NORWICH — It was an exciting night inside Norwich’s Jack Jones Gymnasium as the Norwich Purple Tornado girls’ basketball team hosted Chenango Forks. It was only the second game for both teams after the weather has postponed games in the last two weeks. Norwich, who were down 11 early in the fourth quarter, came back and won 53-52 with under nine seconds left in regulation.

Both teams started off with tough pressured defense, which Norwich’s Kerragan Reid pushed through to scored all 13 points in the first quarter. Emma Urgo, Alivia Burrell, Brynley Ryan, and Josey Ryan helped out on rebounds to give Reid the scoring opportunities.

Norwich’s Brooklyn Burke contributed in the second quarter, hitting two three-pointers in a row after both teams kept trading shots. Brynley Ryan also added a three to help Norwich lead by eight points before Forks minimized the deficit with their own three by leading scorer Maggie Warpus.

Norwich led 29-23 at halftime. Reid had 13 points in the first half.

Chenango Forks picked up the pace in the second half, scoring 23 third quarter points and even taking a 44-38 lead to enter the fourth quarter, making it anyone’s game.

The Blue Devils added onto their lead to start the final eight minutes, going up by 11 points.

Meanwhile, the Purple Tornado could not finish shots and Forks was collecting defensive rebounds.

Norwich was down 52-43 with 2:49 left of regulation and made great strides. Brynley Ryan had been hustling all game and helped cut down the deficit with a three-point play after making a shot and a “and-one.”

Reid also found success and was fouled and made the “and one” in a crucial moment as the Purple Tornado were only down by one with 25.3 seconds left. Chenango Forks had the ball and Norwich waited to foul them with 11.3 seconds left. Forks missed the two free-throws, giving Norwich one final chance with 09.7 seconds left.

Coach Flynn and her coaching staff called a full timeout and the crowd not knowing what the fate would be, but then Norwich’s Brynley Ryan’s shot went through and the crowd was roaring. Time winded down and Forks missed the final opportunity, leaving the home team and crowd thrilled.

“This season, the message is all about building momentum and we keep reminding ourselves that,” Coach Flynn said. “It didn’t matter if we were playing a D1 athlete in Maggie Warpus tonight, we came out with the win and the girls worked their butts off for this one.”

Reid led the team with 16 points as Brynley Ryan finished with 15 points, eight rebounds, and had two steals.

Josey Ryan, Brooklyn Burke, and Emma Urgo all finished with six points. Urgo also had eight rebounds, two steals, and three blocks.

Arabella Dwyer and Alivia Burrell both added two points in the win.

Great job, Norwich.

Norwich (2-0) heads to Chenango Valley on Saturday afternoon at 1:45 p.m.