NORWICH – The Purple Tornado trailed by seven points after the first quarters against Class AA Union-Endicott in the Saturday matinee non-league contest. However, like they have done in most game this season, the Norwich boys basketball team rallied to come back for the 71-61 win over the Tigers. 
The Tigers’ lead was built by shooting 60-percent from the floor in the first half. Defensively, Union-Endicott’s quick guards came away with a few steals in which they were able to convert on the offensive end.
“We knew coming into this game that they were very talented and we were hoping we could take care of the ball against their quick guards, who have caused a lot of turmoil to their opponents,” said Tom Collier, Norwich’s head coach. “We failed to do that in the first quarter on a few occasions and it lead to some easy baskets for them.”
However, The Tornado outscored the Tigers in the last three quarters and until the fourth, chipped away at the U-E lead in each stanza.
Norwich’s Thomas Flanagan kept the home team in the contest offensively, hitting 4-of-5 3-point attempts in the first half as the Tornado closed in on Union-Endicott, pulling within four points at the break.
The second half defense of the home team is what allowed Norwich to complete the comeback. The Tigers first-half hot shooting began to cool off as the Tornado held them to just 20-percent for the final 16 minutes.
“We took care of the ball better in the second half,” Collier said. “We also did a much better job of defending them. We made a couple of matchups changes in the second half that helped us.”
Carson Thorton had a big part in the momentum shift for the Purple Tornado in the second half, coming away with back-to-back steals that in turn, fueled the Norwich offense.
Taking the lead in the early minutes of the fourth, Norwich outscored the Tigers 19-7 to build the 10 point win.
Collier stated that their big man in the middle, Skylar Wenzel played very well in the contest. Wenzel finished with 11 rebounds – eight of them gave Norwich a second chance opportunity where he put the ball back up and through the net. He had a team-best 23 points in the game, most of his production coming off the glass.
When he was out of the game in the first half due to foul trouble, Jahlil Jones and Jon Clarke stepped up and played big minutes Collier commented.
Also having a big day on the boards was J.T. Vinal. “[J.T.] does things that often goes unnoticed,” said Collier. “He leads our team in the category of efficiency which factors in seven different categories, both offensively and defensively.” Vinal led the Norwich team in the rebounding column against the Tigers, pulling down 13 rebounds.
Down the stretch, Carson Maynard’s free throw shooting aided in the Tornado holding on late in the game. Maynard knocked down eight straight free throws in the final minutes, tying Wenzel for the game-high scoring honors with 23 also.
Marcus Cashman, who Collier said was a little under the weather for the game, played through and came away with big defensive rebounds when the team needed them the most.
“Overall, it was a good effort by our whole team,” said Collier.
Based on current league records, the Norwich head coach is pretty certain the win of the Tigers should secure a first-round home game for sectionals.
“It’s a whole new season now,” Collier said. “We still have work to do on improving all the little things that would help make us a championship team.”
The Tornado wait for their Section IV seed, which the seeding meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 13.