Evening Sun Report

Boys’ Basketball

Johnson City 75, Norwich 48

NORWICH – Norwich devised plan after plan to defeat Johnson City, and every time, the Wildcats had a new way to beat the Tornado.

Norwich’s season ended Saturday night at home when JC picked up their third win over the Tornado in the last 2 1/2 weeks. Norwich finished the season with a 15-4 record losing three of four times to their nemesis to the south. “We have nothing to hang our heads about,” said Norwich coach Mark Abbott. “Our four losses (one to Seton Catholic as well) came to teams who have a great chance at winning sectional championships.”

As it did in the most recent meeting, Norwich stayed tight with Johnson City for a good portion of the opening quarter. Jacob Kelly’s two free throws put Norwich in front 9-8. Johnson ended the quarter on a 13-0 run, seven of those points coming from Grant Vicks, who had 10 of his 15 points in the opening stanza. Vicks had all of his points by halftime, and the Wildcats maintained a 34-22 halftime lead despite top scoring guard Ian Pettiford’s spot on the bench due to foul trouble.

“That just shows the depth that Johnson City has offensively,” Abbott said. “Vicks had 15 points in this game, and just a total of six in the previous three meetings.”