Purple Tornado survive late-game Sabers comeback to advance to Class B semifinals
Frank Speziale Photo
NORWICH – In a game of twists and turns in the last six minutes, the Purple Tornado boys basketball team had one more turn go in their favor Saturday night, defeating the Susquehanna Valley Sabers 67-61 in overtime.
“The first words said in our team room after the game was fitting for the occasion – ‘Survive and advance,’” said Norwich Purple Tornado head coach Tom Collier. “It’s the quote most often said to describe the NCAA Basketball Tournament in March, March Madness. “Those in attendance saw a early prelude to it in the Norwich Gym Saturday night. In the end our boys gutted it out to survive and advance.”
Norwich held the lead for the first three quarters of play, building the margin after each eight minute stretch. In the fourth, however, the visiting Sabers put together a run that helped tie the game before the end of regulation, sending the game into the extra four minutes of basketball.
“It’s okay guys,” said senior and captain Skylar Wenzel prior to the start of the overtime session. “We got this. Let’s go out and put it to [Sus Valley] this next four minutes.”
The Purple Tornado did just that.
Norwich’s Mujuni Mutabiilwa hit a big layup to get things going. Then teammate Marcus Cashman knocked down a 3-pointer to push the lead higher in overtime.
Wenzel, who was calm and collected at the free throw line, hit some huge free throws to extend the home team’s lead. At the other end of the floor, the Norwich big man pulled down big rebounds to allow Susquehanna Valley just one shot.
The Purple Tornado had four scores finish the night in double figures. Led by Carson Maynard’s 15 points, Mutabiilwa added 10, Cashman ended with 13 and Wenzel totaled 11.
Mutabiilwa also dished out six assists as Norwich recorded a team total of 14. Wenzel tallied a double-double, pulling in a team-best 12 boards.
“We tip our cap to the Susquehanna Valley Sabers and their coach Mark Ward for an incredible effort by a great group of young men in getting back into the game and taking our guys to the brink of defeat,” said Collier. “We’ve had three great, hard fought games with Sus Valley this season. They are a very, very good team and I felt that we are very evenly matched with them. The final result showed it in our games with them this season.”
The Sabers also had four score double digits. Zach Taro led the way with 15 while Jarred Freije added 12, Joe Waitkavicz ended with 11 and Logan Haskell finished with 10.
Norwich (13-6) will be heading to Owego Wednesday night for their Class B semifinal matchup with the top-seeded Indians. Owego, who defeated Dryden by 32 on Friday, is currently 17-3 on the year.
Game time for the sectional semifinal is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Norwich 67, Susquehanna Valley 61 (Overtime)
SV 14 9 11 20 7 – 61
NHS 15 14 14 11 13 – 67
Susquehanna Valley: Trey Green 0; Logan Haskell 4 1-2-10; Ryan Ewanow 1 0-0-3; Matt Fiorentino 2 1-2-7; Mason McCormack 1 0-0-3; Jarred Freije 4 4-6-12; Troy Smith 0; Zach Taro 6 2-2-15; Joe Waitkavicz 5 1-2-11. TOTALS: 23 9-14-61.
Norwich: Mujuni Mutabiilwa 4 2-3-10; Carson Maynard 4 5-7-15; Marcus Cashman 4 2-2-13; Thomas Flanagan 3 0-0-8; Carson Thornton 1 0-0-2; JT Vinal 3 0-0-6; Eli Craddock 0; Jahlil Jones 0; Jon Clarke 1 0-0-2; Skylar Wenzel 4 3-4-11. TOTALS: 24 12-19-67.
Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: (SV) Haskell 1, Ewanow 1, Fiorentino 2, McCormack 1, Taro 1; (N) Maynard 2, Cashman 3, Flanagan 2.
“The first words said in our team room after the game was fitting for the occasion – ‘Survive and advance,’” said Norwich Purple Tornado head coach Tom Collier. “It’s the quote most often said to describe the NCAA Basketball Tournament in March, March Madness. “Those in attendance saw a early prelude to it in the Norwich Gym Saturday night. In the end our boys gutted it out to survive and advance.”
Norwich held the lead for the first three quarters of play, building the margin after each eight minute stretch. In the fourth, however, the visiting Sabers put together a run that helped tie the game before the end of regulation, sending the game into the extra four minutes of basketball.
“It’s okay guys,” said senior and captain Skylar Wenzel prior to the start of the overtime session. “We got this. Let’s go out and put it to [Sus Valley] this next four minutes.”
The Purple Tornado did just that.
Norwich’s Mujuni Mutabiilwa hit a big layup to get things going. Then teammate Marcus Cashman knocked down a 3-pointer to push the lead higher in overtime.
Wenzel, who was calm and collected at the free throw line, hit some huge free throws to extend the home team’s lead. At the other end of the floor, the Norwich big man pulled down big rebounds to allow Susquehanna Valley just one shot.
The Purple Tornado had four scores finish the night in double figures. Led by Carson Maynard’s 15 points, Mutabiilwa added 10, Cashman ended with 13 and Wenzel totaled 11.
Mutabiilwa also dished out six assists as Norwich recorded a team total of 14. Wenzel tallied a double-double, pulling in a team-best 12 boards.
“We tip our cap to the Susquehanna Valley Sabers and their coach Mark Ward for an incredible effort by a great group of young men in getting back into the game and taking our guys to the brink of defeat,” said Collier. “We’ve had three great, hard fought games with Sus Valley this season. They are a very, very good team and I felt that we are very evenly matched with them. The final result showed it in our games with them this season.”
The Sabers also had four score double digits. Zach Taro led the way with 15 while Jarred Freije added 12, Joe Waitkavicz ended with 11 and Logan Haskell finished with 10.
Norwich (13-6) will be heading to Owego Wednesday night for their Class B semifinal matchup with the top-seeded Indians. Owego, who defeated Dryden by 32 on Friday, is currently 17-3 on the year.
Game time for the sectional semifinal is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Norwich 67, Susquehanna Valley 61 (Overtime)
SV 14 9 11 20 7 – 61
NHS 15 14 14 11 13 – 67
Susquehanna Valley: Trey Green 0; Logan Haskell 4 1-2-10; Ryan Ewanow 1 0-0-3; Matt Fiorentino 2 1-2-7; Mason McCormack 1 0-0-3; Jarred Freije 4 4-6-12; Troy Smith 0; Zach Taro 6 2-2-15; Joe Waitkavicz 5 1-2-11. TOTALS: 23 9-14-61.
Norwich: Mujuni Mutabiilwa 4 2-3-10; Carson Maynard 4 5-7-15; Marcus Cashman 4 2-2-13; Thomas Flanagan 3 0-0-8; Carson Thornton 1 0-0-2; JT Vinal 3 0-0-6; Eli Craddock 0; Jahlil Jones 0; Jon Clarke 1 0-0-2; Skylar Wenzel 4 3-4-11. TOTALS: 24 12-19-67.
Fouled out: None. 3-point goals: (SV) Haskell 1, Ewanow 1, Fiorentino 2, McCormack 1, Taro 1; (N) Maynard 2, Cashman 3, Flanagan 2.
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