Lady Pirates finish fourth in Class 2

Another special season came to an end this past weekend in the Class 2 Final Four for the Norwood Lady Pirates’ basketball team as they took home a fourth place trophy for the third season in a row.
This run to state brings to an end the careers of seniors Autumn Gunter, Quinncy Vestal and Gracie Gray, with each playing their own role in the team winning 75 games over the past three seasons.
“We’ve won around 75 games in three years; we’ve done a lot of winning,” said Norwood head coach Wayne Jessen. “…I’m just super proud of them.”
Coach Jessen went on to reflect on a long season that even included playing 30 games in the summer.
“They have a passion for the game and its fun to see,” he added.
In the press conference after Norwood’s 61-42 third place game loss to Tipton, Vestal became emotional when reflecting on her experience at the school.
“They are all my best friends and we have the best coaches,” she said. “Moving was so hard, but they welcomed me and made me feel like family. I couldn’t thank them enough.”
Gunter, who was second on the team with 12 points in the third place loss to Tipton, said she enjoyed the opportunity to bond with teammates yet again this year through staying at the local hotel.
“I think that’s helped a lot and made us stronger,” she noted.
After getting off to a slow start in the Class 2 state semifinals match-up with eventual back-to-back state champion Skyline, the Lady Pirates started out strong against a Tipton squad that ended Norwood’s previous two seasons in the Final Four.
Gentry Davault opened the game, assisting Kalie Chadwell for a score just nine seconds into the contest.
Gunter then added a 3-pointer for a 5-3 lead and a second 3-pointer for an 8-7 edge before turnovers began to plague the Lady Pirates during the rest of the quarter.
“I thought that we got off to a better start than we did Friday night,” Coach Jensen noted.
Seven total turnovers helped Tipton end the quarter on a 13-3 run, which included a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a 16-8 edge.
The Lady Cardinals ended up having a 14-0 run that carried into the second quarter for a 21-8 lead.
Norwood did respond with Chadwell’s four points and Addy Gray’s 3-pointer, which cut the lead back to six at 21-15.
Entering the third quarter trailing 26-15, Chadwell’s opening 3-point play after Davault’s pass quickly pushed the deficit back into single digits.
Another five costly turnovers and several Norwood fouls that sent the Lady Cardinals to the free throw line helped to spark a 21-12 overall run in the third as Tipton entered the fourth quarter up 20. Tipton made 9-of-13 free throw attempts in the frame.
Though it was an emotional time for players in the final minute of play as the season was about to come to an end, the tight team exploded on the bench with excitement when Gracie Gray received an assist from Lydia Harden for a score in the paint with 10 seconds left on the clock.
“For her last game, she shot 100% from the field,” Coach Jessen noted with a smile on his face. He added that he always appreciates bringing the players into a game off the bench, but would rather do so when winning.
Tipton won the game, 61-42, and they also outrebounded Norwood, 33-21. The Lady Pirates turned the ball over 18 times in the loss.
Chadwell led the team with 13 points, two rebounds and two steals; Gunter added 12 points, six rebounds and one steal; Vestal added six points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal; Gray had three points, two steals, one rebound and one assist; Jaycee Hall scored three points; Davault had two points five assists, one rebound and one block; Gracie Gray had two points; while Jayden Chambers scored one point, four rebounds and two assists.