Norwich’s Steven Dowdall scores a team-high 16 points in the 48-34 loss to Delhi in the 2023 season opener. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

NORWICH – The Norwich Purple Tornado boys basketball team started its 2023 season in a challenging game against defending MAC champions Delhi on Tuesday evening. Norwich stayed with the Bulldogs, only falling short in the final eight minutes in a 48-34 deficit.

Norwich was in full control and in several instances they were only down by two points.

However, Delhi was able to convert on missed opportunities and redeemed themselves with multiple offensive rebounds. Norwich wasn’t able to get good passes off, rather wild ones, against a heavily pressured Bulldogs defense. Delhi proved in the final quarter that they will be a team to watch again in the MAC league, where other Chenango County schools (Unadilla Valley, Greene, Bainbridge-Guilford, and Oxford) compete in. Despite the loss, Norwich provided Delhi with a good test for the first game of the season.

Steven Dowdall led Norwich with 16 points, including a hot start with seven points in the first quarter. Colin Olds scored seven points, but was very fierce in rebounding, where in one case, he went to the free-throw line and then straight back to the line after being fouled off a rebound. Graham Burton saw some action on the floor with five points and like Olds, was an asset to the Purple Tornado defense throughout the contest.

Norwich (0-1) will play in the Johnson City tip-off tournament this weekend. Friday’s game against Johnson City is scheduled for 8:45 p.m.

Scores by Quarter:

NO 8 13 9 4—34

DE 10 14 10 14—48

NO: Steven Dowdall 16, Colin Olds 7, Graham Burton 5, Jacob Morris 3, Wyatt Thornton 1, Kassen Stubb 1, Carmello Ithier 1.

DE: Angelo Krzyston 11, Rocco Schnabel 10, Lucas Nealis 10, Chuck Haight 9, Ivan Richardson 5, Seamus deMauro 3.

Three-pointers: NO 2 (Dowdall, Morris); DE 4 (Nealis 3, Richardson).