Norwich boys Juggler Classic champs after thrilling OT victory
By Grady Thompson
Sun Sports Contributor
UTICA - The Tornado boys varsity basketball team left Michael J. Walsh Gym on Sunday night as champions of the 42nd annual Juggler Classic tournament after defeating the hosting Notre Dame Jugglers in an overtime thriller, 60-59.
Norwich advanced to the finals by beating Ogdensburg Free Academy on Saturday night 67-55 in the semi-finals. The contest was close entering the fourth quarter with Norwich having a 2 point lead, but the Tornado would finish the game outscoring the Blue Devils 22-12. Senior Jamison Luke paved the way for Norwich by posting a double-double, with 23 points and 16 rebounds, and Junior Carlos Ithier added another 12 points to help send the Purple Tornado past OFA and to the finals.
In the championship versus Notre Dame, the Tornado and Jugglers exchanged slight leads throughout what would be a very nip-and-tuck game between two evenly matched teams. Norwich entered the fourth quarter with a one point lead that they would increase to five with just over a minute left to play. But the Jugglers, with their backs against the wall, fought back to tie the game at 54 at the end of regulation.
In overtime, Norwich found themselves behind by one point with 40 seconds remaining. The Tornado responded with an effective trap on the defensive end that would lead to a deflection and then a breakaway opportunity for Carlos Ithier. Ithier was fouled as he shot, and he sank two clutch free-throws to give Norwich a one point advantage with about 30 seconds left.
The Jugglers weren’t finished yet though, and Senior Jerome Brabham was somehow able to sink a shot amongst a horde of Tornado defenders to give Notre Dame the lead again with 14.5 seconds left.
On the other end, Norwich was able to set up one last play. Norwich Point Guard Jordan Vinal made a pass that would be fortuitously deflected into the hands of tournament MVP Jamison Luke. Luke put in the go-ahead bucket that would win Norwich the game.
“We struggled down the stretch when we blew that five point lead with just over a minute left, but we persevered in overtime,” said Norwich Head Coach Brian Collier. “It was a great game in a hostile environment where we repeatedly had to overcome adversity, and against a very talented team.”
Jamison Luke and Jordan Vinal led the Tornado with 13 points apiece in the finale, and Carlos Ithier was just behind them with 11. Ithier was named to the All-Tournament Team.
“Throughout the whole weekend, we had many players step up and make big plays at opportune times, both offensively and defensively,” Collier said, “It was a great learning experience for our guys, to learn how to handle the different adverse conditions in a game, and to learn how to be able to overcome those conditions and still be successful at the end of the day.”
The Tornado have now won both tournaments that they have participated in this season, including the Tom Schwann tournament in early December. Their record moves to 10-1 overall, 7-0 in conference with their only loss on the season coming at Jamesville-Dewitt on December 18th.
Norwich travels to Windsor on Wednesday night to take on the Black Knights in a conference game.
Semi-finals team statistics: Norwich: J. Walsh 3 0-2-8, T. Bonham 1 0-0-2, C. Edwards 0 1-2-1, C. Ithier 4 2-2-12, D. King 4 0-0-9, J. Vinal 1 4-4-6, J. Luke 10 3-5-23, C. Jeffrey 3 0-1-6.
Totals: 26 10-16-67.
OFA: C. Badlam 2 2-3-7, J. Farrar 3 0-2-7, P. Lalone 6 4-4-17, J. Dalton 2 2-4-6, A. Pope 2 0-0-4, C. Sargent 5 2-2-14.
Totals: 20 10-15-55.
Three-point field goals: (N) Walsh 2, Ithier 2, King. (OFA) Sargent 2, Badlam, Farrar, Lalone.
Finals team statistics: Norwich: J. Walsh 2 1-2-6, T. Bonham 2 1-2-6, C. Edwards 2 0-0-4, C. Ithier 4 2-3-11, J. Vinal 5 0-0-13, J. Luke 6 1-5-13, C. Jeffrey 4 1-2-7.
Totals: 25 6-14-60.
Notre Dame: J. Warmack 5 5-8-16, J. Brabham 7 5-8-20, T. Garrett 2 1-2-6, T. Manolescu 7 2-2-17.
Totals: 21 13-20-59.
Three-point field goals: (N) Vinal 3, Ithier, Bonham, Walsh. (ND) Warmack, Brabham, Garrett, Manolescu.
