Tornado survive the hive in Section IV thriller 49-46
By Robert Jeffrey
Sun Sports Contributor
Frank Speziale Photo
NORWICH – With irregularly warm February temperatures outside, it was difficult to tell if it was the heat in Jack Jones gymnasium or the anxiety and magnitude of the basketball game that NHS fans were forced to sweat out as the Norwich Purple Tornado girls basketball team stuck to the script that provided them their last two victories over Oneonta; keep the game close and clinch the win in the fourth quarter.
Oneonta drew first blood in opening the scoring in the game, on Feb. 24, with a two point basket from Athena Basdekis 40 seconds into the contest that ultimately set the tone for the visiting Yellowjackets – they refused to be denied for a third consecutive game.
The Tornado struggled offensively in the first quarter putting up seven points – four of which came from Makenzie Maynard who helped keep NHS within striking range as Oneonta led 8-7 after the first eight minutes of action.
With the same fervor and grit the Yellowjacket offensive attack scrapped, picking up loose balls and getting on the boards looking for second chance points, but were unable convert on those chances due to an equally aggressive Tornado defense.
With a relatively methodic offensive attack for both teams, the pace of play didn’t pick up until half-way through the second period as both clubs picked up the offensive muscle.
Meghan Komendarek bore the weight of the Norwich offense recording eight of her team leading 19-points on the night over a three-minute period. Despite the offensive effort from Komendarek, Oneonta clung to a 22-20 lead at the half thanks to an Ava Eichler three-pointer that dropped in as the half-time buzzer sounded.
Oneonta had the momentum and as both teams came out for the start of the half, the Yellowjackets received a large ovation from the OHS faithful – interesting for a sectional game being played in Norwich.
Despite a seemingly hostile crowd on their own court, the Tornado defended their court by jump starting their offense outscoring Oneonta on a 9-0 run that gave NHS the lead 29-22 with 4:25 left to play in the third.
Oneonta responded via an Ava Eichler trifecta that cut the NHS lead to 29-25 with 4:00 remaining in the period. Perhaps the most pivotal performance of the game came from Kara Evans who scored all eight of her points over a two minute stretch that maintained Norwich’s lead. By the conclusion of the third NHS held strong with the lead 39-35.
Things got interesting down the stretch as Oneonta trailed 47-44 with 49.3 seconds. After a missed bonus free-throw from Oneonta’s Athena Basdekis, Oneonta forced a jumpball six seconds later. Basdekis redeemed herself from his free-throw woes, cashing in on a lay-up to cut the NHS lead to 47-46 with 30 seconds left in the ball game.
What happens in winning time determines not only the ballgame, but what an athlete is truly made of. And in winning time, the shots that athletes take will even make a casual fan believe that shot is going in.
Moments like this don’t come around too often, especially in a win or go home game such as this, but for Norwich’s Katelyn Dowdall who had made some big-time shots all night went to the line for NHS with 14 seconds left in a one-point ballgame.
“The only thing going through my mind was make the shot. Stay calm, relax, and make the shot,” said NHS senior Katelyn Dowdall who was as cool as the other side of the pillow and made good on her two attempts from the charity stripe to push the Tornado lead to 49-46 and protect the ballgame from any Oneonta three-point makes to guarantee overtime. Fortunately for Norwich, Oneonta’s three-pointer was no good and NHS advanced to the Section IV Class B Semifinals.
“Down the stretch I thought we managed the game as good as we could’ve,” said Norwich head coach Josh Bennett. “We knew if we got the ball to Makenzie of Katelyn we’d be pretty good on the foul line.”
Meghan Komendarek led Norwich in scoring with 19 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, Katelyn Dowdall recorded 11 points of her own as well as scrapping for four steals on the night. Ava Eichler led Oneonta in scoring with 21 points – cashing in on 12 of those points from beyond the arc, Teagan Mackey scored 10 of her own in the loss.
Norwich will play NYS Class B 7th ranked Susquehanna Valley at Susquehanna Valley on Tuesday February 28, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
Oneonta: 8 14 13 11 - 46
Norwich: 7 13 19 10 – 49
Oneonta: Baker 1 0-0 2, A. Basdekis 2 3-7 7, Buzzy 0 0-2 0, Eichler 8 1-3 21, Gaisford 0 0-0 0, Mackery 1 7-10 10, McGraw 0 1-2 1, Microni 2 0-0 5. Totals: 14 12-24 46
Norwich: Dowdall 4 3-4 11, Eaton 1 1-1 3, Evans 3 2-2 8, Flynn 0 0-2 0, Hansen 0 0-0 0, Jeffrey 0 0-0 0, Komandarek 8 3-4 19, Maynard 3 1-1 8, Myers 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 10-14 49
Three-Pointers: Oneonta- Eichler (4), Mackey (1), Microni (1); Norwich- Maynard (1).
Fouled-Out: Oneonta- Microni; Norwich- None.
