Evening Sun Report

Boys’ Basketball

Norwich 73, Chenango Forks 38

NORWICH – With a epic STAC matchup against Seton Catholic Central looming on Saturday, it would have been natural for Norwich to look past Chenango Forks.

The Tornado shook off the rust of an eight-day layoff and overcame some early sloppy play to blow out the Blue Devils in Tuesday’s home encounter. “Offensively, we were a little ragged at the beginning, but once we got our legs under us, we seemed to be okay,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott.

It was the first home date for Norwich in 27 days after playing five straight road games. The Blue Devils traded baskets early with Norwich, and led briefly, 4-2. From that point, Norwich held a 61-17 advantage, one that begain with a 14-3 spurt to end the opening quarter.

Jon Foulds had three buckets in the first stanza, and Dennis Oralls completed a three-point play off a Forks turnover – one of 10 Blue Devils turnovers in the opening quarter.

It was a revolving door of Norwich substitutions throughout the second quarter, and the offense did not slow down a bit. Patrick Taylor’s put-back basket off an Eric Walling miss began an 11-1 salvo to start the second stanza. The lead was at 25 by halftime with the game well in hand for the host.