Sun Sports Contributor
UTICA - The Tornado boys varsity basketball team left Michael J. Walsh Gym on Sunday night as champions of the 42nd annual Juggler Classic tournament after defeating the hosting Notre Dame Jugglers in an overtime thriller, 60-59.
Norwich advanced to the finals by beating Ogdensburg Free Academy on Saturday night 67-55 in the semi-finals. The contest was close entering the fourth quarter with Norwich having a 2 point lead, but the Tornado would finish the game outscoring the Blue Devils 22-12. Senior Jamison Luke paved the way for Norwich by posting a double-double, with 23 points and 16 rebounds, and Junior Carlos Ithier added another 12 points to help send the Purple Tornado past OFA and to the finals.
In the championship versus Notre Dame, the Tornado and Jugglers exchanged slight leads throughout what would be a very nip-and-tuck game between two evenly matched teams. Norwich entered the fourth quarter with a one point lead that they would increase to five with just over a minute left to play. But the Jugglers, with their backs against the wall, fought back to tie the game at 54 at the end of regulation.
In overtime, Norwich found themselves behind by one point with 40 seconds remaining. The Tornado responded with an effective trap on the defensive end that would lead to a deflection and then a breakaway opportunity for Carlos Ithier. Ithier was fouled as he shot, and he sank two clutch free-throws to give Norwich a one point advantage with about 30 seconds left.
The Jugglers weren’t finished yet though, and Senior Jerome Brabham was somehow able to sink a shot amongst a horde of Tornado defenders to give Notre Dame the lead again with 14.5 seconds left.
On the other end, Norwich was able to set up one last play. Norwich Point Guard Jordan Vinal made a pass that would be fortuitously deflected into the hands of tournament MVP Jamison Luke. Luke put in the go-ahead bucket that would win Norwich the game.
“We struggled down the stretch when we blew that five point lead with just over a minute left, but we persevered in overtime,” said Norwich Head Coach Brian Collier. “It was a great game in a hostile environment where we repeatedly had to overcome adversity, and against a very talented team.”
Jamison Luke and Jordan Vinal led the Tornado with 13 points apiece in the finale, and Carlos Ithier was just behind them with 11. Ithier was named to the All-Tournament Team.
“Throughout the whole weekend, we had many players step up and make big plays at opportune times, both offensively and defensively,” Collier said, “It was a great learning experience for our guys, to learn how to handle the different adverse conditions in a game, and to learn how to be able to overcome those conditions and still be successful at the end of the day.”
The Tornado have now won both tournaments that they have participated in this season, including the Tom Schwann tournament in early December. Their record moves to 10-1 overall, 7-0 in conference with their only loss on the season coming at Jamesville-Dewitt on December 18th.
Norwich travels to Windsor on Wednesday night to take on the Black Knights in a conference game.
Semi-finals team statistics: Norwich: J. Walsh 3 0-2-8, T. Bonham 1 0-0-2, C. Edwards 0 1-2-1, C. Ithier 4 2-2-12, D. King 4 0-0-9, J. Vinal 1 4-4-6, J. Luke 10 3-5-23, C. Jeffrey 3 0-1-6.
Totals: 26 10-16-67.
OFA: C. Badlam 2 2-3-7, J. Farrar 3 0-2-7, P. Lalone 6 4-4-17, J. Dalton 2 2-4-6, A. Pope 2 0-0-4, C. Sargent 5 2-2-14.
Totals: 20 10-15-55.
Three-point field goals: (N) Walsh 2, Ithier 2, King. (OFA) Sargent 2, Badlam, Farrar, Lalone.
Finals team statistics: Norwich: J. Walsh 2 1-2-6, T. Bonham 2 1-2-6, C. Edwards 2 0-0-4, C. Ithier 4 2-3-11, J. Vinal 5 0-0-13, J. Luke 6 1-5-13, C. Jeffrey 4 1-2-7.
Totals: 25 6-14-60.
Notre Dame: J. Warmack 5 5-8-16, J. Brabham 7 5-8-20, T. Garrett 2 1-2-6, T. Manolescu 7 2-2-17.
Totals: 21 13-20-59.
Three-point field goals: (N) Vinal 3, Ithier, Bonham, Walsh. (ND) Warmack, Brabham, Garrett, Manolescu.
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