By Pat Dailey (For OzarkSportsZone.com)
Norwood gave Tipton all due respect before, during and after its 55-30 loss to the Lady Cardinals in a Class 2 semifinal Friday.
With Tipton (30-1) coming in having outscored its opponents by 37 points a game, Norwood coach Wayne Jessen prepared the Lady Pirates to play ball-control. They proceeded to hold onto the ball without making many moves to the basket for all of the first quarter.
One Norwood possession in the opening quarter took nearly three minutes off the clock without a shot attempt.
The Lady Pirates (23-6) endured a scoreless first quarter while putting up only five field-goal attempts. But they were still within range of Tipton while trailing 4-0.
With Norwood having turned the ball over four times in the first quarter, Jessen had the Lady Pirates run regular sets offensively beginning in the second quarter.
“We tried to do something we’re not accustomed to, Jessen said. “We’re used to getting it up the floor. We tried to do what we needed to do. We knew we had to extend their defense. I was anticipating when we spread the floor that some of our point guards could go around (the defense) and maybe create a little bit.
“It got away from us a little bit,” Jessen added. “We got some turnovers and that kind of took us out of our game plan.”
“I thought they gave themselves the best chance to keep it close (by) slowing down the game and limiting possessions,” Tipton coach Jason Culpepper said. “But it’s tough to score if you don’t shoot.”
Norwood went on to spot Tipton an 11-0 lead, before getting on the scoreboard at the 5:03 mark of the second quarter on a pair of free throws by Loran Mooney.
The Lady Pirates’ first and only field goal in the first half came on a three-point play by Autumn Gunter with 1:43 left in the second quarter.
Norwood’s ball-handlers had troubles against Tipton’s pressure all over the perimeter, resulting in 10 Lady Pirates turnovers in the first half.
Guard Kaytlynn Drake was held scoreless in the first half, before breaking loose for seven points in the second half. Drake credited her counterpart, Tipton guard Charlee Bailey, for repeatedly cutting off lanes to the basket.
“She had tight defense all night,” Drake said. “I worked to get open. But she was solid. I didn’t shoot well and didn’t finish as well as I needed.”
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Norwood started the second half by scoring on its first four possessions, thanks to a pair of free throws, a 3-pointer and a layup all by Mooney, to go along with a turnaround jumper by Gentry Davault.
Suddenly, the Lady Pirates were within a dozen points, 27-15, of the lead.
But by the end of the third quarter, Tipton was back in full control and leading 43-22.
Mooney had a team-high 11 points, while Gunter collected eight points, five rebounds and three steals.
A 3-pointer by Drake in the final two minutes lifted Norwood to 30 points. The Lady Pirates’ season-low remains 28 points against Sparta.
Norwood finished shooting 30 percent from the field and had 18 turnovers.
“Our defense was laser-focused,” Culpepper said. “We came down here for a reason, to play Bishop-LeBlond in the state championship game.”
Bailey and Myra Claas teamed for nine 3-pointers and 32 points.
Tipton outrebounded Norwood 29-26. Lady Cardinals center Briar Cox had a double-double, with 14 points and 13 rebounds. She had nine offensive boards.
“We didn’t get second and third shots like we’re accustomed to,” Jessen said. “That’s a credit to them. They did a good job controlling things.”
Norwood will play for third place at noon Saturday against New Haven.
Tipton 55, Norwood 30
NORWOOD (30) — Wright 0 0-0 0, Drake 2 2-2 7, Mooney 2 6-8 11, Davault 2 0-0 4, Gunter 3 2-4 8.
TIPTON (55) — Edwards 0 1-2 1, Claas 6 1-1 18, Bri. Cox 6 2-4 14, Bre. Cox 1 0-0 2, Bailey 4 2-2 14, Williams 3 0-0 6.
Norwood 0 6 16 8 – 30
Tipton 4 20 19 12 – 55
3-point goals – Class 5, Bailey 4, Drake, Mooney.
