Norwich makes it back-to-back STAC titles
ENDICOTT – Norwich's homogeneous approach to the offense and defense had a breakout performance in the club's biggest game to date.
Senior Michael Oralls posted a game-high 22 points, every one of those integers needed in the Purple Tornado's 57-47 Southern Tier Athletic Conference championship game victory over Binghamton, Friday night at Union-Endicott High School.
The victory made it two straight league titles for Norwich, who also repeated as conference champions in 1993 and 1994.
Oralls' unique manner of scoring the basketball begged the question: Do you practice those scoops, floaters, and makeshift hook shots. "No, not really," Oralls said after the game. But had he seen those types of shots at some point? "I guess."
Oralls starred on offense, but it was the collective defense efforts of the primary eight men who wore the purple jerseys that made Oralls' points on the other end more meaningful, especially in the fourth quarter.
The prolific Patriots, who regularly score better than two points a minute, had quarters in which they scored just five and six points. Most significant was that latter six in the final eight minutes of play. Norwich had a precarious 41-39 lead entering the final period, that due to some fine outside shooting by Bingo in the third quarter.
“They got it going a little bit in the third quarter, and a lot of that was due to our turnovers,” said Norwich coach Tom Collier.
Sabast Doski hit a bomb from two feet beyond the three-point line to start the third quarter, Kyhil Pinkney, typically a drive-to-the-basket slasher, drained an unexpected three on the next possession, and for the rest of quarter, Norwich's stingy defense had trouble plugging holes.
A step-through inside move by backup Tylique Duggins and Alkeem Freeman's bucket at the end of the third drew Binghamton to within two, the closest it had been since early in the first quarter.
Anyone who knows Norwich, though, was not quick to panic. “I thought Binghamton had a good game plan, but right from the beginning, I just liked the feel of this game,” Collier said. “Even though they cut the lead to two, at no time did the thought of losing creep into my mind.”
That confidence rubbed off on the Purple Tornado players. A mere eight seconds into the fourth quarter, Norwich had its answer to Binghamton’s threat. Taking the ball out of bounds in front of its own bench, Norwich executed a perfect set that led to Zan Stewart’s hoop-and-harm three-point play. With the lead at five, Norwich was able to control the fourth quarter with patient offense in tandem with its always-tough defense. “Brian (Collier) drew up a great out-of-bounds play to start the fourth, we ran it, and bang, we got a three-point play,” Tom Collier said. “That was big for us because it gave us a little cushion.”
Duggins scored inside for Binghamton on the next possession, but over the next three critical minutes, Norwich held Binghamton scoreless as Norwich stretched its lead to nine points.
Four points during a 6-0 run came on free throws, and Oralls finished against Binghamton’s press with an easy layup making it 50-41 with just 4:15 remaining. Oralls had three big buckets in the third quarter when Binghamton was chopping away at the Norwich advantage, and had the aforementioned bucket and a big assist to Jamison Luke later in the fourth to help polish off the victory.
“Last year when we needed a big play or a basket, we went to Michael Sutton,” Oralls said, who added four assists and six rebounds to his night. “Why can’t it be me (who scores)? I knew I had to step it up tonight.”
Oralls’ pass out of a double team under the basket to a wide-open Luke at the foul line kept the NHS lead at nine. Down the stretch, Stewart wrapped up the 10-point win making 5 of 6 free throws in the final minute. Stewart added 12 points to the Norwich effort.
“We were the little engine that could, and once again, it was the little school beating the big school,” Collier said. “If you look at the STAC award over the years, that doesn’t happen often. The reality is that it’s harder to win the STAC title than it is to win a section title because you have to beat the bigger schools.”
Collier said he liked the feel of the game from the earliest moments of the first quarter, and he had good reason. Through the first six minutes of play, the teams were locked in a defensive battle with Norwich clinging to a 6-5 advantage. Tre Bonham initiated a 9-0 spurt to end the quarter driving for a bucket. Oralls scored on a drive, Jordan Vinal pumped in a three from the left side, and Bonham scored in the final 30 seconds after Vinal corralled an offensive rebound to set up the final bucket of the quarter.
