Norsewomen rally after slow start
[attach]6447[/attach]Rebounding from a slow first quarter, the North Toronto Norsewomen basketball team managed to shoot down the powerhouse Oakwood Barons 44–34.
Oakwood used its quickness, a zone defense and an aggressive one-on-one offence to gain a 10–7 first quarter lead over North Toronto during the Sept. 27 game.
Norsewomen forward Sarah Knee said the team was initially intimidated by Oakwood’s speed.
“We came into the game and we were scared to play,” Knee said. “I know some of the girls were talking about how good Oakwood was, but the important thing was a lot of the girls stepped up, we were positive on the bench and court, and that changed our attitude.”
“But, I think we just have to let go of who we’re playing and focus on the game more — not on the other team but on ourselves,” said fellow forward Rebecca Daly.
The team’s inner focus improved throughout the game, as North Toronto rebutted with a 10-point second quarter while holding Oakwood to only two baskets.
With a 27–24 deficit after three quarters, North Toronto gained consistency, using their size and athleticism — principally in a man-on-man defence — to create turnovers and register fast break points.
[attach]6448[/attach]With a rousing home crowd to cheer them on, the Norsewomen responded with a 19–7 fourth quarter.
“I think we just found a rhythm,” Daly said. “When we started to find a rhythm, looks under the basket, and follow our instincts more, [we found success].”
With four girls who are six feet tall and up, the size of his players was the substantial difference in the game, Norsemen coach Curtis Anderson said.
“They’re athletic, tall, and they have long arms and bother on the defensive end, we got a lot of turnovers that lead to lay-ups,” Anderson said.
After winning their first game, a 58–25 trouncing of Riverdale CI 58–25, Anderson was encouraged by the team’s ability to overcome a deficit from a tough opponent.
[attach]6449[/attach]“That all starts from us trusting our system,” Anderson said. “These girls play high-level basketball outside of this, so as a coach it’s just about putting them in the right place,”
The Barons, who play their home opener Oct. 4, were gracious in defeat, giving a lot of credit to North Toronto’s strong defence.
Barons coach Nathaniel Mitchell saw great traits in his team, and wants to harness them as the season progresses.
“We made some strides in what we wanted to do defensively,” said Mitchell. “From last game to this game, we got better.”