Normal 11/20

NORMAL -- Bloomington received 17 points and eight rebounds from Kendra Gay in a 56-45 win over NCHS.

The Ironmen slashed a 29-17 halftime deficit to 33-31 with 1:58 left in the third quarter only to watch BHS jet away with a 16-3 run.

“I’m very proud of the way we got more aggressive at the offensive end and worked the ball into the post,” said Raider coach Sondra Sisson, whose team shot 41 percent from the field.

NCHS, which shot 34 percent, never got within nine points the rest of the way.

Katy Seibring led the Ironmen with 17 points and six rebounds. She scored 12 points in the fourth quarter. Teammate Kristi Schmidt chipped in 11 points and eight rebounds.

Amanda Hainlen’s 11 rebounds paced BHS to a 36-29 advantage on the glass. She tallied nine points as did Shaneice Bell.

Gay scored 10 of her 17 points within four feet of the basket.

“Kendra had a really nice game,” said NCHS coach Megan Schwefel. “She dribble penetrated. She really complemented their post players.”

Digging second-quarter holes has become a habit for NCHS.

“If we do the little things in the second quarter, we won’t have to fight so hard to get back in the game,” Schwefel said.

The Purple Raiders finished third at 2-2 while Normal West took fourth (1-3) and NCHS fifth (0-4). University High (4-0) clinched the title Saturday. BHS improved to 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference while NCHS dipped to 0-2.