The highlight of the Norman North girls’ season might have been their 37-35 triple-overtime thriller over Putnam City North in the second round of the state playoffs.
The Timberwolves, under first-yrear coach Jeff Blough, proved to be a pleasant surprises in the Mid-State Conference and Class 6A last season, going 14-13 and finishing just shy of the state tournament. They were knocked out of the playoffs by crosstown rival Norman High in an area elimination final.
It was a big step up from the year before, and if the summer has been any preview of next season, North could be looking to reach greater heights.
“We’re playing a lot better and we’re mentally tougher,” Blough said. “We’re getting out and running a little bit more and our posts are finishing more.”
If there was one problem with last season’s T-Wolves, it was their occasional inability to put the ball in the basket.
North primarily won games with defense..
Moving point guard Hayley Scott over to the two guard should give North more offensive production. Scott, who’ll be a junior in the fall, was one of the best 3-point shooters in the conference last season, though her primary responsibility was running the point.
Blough lamented using her out of position, but thought it necessary.
This summer, sophomore Tori Thomas and senior Madison Marquardt haver shared point duties, allowing Scott to roam the perimeter. At one point during summer play, Scott hit 25 3-pointers in five games.
“We can put her on the same side as Mariah (Turner), Payge (Wilson) or Andee (Wayne),” Blough said of his “tripod” of post players. “If they drop down on the post, (we) can kick it outside and Hayley can shoot it.”
Senior guard Carly Young has also impressed Blough during the summer, but he’s really excited about those post players.
Wayne, Turner and Wilson rotated in the post last season. Blough said Wilson has been an offensive rebounding machine, is doing a better job finishing and has developed a 15-foot shot. Wayne is athletic and continues to develop her offensive game. Then there’s the junior, Turner, who led North in scoring a year ago and was already one of the better low post players in the state.
“Having those three back is really nice,” Blough said.
After last season, North will no longer experience the luxury of being overlooked by opponents. But if Blough’s to be believed on the subject of the T-Wolves’ summer progress, North will make up for that and more with improved play.
“They were hungry last year,” Blough said. “They wanted to be coached and they wanted to get better. The kids believed in us and what we wanted to do. Now teams know us and what we’re capable of.”
Though Marquardt, Young, Wilson and Wayne are seniors, the T-Wolves are still building. Turner and Scott are juniors and Thomas is a sophomore.
“We’re young, and I have younger players coming up who are really good, too,” Blough said. “All the girls are getting a lot of calls and looks from schools now. I guess we’re getting it going in the right direction.”
Jeff Johncox
366-3535
jjohncox@normantranscript.com
Local Sports
July 1, 2009
North girls improving
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