Sun Sports Contributor
Frank Speziale Photo
NORWICH – With irregularly warm February temperatures outside, it was difficult to tell if it was the heat in Jack Jones gymnasium or the anxiety and magnitude of the basketball game that NHS fans were forced to sweat out as the Norwich Purple Tornado girls basketball team stuck to the script that provided them their last two victories over Oneonta; keep the game close and clinch the win in the fourth quarter.
Oneonta drew first blood in opening the scoring in the game, on Feb. 24, with a two point basket from Athena Basdekis 40 seconds into the contest that ultimately set the tone for the visiting Yellowjackets – they refused to be denied for a third consecutive game.
The Tornado struggled offensively in the first quarter putting up seven points – four of which came from Makenzie Maynard who helped keep NHS within striking range as Oneonta led 8-7 after the first eight minutes of action.
With the same fervor and grit the Yellowjacket offensive attack scrapped, picking up loose balls and getting on the boards looking for second chance points, but were unable convert on those chances due to an equally aggressive Tornado defense.
With a relatively methodic offensive attack for both teams, the pace of play didn’t pick up until half-way through the second period as both clubs picked up the offensive muscle.
Meghan Komendarek bore the weight of the Norwich offense recording eight of her team leading 19-points on the night over a three-minute period. Despite the offensive effort from Komendarek, Oneonta clung to a 22-20 lead at the half thanks to an Ava Eichler three-pointer that dropped in as the half-time buzzer sounded.
Oneonta had the momentum and as both teams came out for the start of the half, the Yellowjackets received a large ovation from the OHS faithful – interesting for a sectional game being played in Norwich.
Despite a seemingly hostile crowd on their own court, the Tornado defended their court by jump starting their offense outscoring Oneonta on a 9-0 run that gave NHS the lead 29-22 with 4:25 left to play in the third.
Oneonta responded via an Ava Eichler trifecta that cut the NHS lead to 29-25 with 4:00 remaining in the period. Perhaps the most pivotal performance of the game came from Kara Evans who scored all eight of her points over a two minute stretch that maintained Norwich’s lead. By the conclusion of the third NHS held strong with the lead 39-35.
Things got interesting down the stretch as Oneonta trailed 47-44 with 49.3 seconds. After a missed bonus free-throw from Oneonta’s Athena Basdekis, Oneonta forced a jumpball six seconds later. Basdekis redeemed herself from his free-throw woes, cashing in on a lay-up to cut the NHS lead to 47-46 with 30 seconds left in the ball game.
What happens in winning time determines not only the ballgame, but what an athlete is truly made of. And in winning time, the shots that athletes take will even make a casual fan believe that shot is going in.
Moments like this don’t come around too often, especially in a win or go home game such as this, but for Norwich’s Katelyn Dowdall who had made some big-time shots all night went to the line for NHS with 14 seconds left in a one-point ballgame.
“The only thing going through my mind was make the shot. Stay calm, relax, and make the shot,” said NHS senior Katelyn Dowdall who was as cool as the other side of the pillow and made good on her two attempts from the charity stripe to push the Tornado lead to 49-46 and protect the ballgame from any Oneonta three-point makes to guarantee overtime. Fortunately for Norwich, Oneonta’s three-pointer was no good and NHS advanced to the Section IV Class B Semifinals.
“Down the stretch I thought we managed the game as good as we could’ve,” said Norwich head coach Josh Bennett. “We knew if we got the ball to Makenzie of Katelyn we’d be pretty good on the foul line.”
Meghan Komendarek led Norwich in scoring with 19 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, Katelyn Dowdall recorded 11 points of her own as well as scrapping for four steals on the night. Ava Eichler led Oneonta in scoring with 21 points – cashing in on 12 of those points from beyond the arc, Teagan Mackey scored 10 of her own in the loss.
Norwich will play NYS Class B 7th ranked Susquehanna Valley at Susquehanna Valley on Tuesday February 28, with tip-off scheduled for 7 p.m.
Oneonta: 8 14 13 11 - 46
Norwich: 7 13 19 10 – 49
Oneonta: Baker 1 0-0 2, A. Basdekis 2 3-7 7, Buzzy 0 0-2 0, Eichler 8 1-3 21, Gaisford 0 0-0 0, Mackery 1 7-10 10, McGraw 0 1-2 1, Microni 2 0-0 5. Totals: 14 12-24 46
Norwich: Dowdall 4 3-4 11, Eaton 1 1-1 3, Evans 3 2-2 8, Flynn 0 0-2 0, Hansen 0 0-0 0, Jeffrey 0 0-0 0, Komandarek 8 3-4 19, Maynard 3 1-1 8, Myers 0 0-0 0. Totals: 19 10-14 49
Three-Pointers: Oneonta- Eichler (4), Mackey (1), Microni (1); Norwich- Maynard (1).
Fouled-Out: Oneonta- Microni; Norwich- None.
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