Norwin girls dial long distance to rally past Canon-Mac
CANONSBURG – In the resurgence of Canon-McMillan girls basketball the last two years there’s been one team that’s been a thorn in its side.
Norwin.
The Knights beat the Big Macs three times last year, including in the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals, but it looked like Canon-McMillan might finally break through Friday night.
The Big Macs led by six going into the fourth quarter, but a cold spell and a barrage of three-pointers by the Knights turned the tide.
Norwin hit four threes in the fourth quarter and rallied for a 56-52 over Canon-McMillan in a battle of the top two teams in Class 6A Section 2.
Norwin (3-1, 10-1) and Canon-McMillan (3-1, 10-2) are now tied atop the section standings.
The Norwin boys made it a clean sweep of the Big Macs with a 54-47 win in the nightcap.
The Norwin girls were coming off their first loss of the season at Mt. Lebanon Tuesday, but responded well
In total, the Knights made nine shots beyond the arc.
“I used to kind of shy away from the three-ball a little bit, but right now I think it suits our game,” Norwin coach Brian Brozeski said. “We have kind of realized that sometimes we’re going to have to live and die behind the arc. It’s not all we want to do, but it’s an important part. The girls have earned that right with how much time they put it shooting them in the offseason and in practice.”
Canon-McMillan led by six points with six minutes remaining, but was limited to one field goal, a three-pointer by Sam Miller, in the first seven minutes of the fourth.
Meanwhile, Mia O’Barto hit two threes, Giuliana Giannikas and Lenyn Brozeski had one apiece to turn a deficit into a 52-46 lead.
O’Barto finished with a game-high 18 points and Giannikas scored 12.
Brooke Stanton and Miller hit a three apiece in the final minute, but O’Barto and Giannakis made free throws for Norwin to keep it a two-possession game.
“They hit nine threes and we were still right in the game, so I’m proud of the way the girls fought,” Canon-McMillan coach John Fontana said. “When the ball goes in like that…(Norwin) deserved the win.”
Norwin trailed by two at halftime, but led for the most of the third quarter until Canon-McMillan took control late.
The Big Macs finished the quarter on a 9-0 run. Madison Clair had five of the points, including a runner, while being fouled that gave Canon-McMillan a 38-34 lead. Liv Ross finished off the quarter by nailing a step back jumper.
Canon-McMillan led 26-24 at halftime thanks to some last-second heroics.
Lauren Borella was fouled with five seconds remaining and made the first of two free throws to tie the score.
Faye Saunders rebounded Borella’s second free throw and passed to Madison Clair, who banked in a rebound as time expired.
Clair finished with 16 points and Saunders had 15.
“Those two played hard and did a really good job,” Fontana said. “We’ve been a little banged up and the flu has been going through the team, but no excuses. They make nine threes, you tip your cap and move on. Hopefully we can turn it around when we go to their place.”
Prior to the late spurt it was a frustrating second quarter for the Big Macs. Izzy Bobitski made a layup with 1:30 remaining for Canon-McMillan’s first field goal of the second.
Norwin also found tough sledding on offense, but Nia O’Barto made a three-pointer and a runner in the lane on consecutive trips. That gave the Knights a 22-18 lead.
Giannakis made a three in the final minute to give Norwin a 15-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and cap an impressive rally.
Canon-McMillan started strong with a 12-1 run fueled by seven points from Saunders, but Norwin responded with an 11-0 run. The Knights didn’t have a field goal until the 4:40 mark when Aubrey Graney hit a three-pointer.
Graney had Norwin’s first seven points and Elizabeth Yarosik followed with a pair of baskets to cut the Canon-McMillan lead to 12-10. Graney tied with a layup.
Norwin 54-47
Stef Giannikas came off the bench to score 12 points, including eight in the fourth quarter to stamp out a Canon-McMillan rally in Class 6A Section 2 play.
The Knights (3-3, 8-6) finished the game on a 16-8 run after Canon-McMillan (1-5, 5-8) took a brief 40-38 lead midway through the fourth.
Giannikas had eight of his points in the final four minutes.
King Carver made a shot in the paint to give the Knights a 37-30 lead, but Canon-McMillan upped their pressure on defense and scored on three straight steals as part of an 8-0 run.
Roman Koenemund had two of the baskets off the turnovers and Blake Simmons got the third when he stole an inbounds pass.
The score was tied 24-24 at halftime.
Chris McKnight had 13 points for the Knights. Koenemund led the Big Macs with 17 points.