Norwich’s Steven Dowdall (White #12) tries to put up a three over a touch Owego defender. Dowdall was able to knock down three three-pointers and finished with 15 points in the loss. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH - The Norwich Purple Tornado boys basketball team finally had a game in front of their home crowd on Friday evening, taking on Owego. It was their first home game since late December. Owego pounced early and took charge in the 74-58 victory over Norwich, who fell to 4-10 on the season.

Owego posted 50 points in the first half as Norwich struggled to follow through on great opportunities to the basket. Norwich was pressured by two tall and intimidating players in Owego’s Joe and John Bangel. Even Norwich’s own tall guys could not get through and committed fouls over them. John Bangel finished with 24 points before finally sitting with 34 seconds left in the game.

Norwich got by with what they could and played a much better second half. Steven Dowdall, still playing sore, led the Tornado with 15 points, including an exciting long half-court three point shot that made its way into the basket at the first quarter buzzer. He knocked down a total of three pointers in the contest. Jerell Stokes finished behind him with 11 points.

Norwich will stay home to host Windsor on Friday, January 27 at 7:15 p.m. Norwich defeated Windsor in a previous matchup 69-55 and look to do the same at home.

Scores by Quarter:

OW 23 27 12 12–74

NO 16 9 14 19–58

OW: John Bangel 24, Drew Tavelli 15, Joe Bangel 8, Joseph Palladino 7, Ryan Pryor 4, Talan Schmacher 4, Jace Riegel 4, Kameron Wicklund 3, Riley Loomis 2, #30 2.

NO: Steven Dowdall 15, Jerell Stokes 11, Zak Myers 9, Mitchell Collins 6, Wyatt Thornton 4, Kaleb Turner 4, Jackson Sastri 3, Jacob Morris 2, Colin Olds 2, Jerome Palen 2.

Three-Pointers:OW 4 (John Bangel, Wicklund, Palladino, Tavelli); NO 7 (Dowdall 3, Collins 2, Stokes, Myers)