Boys’ Basketball

Norwich 50, Corning East 44

CONKLIN – Norwich made up a 10-point deficit in the first quarter, then shook off a six-point Trojans lead in the fourth quarter finishing the game on a 14-2 run to advance into the Section IV Class A semifinals at Oneonta Friday.

Josh Borfitz scored all seven of his points during the late-game run to key the Tornado surge, and Vaughn Labor along with Patrick Coates stepped in to take two critical charges in the final minute preserving the advantage.

“It seems like every game we have played them, it’s been a battle,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott. “There were a lot of bodies on the floor, and I was really happy we showed the fortitude to come back.”

Corning East, the number five seed entering the tournament, raced to a 17-7 first-quarter lead behind two threes from Simon Bailor and another trifecta off the hands of Andrew Matson.

The Tornado’s biggest response to that early adversity was better defense. “We came out very flat and found ourselves in a hole,” Abbott said. “We went to our press, and that picked up our energy and enthusiasm. We got some steals, scored in transition, and got back in the game.”