Girls’ Basketball

Norwich 55, Chenango Forks 42

CHENANGO FORKS – Unlike its first meeting with Chenango Forks, Norwich was not able to run away from the Blue Devils.

Norwich used a strong third quarter to open up a 12-point lead, and improved its record to 10-2 on the season Thursday.

Shelby Benjamin scored 13 points for Norwich, six coming in the first half when the Blue Devils made a run at the Tornado to close the margin to 28-24 at the half. Bridget Murphy also came up big off the bench scoring seven of her nine points in the second quarter.

“They played much better offensively, and we weren’t able to turn them over nearly as much as the first time we played them,” said Norwich coach Josh Bennett of Forks. “That allowed them to get back and defend us in the halfcourt.”

Chenango Forks made a mini-run early in the fourth to close the Norwich lead to single digits. Benjamin and Meghan Komendarek each had five for Norwich in the fourth quarter to re-establish command.

“I was proud of my kids for executing in the tough spots when they made runs at us in the middle of the second quarter and the beginning of the fourth,” Bennett said.