After a productive 2023-24 season winning the WPIAL Section 6A Title, the Norwin Girls Basketball Team just concluded its WPIAL Playoff run and fell just short of repeating, but the team advances to the PIAA Playoffs. The Lady Knights finished the season 15-9 overall and 9-1 Section record to take #1 seed into the WPIAL Tournament. The Knights carry a strong senior roster, including starting seniors Lexi Heller, Kendall Berger, Bella Furno, and Averi Brozeski, along with junior Ava Christopher.
After beating the North Allegheny Tigers in the finals last year, the Knights began their playoff run at home against rival North Allegheny Tigers. This matchup took place on February 21 when the Knights took down the Tigers 52-30. A key factor in this game was the hot 3-point shooting from Bella Furno who had 18 points, shooting 75 percent from behind the arc to finish six 3-pointers.
Following the first WPIAL victory, the Knights defeated Canon-McMillan, 42-26 in the semifinals on Feb. 25 to earn a spot in the WPIAL final game at the Petersen Event Center at Pitt. Norwin secured a 13-point lead which shrunk to 3 with 5:00 minutes left, but the team finished strong with a 13-0 run, holding the Big Macs to only one field goal in the 4th quarter. Kendall Berger scored 18 points, three of which were 3-pointers, Ava Christopher contributed 9 pts, and Bella Furno added 8 pts. This game came together as a contribution from the whole team marked Norwin’s third consecutive WPIAL semifinal appearance. And the second straight WPIAL Final appearance.
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The Knights look to defend their WPIAL title in a final game with Upper St. Clair. Norwin came into this matchup in a hunt for their fourth girls’ WPIAL Title in program history. Unfortunately, the Knights came up short losing 45-40 to Upper St. Clair. Norwin got outshot in the first half from 3-point line; however, they came storming back in the third and fourth quarter going on a 13-4 lead, to bring back the Knights into the game. And the Knights got the game within 3 points but were unfortunately not able to finish the comeback for the win.
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The Norwin Girls Basketball team moved on to the PIAA playoffs with a tough draw against a strong Altoona team on Friday, March 7 at Altoona. Norwin took the lead going into the half, 20- 16. Kendall Berger continued to help lead the team having the most rebounds on the team with 9. And Bella Furno was able to score 14 for the Knights. However, the Lady Knights just came up short in the end facing a close 33-27 loss.
The loss ends many of the senior players’ careers at Norwin, as the team loses a large part of its experience. The team looks to rebuild next year and continue its legacy that the seniors and players before it have set.
“They’re all just like my friends,” said junior Anna Fraser.
