Hannah Runyon didn’t play a minute in the fourth quarter of last weekend’s Pennysaver Tournament championship game win over Greene. She didn’t need to, her job was done, and done quite well.
Directing the Norwich offense as its point guard, Runyon had a team-high 10 points, the most for her team on a night when everyone on the roster scored. She directed the Norwich offense almost without error, she created opportunities for her teammates, and the Tornado were in complete control throughout the 30-point victory.
To reach the championship game, Runyon just missed a triple-double scoring 16 points, pulling down 11 rebounds, and dishing out eight assists in a 13-point victory over Oxford. Runyon was deservedly named the tournament’s most valuable player, and she is this week’s honoree as Smith Ford, Giant’s Warehouse/Evening Sun Athlete of the Week.
By her performances this year, you wouldn’t know that Runyon missed Norwich’s last nine games of the season after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. The injury was so severe that she required surgery, and it wasn’t the type of injury where one bounces back quickly. “Her entire offseason was rehabilitating and getting over the injury,” said Norwich second-year coach, Josh Bennett, who praised Runyon’s willingness to do whatever necessary to make herself better. “The way she has come back is a testament to her hard work and overall work ethic. It was a major injury, and she’s probably still recovering. Yet, she’s playing at a level few people ever reach.”
Runyon’s points and assists are slightly down from last year, but her rebounding is still over 11 boards per game. The biggest difference from last year to this year is that she is playing significantly fewer minutes. The Tornado are off to their best start since the sectional championship team of 2006, and three of their four wins have been by 13 points or more. Runyon – and the rest of Norwich’s starters – are able to rest more, and that extra rest will likely benefit NHS down the stretch when games matter the most. “When Hannah went down, other people had to step up and fill roles that they weren’t used to filling,” Bennett said. “Everyone coming back this year has improved and is more skilled.”
That said, it’s good to have Runyon back at the helm. With Norwich’s offense predicated so much on strong guard play, having a weapon such as Runyon will make Norwich a difficult matchup come postseason time.
“Having Hannah definitely gives a coach confidence,” Bennett said. “You don’t have to worry about the other team pressing. You don’t have to worry about the offense being productive, and you know she will create shots for her teammates because she is there.”
Summing up Runyon, Bennett was succinct: “I’ve certainly been spoiled my first two years as a head coach. I hope I can get one more Hannah in my career as a coach. ”