Girls’ Basketball

Norwich 55, Chenango Forks 37

NORWICH – Section IV finalists the previous two seasons, Norwich (11-7) moved one win from a third straight finals appearance beating Chenango Forks for the third time this season Tuesday night in Class B tournament play.

NHS’s Breanna Cashman had 17 points and eight rebounds, Jenni Borfitz scored 11 and dished out five assists, and freshman Shelby Benjamin scored 10, pulled down 14 rebounds, and had a team-high five steals.

Norwich created an 18-point halftime advantage with torrid inside/outside shooting. Borfitz hit a three for NHS to open the scoring, and Benjamin had three inside hoops lifting Norwich to a 17-8 lead after one period.

Cashman caught fire in the second period hitting for eight points, and Cassie Sutton’s layup with under 10 seconds to play gave the Tornado a 31-13 halftime lead.

Chenango Forks’ offense was limited to primarily outside shots, and senior Ashley Williams cashed in six times on three-pointers on her way to a game-high 20 points. However, those three-pointers provided the bulk of the Blue Devils’ offense against a stingy NHS defense. One of those outside shots in the first half, a three from Michaela Transue, pushed Transue over the 1,000-point mark for her career at Forks.

Norwich plays Seton Catholic Central or Whitney Point on Friday.