Boys’ Basketball

Norwich 55, Johnson City 42

JOHNSON CITY – Friday’s night’s game at Johnson City could have been one of those “trap games.” Coming off a intense, gratifying division win over Seton Catholic Central earlier, the Norwich machine trudged forward with a workmanlike sixth straight victory over an improved Wildcats club.

“Johnson City has a decent record, and they’ve lost some tough, close games. They are athletic and competitive,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott. “They gave us our money’s worth.”

Derek Hughes provided a necessary spark for Norwich off the bench in a 13-7 third stanza that stretched the Tornado’s four-point halftime lead to 43-33. Hughes had a pair of assists and a pair of steals during the pivotal eight minutes that gave Norwich breathing room.

Meanwhile, the Norwich limited Johnson City’s leading scorer, Ronald Teekasingh, to just six points. Teekasingh had averaged over 18 points a game over the last six contests. Too, Norwich did not allow its opponent a double figures scorer, one of several times that has happened during a 15-2 season. “Teekasingh and Troy Robinson are good scorers for them, but if you look at our season as a while, the only scorers we’ve had trouble with were Alex Mirabito (Oneonta) and the one night we played Windsor,” Abbott said. “Other than that, we’ve been able to ‘D up’ the other team’s best options pretty good.”