Boys’ Basketball

Johnson City 63, Norwich 59

JOHNSON CITY – Norwich’s “hack-a-Shaq” ploy in the fourth quarter almost worked.

Fouling the Wildcats’ players at every turn in the final quarter, Norwich parlayed the Wildcats’ endless stream of missed free throws into a furious comeback that left it just a few points shy.

Seth Thomsen scored 12 in the last quarter, Eric Walling had eight, and Dennis Oralls six to nearly erase JC’s 26-point lead late in the third and 21-point advantage to start the fourth. Walling had a look a three ball in the final minute that would have tied the game, but was off the mark, said Norwich coach Tom Collier.

“It was an unbelievable fourth quarter,” Collier said. “Everyone on the bench was jumping up and down, and we had guys diving all over the court. All 11 guys we played contributed.”

That comeback was not enough to offset nearly three quarters of Johnson City dominance. Isaiah Washington scored nine in the opening quarter, and Ryan Clark had 12 of his 20 points in the second half lifting Johnson City to a 16-point lead at the half and 50-29 edge heading to the fourth.

“Our effort in the first half was okay, but it needs to be exemplary,” Collier said. “We found out how hard we can play in the second half, but we just didn’t play hard enough in the first half.”