By Denise Tucker (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Norwood Lady Pirates advanced to their first final four since they finished third in Class 1A back in 1998.
And with three starters and six letterwinners returning from their 2022-2023 Class 2 fourth-place finishers, the Lady Pirates hope to make a return trip this season.
“We’re hoping another player or two will step up and help with quality playing time,” said head coach Wayne Jessen, who enters his third year at the helm. “If healthy, we have the ability to win at a high level, but we have to put in the work and play more disciplined.”
Norwood finished the 2022-2023 season 23-8 overall, 5-1 in the Summit Conference and captured the Class 2 District 10 championship with a 47-24 win over Hartville.
The Lady Pirates advanced through the playoffs by defeating Iberia 59-42 (sectionals), Fordland 47-39 (quarterfinals), before falling 55-30 to Tipton (semifinals) and New Haven 44-43 (third-place game).
Returning for the Lady Pirates this season include Hailey Hall, Autumn Gunter, Addy Gray, Jayden Chambers and Gentry Davault.
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Hall is a senior, who averaged 3 points, 1 rebound, .6 assists and .2 steals per game; Gunter, a junior, averaged 10 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 apg, 1 spg; Gray, a sophomore, contributed 5 ppg, 3 rpg, 3 apg and 1 spg; and Chambers chipped in 4 ppg, 5 rpg, 1 apg, 1 spg.
Davault, a sophomore, averaged 7 ppg, 9 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg, and earned Class 2 All-District 10 and first-team All-Summit Conference honors.
Jessen will be looking to newcomer Quinncy Vestal, a junior move-in from Conway, to contribute this season.
“She’ll be a valuable addition who can play multiple positions,” Vestal said.
The Lady Pirates will need to find a way to fill the void left by three members of the Class of 2023 including guards Cassie Wright, Lauren Mooney and Kaytlynn Drake.
Mooney was a Class 2 All-District 10 and Summit Conference first-team selection, while Drake earned Class 2 All-State, Class 2 All-District 10 Player of the Year and All-Summit Conference first-team honors.
Jessen, named Class 2 District 10 Coach of the Year, said Norwood will miss Drake’s leadership and big-play abilities.
Norwood opened its season with a 59-50 win over Stoutland on Friday.
