Girls’ Basketball

Norwich Pennysaver Tournament

Owego 58, Norwich 48

Norwich 34, New Hartford 28

NORWICH – In all the measurables, especially size, experience, and depth, Owego had a decisive edge over Norwich in the finals of the 32nd Annual Norwich Pennysaver Tournament. The Indians were forced to lean heavily on all of those perceived advantages in Saturday night’s championship game ending the Purple Tornado’s three-year string of titles.

Tournament MVP, Rachel Merrill, scored 17 points and had five blocked shots. More than that, the 6-foot-3 senior had Norwich’s starting front line in foul trouble the entire second half. Fellow Owego senior Jill Silvanic ably offset Merrill’s inside presence draining a pair of three-pointers in the fourth quarter to help create a welcomed cushion.

“I really cannot say enough about this group of kids,” said Norwich coach Josh Bennett. “We came up with a game plan, and they executed it to perfection. Obviously, they have a 6-foot-3 kid with great moves, and we didn’t match up. She got us into foul trouble, and when we doubled down, Silvanic was able to get open for threes. We couldn’t scramble back quick enough.”

Owego returned its front line from last year, and had most of the components back from a club that beat Norwich by 10 points this past February. With Norwich already in foul trouble in the first half, Merrill and her younger sister Emily scored the Indians’ last eight points of the first half to give their team a 27-20 halftime lead.