Girls basketball: Nordics rally past Norway, 56-28
Trending
FELCH -- North Dickinson connected and Norway misfired in a Skyline Central Conference game Friday.
Hannah Clark scored 17 points and Briana Smith added 16 as the Nordics (5-5, 3-0) took charge in the third quarter to beat the struggling Knights 56-28.
"We finally came out of our shooting slump," said ND coach Kirk Mattson. "All week we focused on shooting and it was nice to see us come out of the slump."
The Nordics shot 46 percent (22-48) from the floor and didn't miss a free throw (9-9) against the Knights (2-9, 2-3). Mattson figured his team shot around 20 percent in recent games.
"North Dickinson shot the lights out," said Norway coach Joe Tinti. "Their shooting percentage and not missing a free throw all night made it a game we could not compete in with our poor shooting percentage and lack of rebounding."
Norway made eight field goals on the night.
"We played very good defense," Mattson said of a 1-2-2 alignment.
North Dickinson managed an 8-6 lead after the first quarter and hiked the spread to eight at halftime. Smith struck for eight points in the third quarter as the Nordics romped 21-8.
"Briana Smith was very good on the floor being a leader and creating for herself and her teammates," Mattson said.
Noted Tinti, "Briana Smith wore us out."
Freshman Ashton Hord added nine points and Skye Ledzian had eight for the Nordics. Khalajia Hannah led Norway wih eight points.
"North Dickinson is a nice, well coached team that is only going to get more dangerous down the stretch," Tinti said. "This was disappointing but we're going to keep working."
In non-conference games Tuesday, Norway hosts West Iron County and North Dickinson visits Kingsford.
Kassi Gyselink's 20 points led Norway's junior varsity past North Dickinson 45-24. Vanessa Lindholm had nine for the Nordics.
Norway 6 7 8 7 -- 28
North Dickinson 8 13 21 14 -- 56
NORWAY (28): H. Clifford 6, Hosking 1, Hannah 8, M. Clifford 6, Gyselinck 3, VanHolla 4. FT: 4-10. F: 11. 3PT: Hannah 2.
NORTH DICKINSON (56): B. Smith 16, Hord 9, Clark 17. Ledzian 8, Gustafson 2, Mattson 4. FT: 9-9. F: 15. 3PT: Hord, Clark 2.