Norwich 80, Sidney 42

NORWICH – Based on head coach Mark Abbott’s post-game comments, one might have thought the Purple Tornado eked out a slim victory instead of the 38-point blowout in the opening game of the 13th Annual Tom Schwan Memorial Tournament.

“We have a habit of coming out with not enough intensity,” Abbott said. “We have good players that play hard, sometimes they just need more prodding than they should need.”

Norwich took a 32-22 lead into the locker room, most of that margin created by senior Corey Dietrich, who dumped in 13 of his game-high 18 points.

“We weren’t in attack mode in the first half, and that’s what we want to be in,” Abbott said.

Norwich racheted up the offense and defense in the third quarter outscoring the Warriors 27-9. Derek Hughes had six points, while Dietrich, Vaughn Labor, and Timmy Clark all had five points.

With the reserves filling up the final eight minutes, Norwich padded the lead to as many as 40 points in the fourth quarter. “We played extremely well in the second half,” Abbott said. “Defensively, the points they scored in the second half were much tougher to come by.”

Clark finished with 11 points, while Labor and Casey Edwards netted 10 apiece.

Tyler Kane had 12 points and Aaron Wood 11 for the Warriors, who play Oneida in the consolation game Saturday afternoon.

Norwich hosts Oneonta tonight in is STAC division opener.