By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
FORDLAND, MO – No. 6 Norwood took another step towards a potential third-straight trip to the Class 2 final four on Saturday.
The Pirates defeated Fordland 45-36 to capture the District 10 championship.
Sparked by an Addy Gray 3-pointer near the end of the third period, a 13-0 run from Norwood proved to be the game’s difference-maker.
Gray poured in 12 of her game-high 14 points in the pivotal second half. Autumn Gunter also finished in double figures with 10.
“We knew as a team that we had to score and we had to work hard if we wanted to win this thing,” Gray said. “Our main thing is not getting down just because of how the score looks. We like to go on our third-quarter runs and just never give up.”
Early on, nerves seemed to dictate pace of play, as both teams struggled with missed shots and turnovers.
After a 3-pointer from Fordland’s Kenzie Haskins posted the game’s first basket at the 3:58 mark, both teams seemed to settle in for the challenge at hand.
While Norwood’s 6-foot-1 Gentry Davault took control early with a pair of baskets, Fordland was able to respond with its own interior weapon in 5-foot-8 Kayleigh Steimel.
Steimel, a sophomore, poured in 9 of her team-high 13 points in the opening half to help keep Fordland within reach.
In the third, Fordland was able to make a pair of small runs to cut the lead to a single point; however, each time Norwood answered immediately with a basket at the other end.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS OF THE GAME
Gray’s second run-killing basket, which also sparked Norwood’s closing run, proved to be too much for Fordland to overcome.
“I thought if we could just handle the ball and get a couple shots to fall, we had a chance in the second half,” McDaris said. “Norwood is a good team and very well-coached. We’ve battled with them the last three years with this group, so we knew what to expect. They did a good job taking away what we were good at.”
In addition to limiting Fordland’s offensive opportunities, Norwood began to find success from both mid-range and perimeter jumpers thanks to driving kickouts.
Pirates head coach Wayne Jessen was pleased with his team’s ability to persevere in the first half and then open things up down the stretch.
“Most of our kids can shoot it,” Jessen said. “So, if they don’t stay attached to them, we do a good job of kicking it out to them. They’ve just got to have their hands and feet ready to catch and shoot.”
At the center of it all was Gray, calm and collected as she ran the offense and served as a second coach on the floor.
“She’s always calm,” Jessen said about Gray. “I’ve noticed that since her freshman year. She had to come off the bench, but she played just as much as the starters for that very reason. And she just continued to get better and better. She’s one of those kids that when the game is on the line late, she’s going to be one of them in here because she can take care of the basketball, she can score it, she’ll guard and she’ll hit her free throws.”
Up next for Norwood (23-5) is a trip to either Richland or Iberia in a March 1 sectional round matchup.
Class 2 District 10 Final: Norwood – 45, Fordland – 36
Fordland 04 10 09 13 – 36
Norwood 08 09 13 15 – 45
Fordland scoring: Kayleigh Steimel – 13, Kenzie Haskins – 12, Lily Kindall – 4, Reese Holmes – 3, Britton Suter – 2, Bailey Cook – 2
Norwood scoring: Addie Gray – 14, Autumn Gunter – 10, Gentry Davault – 7, Jayden Chambers – 6, Kalie Chadwell – 8,
