Basketball programs that hadn't collided for better than 20 years will do so for the second time in 17 days, with Section 4's Class A boys championship at stake beginning at 7:45 tonight at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.
Top-seeded Southside and No. 3 seed Norwich got acquainted in the semifinal round of Southern Tier Athletic Conference playoffs, the Purple Tornado controlling second-half play and claiming a 66-55 victory.
"We'll have to batten down the hatches," Tornado coach Mark Abbott said. "In the first game, we gave up 18 points in the first quarter and 37 the rest of the way. ... They're a fast-paced team, and we need to make them be a slower-paced team."
The Green Hornets are led by 6-foot guard Mike Backer and 6-4 forward Isaac Yorro, who together provide 32 1/2 points per game. They were limited to a combined 11 points in Game 1, and Norwich countered with 10 3-point goals-- six from Josh Borfitz in a 24-point outing.
Topping Southside coach John Fesetch's priority list for the title game? "Defend!" he said.
Fesetch added, "Mark's kids are very comfortable in what they do. He obviously does a great job of teaching his kids how to play basketball. They're just a fun team to watch play. ... They do a lot of stuff off the dribble, yet they take great shots."
Vestal, Windsor and Seton Catholic Central have been the lone teams this season to get the better of Norwich, which has won 10 of its last 11 games. The Purple Tornado's sectional playoff victories have come by 22 and 29 points, respectively.
Abbott cited transition defense and defensive rebounding as keys to success for his squad, which has long targeted just that on this night.
"Our goal since last March has been to win the Section 4 Class A championship," he said, "and 11 months have now turned into 32 minutes."
Top-seeded Southside and No. 3 seed Norwich got acquainted in the semifinal round of Southern Tier Athletic Conference playoffs, the Purple Tornado controlling second-half play and claiming a 66-55 victory.
"We'll have to batten down the hatches," Tornado coach Mark Abbott said. "In the first game, we gave up 18 points in the first quarter and 37 the rest of the way. ... They're a fast-paced team, and we need to make them be a slower-paced team."
The Green Hornets are led by 6-foot guard Mike Backer and 6-4 forward Isaac Yorro, who together provide 32 1/2 points per game. They were limited to a combined 11 points in Game 1, and Norwich countered with 10 3-point goals-- six from Josh Borfitz in a 24-point outing.
Topping Southside coach John Fesetch's priority list for the title game? "Defend!" he said.
Fesetch added, "Mark's kids are very comfortable in what they do. He obviously does a great job of teaching his kids how to play basketball. They're just a fun team to watch play. ... They do a lot of stuff off the dribble, yet they take great shots."
Vestal, Windsor and Seton Catholic Central have been the lone teams this season to get the better of Norwich, which has won 10 of its last 11 games. The Purple Tornado's sectional playoff victories have come by 22 and 29 points, respectively.
Abbott cited transition defense and defensive rebounding as keys to success for his squad, which has long targeted just that on this night.
"Our goal since last March has been to win the Section 4 Class A championship," he said, "and 11 months have now turned into 32 minutes."
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