bluesooner17
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Evans, Norman North power past Norman High
Jacie Evans needed no reminder about Norman North’s offensive performance in a previous meeting with Norman High.
“Shot like, what, 27 percent?” Evans said of the loss, still fresh on her mind from two weeks ago.
The versatile junior helped ensure that didn’t happen again, scoring a game-high 23 points to go with eight rebounds in North’s 49-41 win Friday at NHS.
The Timberwolves led the Crosstown Clash wire-to-wire and tasted victory at the right time — just before next week’s regional tournament.
“And to win this on their home floor, it feels really good,” said Evans, who didn’t miss a shot until the third quarter and finished 10 of 13 from the foul line.
North’s Jessika Evans added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Lindsey Waters scored nine points.
It was a predictably scrappy meeting between the two teams, but the Timberwolves wound up shooting a respectable 40 percent from the field and never lacked an answer when they needed one.
NHS guard Christina Shadid whipped the home crowd into a frenzy with a 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 38-36 with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter, but North’s Emma Base responded with an stickback after a free throw.
Shadid’s triple the very next possession cut the lead to one point again, before North finished the game on a 9-2 run. Jacie and Jessika Evans accounted for all nine points.
“We just told ourselves at halftime, during timeouts, we know they’re gonna do this. Basketball is a game of runs. I thought we just handled it well,” Jacie Evans said.
Kelbie Washington led NHS (15-8) with 16 points as the Tigers suffered their fifth loss in five games. They forced 16 turnovers and deployed relentless pressure in the fourth quarter, but never could get over the hump.
North (16-7) always had a response.
“Next possession, next play. That’s kind of been our mantra,” North coach Rory Hamilton said. “I think you saw that tonight. We didn’t let one possession affect the next one.”
It was a handy philosophy.
After a slow start North built an 18-12 lead with under four minutes until halftime. NHS scored five unanswered points to get within one, when the Timberwolves delivered the game’s first major sequence.
With just over a minute before intermission, North’s Waters made 3-pointer over Washington while absorbing foul contact and finished the four-point play at the line. A possession later, Jacie Evans drilled a triple to make it a 25-17 lead going into the locker room.
A one-point Timberwolves edge had quickly turned into an eight-point cushion.
“That was a big turning point,” Hamilton said.
Evans was a perfect 4 for 4 in the first half, while NHS was 4 of 29 as a team.
Both teams now turn toward the playoffs. North faces Jenks at Westmoore on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., the same time NHS tips off against Putnam City at Edmond Memorial.
North can breath a little easier knowing its offense has come back around.
“We knew that we were gonna shoot the ball better [tonight],” Hamilton said. “We just had to guard and rebound. We’re a pretty good defensive team. When we can make a few shots and get confidence on the offensive end, it takes the pressure off our team.
“We can kind of relax and let the game come to us.”
Jacie Evans needed no reminder about Norman North’s offensive performance in a previous meeting with Norman High.
“Shot like, what, 27 percent?” Evans said of the loss, still fresh on her mind from two weeks ago.
The versatile junior helped ensure that didn’t happen again, scoring a game-high 23 points to go with eight rebounds in North’s 49-41 win Friday at NHS.
The Timberwolves led the Crosstown Clash wire-to-wire and tasted victory at the right time — just before next week’s regional tournament.
“And to win this on their home floor, it feels really good,” said Evans, who didn’t miss a shot until the third quarter and finished 10 of 13 from the foul line.
North’s Jessika Evans added 12 points and eight rebounds, while Lindsey Waters scored nine points.
It was a predictably scrappy meeting between the two teams, but the Timberwolves wound up shooting a respectable 40 percent from the field and never lacked an answer when they needed one.
NHS guard Christina Shadid whipped the home crowd into a frenzy with a 3-pointer that cut the deficit to 38-36 with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter, but North’s Emma Base responded with an stickback after a free throw.
Shadid’s triple the very next possession cut the lead to one point again, before North finished the game on a 9-2 run. Jacie and Jessika Evans accounted for all nine points.
“We just told ourselves at halftime, during timeouts, we know they’re gonna do this. Basketball is a game of runs. I thought we just handled it well,” Jacie Evans said.
Kelbie Washington led NHS (15-8) with 16 points as the Tigers suffered their fifth loss in five games. They forced 16 turnovers and deployed relentless pressure in the fourth quarter, but never could get over the hump.
North (16-7) always had a response.
“Next possession, next play. That’s kind of been our mantra,” North coach Rory Hamilton said. “I think you saw that tonight. We didn’t let one possession affect the next one.”
It was a handy philosophy.
After a slow start North built an 18-12 lead with under four minutes until halftime. NHS scored five unanswered points to get within one, when the Timberwolves delivered the game’s first major sequence.
With just over a minute before intermission, North’s Waters made 3-pointer over Washington while absorbing foul contact and finished the four-point play at the line. A possession later, Jacie Evans drilled a triple to make it a 25-17 lead going into the locker room.
A one-point Timberwolves edge had quickly turned into an eight-point cushion.
“That was a big turning point,” Hamilton said.
Evans was a perfect 4 for 4 in the first half, while NHS was 4 of 29 as a team.
Both teams now turn toward the playoffs. North faces Jenks at Westmoore on Thursday at 6:30 p.m., the same time NHS tips off against Putnam City at Edmond Memorial.
North can breath a little easier knowing its offense has come back around.
“We knew that we were gonna shoot the ball better [tonight],” Hamilton said. “We just had to guard and rebound. We’re a pretty good defensive team. When we can make a few shots and get confidence on the offensive end, it takes the pressure off our team.
“We can kind of relax and let the game come to us.”
