Girls' Basketball

Norwich 55, Seton Catholic Central 51

NORWICH – In recent games, Norwich struggled with pressure. Friday night, with the game – and season – on the line, the Purple Tornado flourished when the heat was on.

NHS advanced to its fourth Section IV championship game in six seasons avenging a 22-point loss to the Saints from earlier this season. Norwich will have the opportunity to avenge another defeat when it plays Susquehanna Valley Saturday for the Class B title.

"This was the most composure this group has ever played with, and it came against a team that was probably the most athletic we have seen over the last four or five games," said Norwich coach Josh Bennett.

Beating the Saints clearly meant a lot to the players, and it obviously did for the fans as well as the student section stormed the court following the thrilling four-point win. "The girls bought in 100 percent that they didn't want the season to end," Bennett said. "We felt we could go farther than this."

Seton led most of the second and the third quarters, and took a 31-23 lead 49 seconds into the second half on Hannah Strawn's three-pointer.

Led by sophomore Makenzie Maynard, Norwich stormed back. Maynard scored in transition and on a baseline runner, then hit back-to-back threes. Seton countered with a pair of buckets, but Savannah Williams' three-point play put Norwich in front 37-35 with 2:33 left in the third.