NORWICH – Coming off a dramatic come-from-behind win on Friday, Norwich’s home contest with Owego was no less intense and exciting as the Tornado won their fifth straight game, 69-66.
Four of the five victories have come in league play and on the road, and Norwich is alone in second place in STAC’s central division finishing the first tour through division opponents, 3-1. “You would have to say the team is coming together,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott. “This is a great bunch of guys that work hard, but we have to keep going. Our next three league games after the Unadilla Valley tournament are Susquehanna Valley, Seton Catholic Central, and Windsor, and all of them are good teams.”
Owego senior Jack Keough was unstoppable in the first quarter scoring on a variety of inside and outside shots, while also drawing fouls and getting to the foul line. He had 12 points in the first quarter, one less than Norwich’s team total, leading his club to a nine-point lead.
Abbott went to his bench and got a big spark. Reserve Brian Wightman was charged with guarding Keough most of the second quarter, and despite giving up five inches in height, was a main contributor in limiting Keough to just one point in the second quarter. Keough also had to take a seat the final 2 1/2 minutes of the quarter when reserve Tyler Saroka drew a charge on a driving Keough for the Owego senior’s third foul.