By Kai Raymer (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Norwood Pirates ended their historic season with a victory.
Norwood used a late surge to defeat North Andrew 56-43 in Friday’s Class 2 Show-Me Showdown 3rd place game at Hammons Student Center in Springfield.
The Pirates, making their first final four appearance in program history, head home with a victory to show and a 3rd place plaque.
Garrett Davault led Norwood with 18 points, but it was a full team effort down the stretch for the Wright County school.
The second half was a back-and-forth grind. No team led by more than five points for most of the half, until Norwood finally pulled away midway through the fourth.
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Justin Chadwell finished a lob pass from Davault that put Norwood ahead 45-42. Later, Gavin McGraw’s breakaway layup made it 48-42.
Norwood closed the game on a 13-1 run.
Along with Davault, Northwood had three other players score in double figures. Chadwell scored 12, McGraw finished with 10 points and Jacob Sinning had 12 points.
Senior Tanner McDaniel scored a game-high 22 for North Andrew, which was making its third final four appearance in five seasons.
The Pirates shot only 19-for-42 from the field overall, including 2-for-12 on 3-point attempts.
Norwood stayed in the game with its defense. The Pirates limited North Andrew to only 29 shot attempts and forced 15 turnovers.
Norwood recovered from a slow start to lead 25-24 at halftime.
North Andrew scored 12 of the game’s first 13 points. Norwood responded with a run of its own, and took its first lead (19-17) on McGraw’s 3-poiner midway through the second quarter.
Norwood, which finishes 24-6 overall, figures to remain a final four contender next season.
The Pirates graduate a three-player senior class and bring back four starters next season, including one of the area’s top players in Davault.
Norwood 56, North Andrew 43
North Andrew 16 8 8 11 — 43
Norwood 11 14 8 23 — 56
North Andrew (22-10 overall) – Tanner McDaniel 22, Clayton Linville 11, Owen Graham 5, Brewer Wheeler 3, Hayden Ecker 2
Norwood (24-6 overall) – Garrett Davault 18, Justin Chadwell 12, Gavin McGraw 10, Jacob Sinning 10, Jalen Drake 4, Max McGowan 1, Andrew Hooker 1
