Norwich defense stalls M-E

Evening Sun Report

Boys’ Basketball

Norwich 53, Maine-Endwell 49

NORWICH – Norwich relied on its defense and received key contributions from Patrick Coates and Keegan Edwards to win its Southern Tier Athletic Conference opener Wednesday and improve to 3-0.

Coates’ shining moment of the season was an ubiquitous fourth-quarter display of rebounding, steals, big shots, and two clinching free throws in the final seconds. Meanwhile, Edwards, making his first career start, scored 13 points in the first half helping NHS stake itself to a 33-23 lead.

“Our defense played extremely well, particularly the fourth quarter,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott. “We had a lot of key defensive stops; whether our offense was sputtering and spitting, the defense was a constant.”

Coates lifted Norwich out of its third-quarter offensive funk with two early fourth-quarter layups, both off passes from senior guard Robert Martin.

Clinging to a one-point lead with under three minutes to play, Norwich missed on the offensive end and M-E gathered the rebound. Coates, however, stole the ensuing outlet pass giving the Tornado possession. Coates then buried a three ball lifting the margin to 49-45.

Edwards put back aan offensive rbound with 1:46 to play to extend the lead by two more points, and Coates canned two free throws icing the win. “Going into the season, we thought we had a lot of evenly matched players in terms of what they can do,” Abbott said. “Each game we have to go with who is playing the best, and tonight that seemed to be Keegan and Patrick.”

Coates finished with 12 points for Norwich, who play unbeaten Oneonta next Wednesday.

M-E: S. Yeager, 0 2-2-2; R. Armstrong, 0; Ryan Fetterman, 2 0-0-4; J. Powell, 5 1-3-11; Brad Kuzawinski, 4 5-8-13; Dan Okesson, 0; Corey Adrian, 1 2-4-4; John Zdimal, 5 0-1-11; Kevin Chelak, 1 0-0-2; Marcus Spera, 1 0-0-2. Totals: 19 10-18-49.

Norwich: Shane Thompson, 1 0-0-3; Chris Mattingly, 1 0-0-2; Patrick Coates, 4 3-4-12; Keegan Edwards, 7 1-5-15; Nate Foote, 0 0-1-0; Robert Martin, 2 4-5-8; Vaughn Labor, 1 0-2-2; Tyler Saroka, 2 0-0-4; Justin Ballin, 1 0-1-2; Amos Parry, 2 1-2-5; Craig Berg, 0 0-0-0. Totals: 21 9-20-53.

Score by quarters

M-E 13 10 15 9–49

NHS 14 19 7 13–53

Fouled out: none. Team fouls: (N) 16, (ME) 17. three-pointers; (N) Coates, Thompson, (ME) Zdimal. JV: Norwich won 69-53. Officials: Ciccirelli, Cavanaugh.

Otselic Valley 67, Madison 50

MADISON – OV shook off a slow start improving in every quarter to raise its mark to 2-2 on the season with a win on the road Wednesday.

David Cerasani canned four three balls on his way to a game-high 23 points. Taylor Duell added 20 for the Vikes, who trailed 14-7 after one period.

“I thinking the 10 days off had something to do with the rust we showed early on,” said OV coach Dave Loomis. “We were able ot put things together better in the second half. We got to the basket and created some turnovers on defense. We also had some kids step up that haven’t played much, particularly, Corey Williams and Justin Shapley. They did a real nice job helping pick us up.”

OV hosts Stockbridge Valley Friday.

OV: Chris Olin, 4 0-0-8; Taylor Duell, 5 10-12-20; David Cerasani, 6 7-11-23; Doug Hillman, 2 0-0-4; Greg Evans, 3 1-2-8; Eric Wentworth, 0; Justin Shapley, 0; Waltz, 0; Rasmussen, 0; Brown, 0; Williams, 1 2-2-4; Robert Guyer, 0; Uribe, 0. Totals: 21 20-27-67.

Madison: Peters, 3 2-2-11; Gallagher, 0; Staring, 0; Sam Luetters, 3 4-4-10; Sanders, 4 7-9-15; Smith, 1 0-0-2; Hen. Luetters, 6 0-6-12; Taziak, 0; D’Imperio, 0. Totals: 17 13-21-50.

Score by quarters

OV 7 17 19 24–67

Mad. 14 12 13 11–50

Team fouls: (M) 20, (OV) 19. Three-pointers: (OV) Cerasani 4, Evans. (M) Peters 3. Officials: Gerow, Heffland. JV: OV won.

Girls’ Basketball

Oxford 39, Unadilla Valley 19

OXFORD – For the second straight game, Oxford’s entire lineup scored, and no one had more than seven points as the Blackhawks moved to 1-1 on the season.