Oralls had eight of his team’s 12 points in the second quarter, the last bucket an inside hook shot that would have made the late George Mikan proud. Norwich took a seven-point lead into the second half, and as has been its mode of operation in head coach Tom Collier’s four-year tenure, was superb in closing out a game.
“This team has come a long way,” Collier said. “We learned from our mistakes in our losses, and that’s how you prepare to win. You put the time and effort in to get better, and that’s why our program has remained successful.”
Luke finished with his second straight 10-rebound game, and Colin Stewart blocked a team-high four shots. Norwich (16-3) hosts Chenango Valley Saturday, Feb. 28 in its first-round Section IV Class B playoff game.
Norwich: Jake Walsh, 0; Chris Trevisani, 0; Michael Oralls, 8 5-7-22; Matt Parrella, 0; Carlos Ithier, 0 1-3-1; Cameron Edwards, 0; Colin Stewart, 2 2-2-6; Zan Stewart, 3 6-8-12; Tre Bonham, 4 0-0-9; Jordan Vinal, 1 0-0-3; Jamison Luke, 2 0-0-4. Totals: 20 14-20-57
Binghamton: Andre Hawkins, 4 0-0-9; Cameron Crimmins, 0; Alkeem Freeman, 1 0-0-2; Anthony Weakland, 3 0-0-8; Kyhil Pinkney, 3 1-4-8; Sabarst Doski, 1 0-0-3; Nick Snyder, 5 3-6-13; Tylique Duggins, 2 0-0-4. Totals: 19 4-10-47.
Nor. 15 12 14 16-57
Bing. 5 15 19 8-47
Fouled out: (B) Hawkins. Three-point goals: (B) Weakland 2, Hawkins, Doski, Pinkney. (N) Oralls, Vinal, Bonham. Officials: Barker, Ciotoli.
Senior Michael Oralls posted a game-high 22 points, every one of those integers needed in the Purple Tornado's 57-47 Southern Tier Athletic Conference championship game victory over Binghamton, Friday night at Union-Endicott High School.
The victory made it two straight league titles for Norwich, who also repeated as conference champions in 1993 and 1994.
Oralls' unique manner of scoring the basketball begged the question: Do you practice those scoops, floaters, and makeshift hook shots. "No, not really," Oralls said after the game. But had he seen those types of shots at some point? "I guess."
Oralls starred on offense, but it was the collective defense efforts of the primary eight men who wore the purple jerseys that made Oralls' points on the other end more meaningful, especially in the fourth quarter.
The prolific Patriots, who regularly score better than two points a minute, had quarters in which they scored just five and six points. Most significant was that latter six in the final eight minutes of play. Norwich had a precarious 41-39 lead entering the final period, that due to some fine outside shooting by Bingo in the third quarter.
“They got it going a little bit in the third quarter, and a lot of that was due to our turnovers,” said Norwich coach Tom Collier.
Sabast Doski hit a bomb from two feet beyond the three-point line to start the third quarter, Kyhil Pinkney, typically a drive-to-the-basket slasher, drained an unexpected three on the next possession, and for the rest of quarter, Norwich's stingy defense had trouble plugging holes.
A step-through inside move by backup Tylique Duggins and Alkeem Freeman's bucket at the end of the third drew Binghamton to within two, the closest it had been since early in the first quarter.
Anyone who knows Norwich, though, was not quick to panic. “I thought Binghamton had a good game plan, but right from the beginning, I just liked the feel of this game,” Collier said. “Even though they cut the lead to two, at no time did the thought of losing creep into my mind.”
That confidence rubbed off on the Purple Tornado players. A mere eight seconds into the fourth quarter, Norwich had its answer to Binghamton’s threat. Taking the ball out of bounds in front of its own bench, Norwich executed a perfect set that led to Zan Stewart’s hoop-and-harm three-point play. With the lead at five, Norwich was able to control the fourth quarter with patient offense in tandem with its always-tough defense. “Brian (Collier) drew up a great out-of-bounds play to start the fourth, we ran it, and bang, we got a three-point play,” Tom Collier said. “That was big for us because it gave us a little cushion.”
