The Norwich Purple Tornado girls’ basketball team finished the 2024-25 season with a 10-8 record after falling to Chenango Valley in the Class A semifinals. Best of luck to the seniors. (Photo by Morgan Golliver)

BINGHAMTON – The Norwich Purple Tornado girls' basketball team earned the third seed in the Section IV, Class A tournament, where they received a first round bye. Wednesday started the second round of sectionals, which were the semi-finals. Norwich traveled to take on the number two seed Chenango Valley, whom they played once in the regular season at NHS that the Warriors won 45-40. Both teams played competitively for a chance at the finals, where Chenango Valley got hot late in the contest and held on to win 51-42. The Warriors will take on defending sectional champions, Johnson City for the Class A finals.

Norwich started off strong on a 6-0 run in front of many supportive Norwich fans, pumped up by the cheerleaders. Emma Urgo scored the first four points and then Cally Richardson’s two made free throws before Chenango Valley scored.

Kerragan Reid hit a three to put Norwich up 9-2 and then Josey Ryan made two free throws to help Norwich take a 11-4 lead and show strength in free throw shooting early on.

However, Chenango Valley caught up with two straight scoring possessions and took the lead with a deep three. There were several lead changes in the first half with both teams relying heavily on the pass and success at the free throw line. Chenango Valley took a brief 25-24 lead at halftime.