Boys’ Basketball

Norwich 75, Susquehanna Valley 51

NORWICH – Susquehanna Valley attempted to run with Norwich Saturday night. Turns out, it was about as wise a decision as running with the bulls of Pamplona.

The Sabers committed over 20 turnovers, and no answers on defense in a 24-point loss to the unbeaten, state-ranked Purple Tornado (8-0) in the finals of the Tom Schwan Memorial Basketball Tournament.

Carlos Ithier came off the bench to score a season-high 17 points, the biggest of those buckets coming on a halfcourt three-pointer at the first-half buzzer that gave NHS a 47-26 lead.

“We knew that Susquehanna Valley likes to play the same game as us,” said Norwich coach Tom Collier of the up-tempo game. “Obviously that was good for us, and bad for them.”

While SV kept pace early, Norwich quickly separated itself in the final 2 ½ minutes of the first quarter.

Mike Sutton drove for a layup to trigger a 14-5 spurt to end the quarter. Mike Oralls and Ithier had buckets, and Zan Stewart scored the final five points of the quarter hitting two free throws, and completing a three-point play on a drive to the rim.

Stewart was also largely responsible for defending SV sharpshooter Jason Fiorentino, who was held below his season average scoring 13, but only one of his baskets came in the flow of a halfcourt offense.