NORMAN — Top-ranked Midwest City started off hot and stayed that way in a 68-48 victory at Norman High on Friday. The Bombers jumped out to a 7-0 lead didn’t look back, extending it to a 34-17 halftime margin and sustaining that lead throughout the second half.
The pressure defense of the Bombers got to the Tigers, forcing numerous turnovers in the backcourt that turned into easy layups for Midwest City. The Bombers had four players score in double figures, led by Cornell Neal’s 14. NHS, on the other hand, couldn’t get open looks on offense and struggled all night. John Michael Benardello led NHS with 16 points, but no other Tiger reached double-digits.
“It wasn’t a good team effort tonight,” coach Matt Thornton said. “We couldn’t ever really get into sync offensively and we didn’t click well together.”
To make matters worse for NHS, Cooper Clark went down hard after blocking a shot in the third quarter. He landed awkwardly on his arm and his head slammed the floor, resulting in a laceration above his eye that required at least seven stitches.
Things don’t get any easier for the Tigers, with a trip to No. 2 Edmond Memorial looming on Tuesday.
Norman North girls 48, Moore 37: The Norman North girls needed a win and got it. The Moore girls made them work for it.
The Lions made it an eight-point game early in the fourth quarter, 42-34, thanks to six straight points from Amanda Patterson, who led both teams with 21. North answered with six straight points of its own and the threat was over.
It was the first game back for North forward Haley Woodard after having her wisdom teeth removed and three days after the T-Wolves fell to Midwest City, the difference she provided was palpable.
Woodard scored eight points, grabbed seven rebounds and led both teams with five steals and five assists, providing a spark from the tip forward.
The T-Wolves also got 10 points from Bri Kuestersteffen, nine points and nine rebounds from Tia Williams and nine points and seven rebounds from Alexa Scott. Paige Canty joined Woodward with eight points.
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