Horrific Fourth Quarter Dooms Lady Pirates
R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
North Central’s Maddison Book brings the ball up the floor during the fourth quarter of North Central’s home match-up with Southwestern on Tuesday night in Trenton. Book had a team-high 16 points, but it wasn’t enough as the NCMC women fell 81-70.
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For three quarters, North Central led their guests. But when the scoreboard switched to the fourth quarter, North Central’s offense switched off.
The Lady Pirates hit just two field goals in the decisive frame, scored only 11 points and watched as Southwestern rallied past them for an 81-70 victory – one that drops NCMC to 2-4 overall on the season.
“We made crucial turnovers at crucial times in the fourth,” North Central Head Coach Jenni Croy said. “We forced shots that we hadn’t been forcing the entire game. Our shot selection was poor, our decision-making was poor; it was like we were in a huge hurry for some reason.”
North Central connected on just two-of-16 field goal attempts in the fourth quarter, both of which were knocked down by Maddison Book, who would lead the Pirates with 16 points in the loss.
But outside of the two baskets by Book, which were knocked down on back-to-back possessions to snap a six-plus minute scoring drought for North Central, there was little offense to be had. What was a nine-point lead for the Lady Pirates at one point in the third quarter ended in an 11-point loss.
Making matters worse, North Central’s leading scorer to date on the young season, Hailey Burrows, fouled out midway through the final frame. The Pirates tried to cut into the Southwestern lead late by putting the Spartans on the free throw line multiple times in the final minutes, but the visitors made good on the charity tosses to seal NCMC’s fate.
“Credit goes to Southwestern,” Croy said. “They knocked down their shots and free throws.”
Behind Book’s 16 points, North Central got 13 from Burrows and 11 from Dymeria Guillory. Haley Berghager had 10 points for the Pirates and Da’Briauna Bables added eight.
North Central will try to turn the page quickly from this loss when the Lady Pirates play host to the Central Methodist junior varsity on Friday night. Tip off in the Ketcham Community Center is scheduled for 5 o’clock.
The Lady Pirates will also get a crack at exacting some revenge on Southwestern on Wednesday when they travel to Creston, IA for a rematch.