Boys’ Basketball

Seton Catholic Central 65, Norwich 51

NORWICH – After three losses in as many games at the Stop DWI tourney last weekend, Seton Catholic Central returned to the comfort of the Southern Tier Athletic Conference Tuesday night at Norwich.

The Saints, winners by at least 13 points in their first five STAC contests, made it six straight beating a game NHS club.

Tommy Torto, the reigning most valuable player in the league, had 20 points, John Martin added 14, while John Armstrong and Cole Smothers tossed in 10 apiece in a 14-point victory.

“They beat us in every facet of the game,” said Norwich coach Tom Collier. “They outplayed us, outrebounded us, outhustled us, and outcoached us. They took away what we wanted to do, and that’s a credit to them.”

Martin more than doubled his season scoring average, and his dribble penetration into the teeth of the Norwich zone created much more damage than Collier and his coaching staff anticipated.

“Martin was vastly improved tonight,” Collier said. “Playing against national competition for three games helped him. As a team, Seton is getting better. I thought they looked okay against Oneonta. They were better against Chenango Valley, and even better tonight against us.”

The Saints scored the game’s first eight points, and opened a 35-19 bulge with 1:23 left in the first half. Martin hit a pull-up jumper, and Torto made two free throws after collecting an offensive rebound.