”