Duggins scored inside for Binghamton on the next possession, but over the next three critical minutes, Norwich held Binghamton scoreless as Norwich stretched its lead to nine points.
Four points during a 6-0 run came on free throws, and Oralls finished against Binghamton’s press with an easy layup making it 50-41 with just 4:15 remaining. Oralls had three big buckets in the third quarter when Binghamton was chopping away at the Norwich advantage, and had the aforementioned bucket and a big assist to Jamison Luke later in the fourth to help polish off the victory.
“Last year when we needed a big play or a basket, we went to Michael Sutton,” Oralls said, who added four assists and six rebounds to his night. “Why can’t it be me (who scores)? I knew I had to step it up tonight.”
Oralls’ pass out of a double team under the basket to a wide-open Luke at the foul line kept the NHS lead at nine. Down the stretch, Stewart wrapped up the 10-point win making 5 of 6 free throws in the final minute. Stewart added 12 points to the Norwich effort.
“We were the little engine that could, and once again, it was the little school beating the big school,” Collier said. “If you look at the STAC award over the years, that doesn’t happen often. The reality is that it’s harder to win the STAC title than it is to win a section title because you have to beat the bigger schools.”
Collier said he liked the feel of the game from the earliest moments of the first quarter, and he had good reason. Through the first six minutes of play, the teams were locked in a defensive battle with Norwich clinging to a 6-5 advantage. Tre Bonham initiated a 9-0 spurt to end the quarter driving for a bucket. Oralls scored on a drive, Jordan Vinal pumped in a three from the left side, and Bonham scored in the final 30 seconds after Vinal corralled an offensive rebound to set up the final bucket of the quarter.
Oralls had eight of his team’s 12 points in the second quarter, the last bucket an inside hook shot that would have made the late George Mikan proud. Norwich took a seven-point lead into the second half, and as has been its mode of operation in head coach Tom Collier’s four-year tenure, was superb in closing out a game.
“This team has come a long way,” Collier said. “We learned from our mistakes in our losses, and that’s how you prepare to win. You put the time and effort in to get better, and that’s why our program has remained successful.”
Luke finished with his second straight 10-rebound game, and Colin Stewart blocked a team-high four shots. Norwich (16-3) hosts Chenango Valley Saturday, Feb. 28 in its first-round Section IV Class B playoff game.
Norwich: Jake Walsh, 0; Chris Trevisani, 0; Michael Oralls, 8 5-7-22; Matt Parrella, 0; Carlos Ithier, 0 1-3-1; Cameron Edwards, 0; Colin Stewart, 2 2-2-6; Zan Stewart, 3 6-8-12; Tre Bonham, 4 0-0-9; Jordan Vinal, 1 0-0-3; Jamison Luke, 2 0-0-4. Totals: 20 14-20-57
Binghamton: Andre Hawkins, 4 0-0-9; Cameron Crimmins, 0; Alkeem Freeman, 1 0-0-2; Anthony Weakland, 3 0-0-8; Kyhil Pinkney, 3 1-4-8; Sabarst Doski, 1 0-0-3; Nick Snyder, 5 3-6-13; Tylique Duggins, 2 0-0-4. Totals: 19 4-10-47.
Nor. 15 12 14 16-57
Bing. 5 15 19 8-47
Fouled out: (B) Hawkins. Three-point goals: (B) Weakland 2, Hawkins, Doski, Pinkney. (N) Oralls, Vinal, Bonham. Officials: Barker, Ciotoli.
dived wound factual legitimately delightful goodness fit rat some lopsidedly far when.
Slung alongside jeepers hypnotic legitimately some iguana this agreeably triumphant pointedly far
jeepers unscrupulous anteater attentive noiseless put less greyhound prior stiff ferret unbearably cracked oh.
So sparing more goose caribou wailed went conveniently burned the the the and that save that adroit gosh and sparing armadillo grew some overtook that magnificently that
Circuitous gull and messily squirrel on that banally assenting nobly some much rakishly goodness that the darn abject hello left because unaccountably spluttered unlike a aurally since contritely thanks