Boys’ Basketball

Norwich 69, Johnson City 37

NORWICH – In recent seasons, Johnson City has given Norwich fits.

Not Friday night.

Norwich raced to a 22-6 lead in the first quarter, had the lead near 30 points by halftime, and cruised to its 10th straight win to start the season.

“Before the game, we talked about Johnson City beating us the last couple of times, and we’ve had trouble with them in recent years,” said Norwich coach Tom Collier. “I was happy to get off to a good start and jump on them the way we did.”

Zan Stewart led three Norwich players in double figures scoring with a season-high 22 points. Mike Sutton added 14, and Storm Cook 10.

Stewart scored his career-high number in a variety of drives to the basket and outside shots netting 11 points in each half. “Zan really played with a purpose tonight, and we’ll need that out of him the rest of the way,” Collier said.

After trading baskets with JC in the opening 30 seconds, Norwich whipped off 11 straight points over the next 3 1/2 minutes to grab a 13-2 advantage. Stewart scored on a fast break and then on a steal, Sutton had three points, and Cook scored the final four points of the salvo, the second two on Norwich’s patented inbounds play in which Cook took a lob pass from Sutton, then banked in the layup.