R-T Photo/Seth Herrold
Kortlyn Rounkles puts in two of her 18 points during the Pirates’ 75-69 win over Metropolitan Thursday in Trenton. Rounkles added eight assists and six steals in the win as well.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here –
Email us! [email protected]
In the fourth quarter there were a pair of absolute three-point daggers issued by Lily Osborn, a momentum pumping ‘and-1’ from Kennedie Kieffer and two steals, followed by long passes to Kortlyn Rounkles, for run-out layups.
North Central needed every big play in the final frame and, for the most part, it got them all.
The Pirates trailed 55-50 entering the climactic frame. North Central had held a 27-14 lead 10 minutes into the contest, but Metropolitan generally controlled the pace of the game from that point on. The Wolves outscored the Pirates 41-23 in the second and third quarters combined to put North Central in the five point hole entering the game’s stretch run.
There, however, the Pirates turned the tide, getting big play after big play to rally back and regain their momentum.
“We had been in a match-up zone during the third quarter and decided to go back to (man-to-man defense),” Pirates’ coach Jenni Croy said. “We put Lily on (Metropolitan’s) leading scorer and she was able to hold her to one point in that quarter. Kennedie also had a huge ‘and 1’ play which resulted in their other main scorer fouling out. We finished our free throws when we needed to down the stretch. Our girls played with a lot of grit. They knew the situation and really focused and got the job done in the fourth.”
North Central was paced by Osborn who had 24 points. Rounkles added 18 points, eight assists and six steals and Kieffer finished with 12 points and seven rebounds. Brittney McKay had 11 points and Da’Briauna Bables scored six points, pulled down nine rebounds and swatted three shots in the win.
vs. ST. LOUIS
North Central was defeated on Saturday, falling 79-67 on the road to St. Louis.
The Pirates were led by 18 points and four steals from Rounkles and 13 points from Kieffer. Dymeria Guillory had 10 points and eight rebounds and Bables and Osborn each scored eight points with Osborn adding eight boards and four assists.
North Central closes the regular season with a 19-9 overall mark. At 2-2 in Region 16 play, they will be the second seed in the postseason tournament. North Central faces Metropolitan at 8 p.m. on Thursday in Jefferson City, with the winner going on to face St. Louis for the championship on Saturday at 4 p.m.