BINGHAMTON— After knocking off Chenango Valley and then the defending Class A champs Johnson City in the semifinals, the Norwich Purple Tornado girls’ basketball team, who was the third seed in the sectional tournament, faced top-seed Maine-Endwell in the finals. Norwich, who was once down at the half in the highly-intense game, defeated the Spartans 64-52 to win its first sectionals since 2022.

First year head coach, Abby Flynn was so proud of her girls and it was also her third time being at the Arena for sectionals, twice as a player and now this time as a head coach, which was something special for Flynn.

“They work hard every single day,” Flynn said of her team. “Our seniors and team don’t want this to end, they want to be at practice tomorrow. In July, we just worked on building back the tough Norwich girls’ basketball culture and preached the family aspect and that’s what got us here. We knew that sectionals was a goal, like an end goal, but big milestone.”

Flynn and her girls did just that, hit the big milestone and now they get to advance to Regionals on Wednesday, riding on a nine-game win streak and only having two losses this season overall.

Norwich looks to be the second local Chenango County girls’ basketball team in recent years to make it all the way to states, as the Oxford Blackhawks girls did in 2023 and finished runner-up.

The Purple Tornado battle start to finish with the Spartans, where there were several lead changes. Maine-Endwell led 22-17 at halftime but Norwich quickly pounced in the third quarter from strong efforts defensively and offensively from Brooklyn Burke, Emma Urgo, Brynley Ryan, and Josey Ryan. Urgo officially gave Norwich its first lead halfway through the third quarter before M-E hit a three and Norwich came right back and tied it at the free-throw line.

Norwich had a great day at the line, where they shot 80 percent, going 17-for-21. Brooklyn Burke and Josey Ryan both went four-for-four at the line as Emma Urgo finished five-for-six and Brynley Ryan three-for-five.

Brynley Ryan hit crucial three’s as did Burke, where Norwich had a rhythm going on both ends of the court.

The Purple Tornado girls, cheerleaders, and the big crowd of Norwich supporters that made the trip to Binghamton were ecstatic when Norwich went up by nine with 2:45 left and came away with a 12 point victory.

Norwich’s Urgo posted a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds as Brynley Ryan added 15 points, seven rebounds, and four steals.

Josey Ryan finished with 12 points, a team-high six assists, and three rebounds while Brooklyn Burke netted 11 points off the bench and had six rebounds.

Kerragan Reid added three points and Alivia Burrell with a basket in the first quarter in the win.

Norwich will face an unfamiliar opponent out of Section V, Honeoye Falls-Lima on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at Union-Endicott High School. Digital Ticketing may be charged through GOFan.