Fast start lifts Norwich past Wildcats

Boys’ Basketball

Norwich 58, Johnson City 51

JOHNSON CITY – As well as Johnson City played in the second half, it was not enough to overcome the Tornado’s blistering early pace.

Norwich cleared the first big hurdle in its run at a STAC Central Division title beating JC on the road Friday night.

Josh Borfitz scored a team-high 16 points for Norwich, and canned a big three-pointer in the fourth quarter as the 30-second shot clock sounded. Casey Edwards also drained a key three ball in the last stanza. Forward Richie Bonney posted his third straight double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

“We knew in the second half that (Johnson City) would come after us,” said Norwich head coach Mark Abbott. “For the most part, it was a 10- to 15-point lead, but they made a couple runs that we were able to fight off.”

Norwich was idle for nearly two weeks after opening the season in late-November with the Schwan Tournament title. In spite of the game rust, Norwich raced to a 29-9 halftime lead. “In the first half they settled for jump shots, and we a great job on the defensive boards to build a comfortable lead,” Abbott said. “They were a desperate team in the second half, and they used their athletic ability to make things happen. Fortunately, we continued to play good offense in the second half.”

Borfitz and Bonney combined to make 4-of-6 free throws late in the game to sew up the win. Derek Hughes contributed a team-best six assists for the Tornado (3-0), who play at Maine-Endwell Tuesday.

NHS: Borfitz, 4 4-5-16; Bonney, 6 3-5-15; Foulds, 3 0-0-8; Edwards, 2 0-0-6; Hughes, 1 3-5-5; Austin, 0 3-4-3; martinson, 1 0-0-2; Thomsen, 1 0-0-2; Williams, 0 1-2-1; Favaloro, 0; Kelly, 0; Oralls, 0; Somich, 0. Totals: 18 14-21-58.

JCity: Troy Robinson, 7 3-5-19; Daquan Jones, 3 3-4-9; Gil Choi, 1 2-4-4; Ian Pettiford, 1 2-7-4; Rashawn Powell, 2 0-0-4; Ronald Teekasingh, 1 2-4-4; Jake Spalik, 1 1-2-3; Josky Yebo, 1 0-0-3; Greg Vicks, 0 1-2-1; Ryan Clark, 0; Billy Lynch, 0; Jeff Sisenstein, 0. Totals: 17 14-28-51.

NHS 16 13 13 16—58

JCity 3 6 18 24—51

Three-point goals: (J) Yebo, Robinson 2, (N) Borfitz 4, Foulds 2, Edwards 2.

Oxford 55, Unadilla Valley 25

OXFORD – Cory Seiler scored 19 of his season-high 25 points in the opening half, and Oxford won its second straight game on Friday night.

Seiler took advantage of the UV zone making all three of his three-pointers in the first two stanzas vaulting the Blackhawks to a 33-12 halftime lead.

Booker Davis added nine points for Oxford and Jeremy Nelson grabbed 11 rebounds to go with his eight points.

UV: Austin Glidden, 1 0-0-2; Garrett Mackey, 0; Ian Tuttle, 0; Justin Hofer, 3 0-0-7; Ryan Harrington, 0; Tom Wallace, 1 0-0-2; Mike Schowe, 1 0-0-2; Jason Peck, 2 2-2-7; Greg Conroe, 0; Mason Talbot, 0 1-2-1; Mitchell MacDuff, 2 0-0-4. Totals: 10 3-4-25.