The Norwich girls basketball team repeats at Section IV Class B Champions after defeated previously-unbeaten Newark Valley Sunday evening 58-46 at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton. Members of the 2019-2020 season are: Maddy Morris, Abby Hansen, Sydney Coggins, Emily Evans, Abby Flynn, Halea Eaton, Margaret Dougher, Emerson Burton, Savia Boyer, Jordan Hess, Makenzie Hess, Jenae Evans and Grace Bookamer. The Lady Purple Tornado are coached by Josh Bennett and assistant by Dennis Eaton and Pete Komendarek. Also pictured are managers Kinnon and Brevin Bennett. (Photo by Jamey Mullen)

BINGHAMTON – The Norwich girls basketball repeated as sectional champions, something that hasn’t been achieved in program history.

Sunday evening gave Norwich’s wild journey of the 2019-2020 season a twist of positivity with a second straight Section IV Class B championship as the Lady Tornado took down previously undefeated Newark Valley 58-46 at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena.

“No one understands what this group has been through,” said Norwich head coach Josh Bennett following his second title at the helm of the program. “We have just been through so much this season and I’m extremely proud of what these girls have accomplished.”

Tornado senior Abby Flynn added, “I said before the game that we just need to trust each other. We wanted communication, one through five on the court and one through 13 off the floor. And I think we showed that throughout the game.”

What the Tornado squad is known for – and have been for quite sometime now – in the hard-nosed, full-court pressure defense that is relentless game in and game out. The aggressive, 94-feet of defense is going to take a toll on any team. Throw in the much larger floor of the arena and it’s no question Norwich had the advantage throughout the contest.