By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
Norwood girls basketball enjoyed a magical season in 2023-24.
The 23-8 Pirates finished fourth in the Class 2 state tournament for a second-straight season.
Heading into his third season, Norwood head coach Wayne Jessen has reason for optimism.
The Pirates return the entire starting roster, including all-state selection Autumn Gunter.
The 5-foot-9 senior averaged 15 points, 6 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season.
Gentry Davault also returns to lead the Pirates after receiving all-conference and all-district honors as a sophomore.
Davault, a 6-foot-1 junior, posted 9 points, 8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3 blocks and 1.5 steals per contest last season.
5-foot-10 senior Quinncy Vestal (6 ppg, 3 rpg, 2 asp), 5-foot-4 junior Addy Gray (11 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2 apg, 2 spg), 5-foot-9 junior Jayden Champbers (9 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 asp, 2.5 spg) and 5-foot-7 sophomore Kendall Drake (3 ppg, 2 rpg) round out Norwood’s returning corps.
Jessen also expects a pair of freshmen to compete for varsity minutes this season in 5-foot-6 Kallie Caldwell and 5-foot-7 Jacee Hall.
“This group competes hard because they love basketball and playing-time will be sparse if they don’t,” Jessen said. “Our expectation is to play well enough to return to the final four and play our best if we achieve that goal.
“Our team defense must improve and turnovers have to lessen. The five who guard well, take care of basketball and hit free-throws are the players who finish close games for us.”
Jessen believes his team’s offensive firepower will be a strength heading into the season and a key component for another deep run into the postseason.
“We have a team that can shoot,” Jessen said. “The areas to improve upon are defensive rebounding, transition defense and everyone must be able to change defenses without using time-outs. We’ve got a good team and will still need to work hard for our lofty goals. We are entitled to nothing, but we’re capable of anything.”
Norwood opens its season Nov. 26 at Glendale.
