Norwin girls basketball gets first victory of season

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, December 19, 2017 | 9:15 PM

For whatever reason, Magen Polczynski felt this one would be different. The Norwin senior guard for the girls basketball team didn't feel a fold coming after Penn Hills made three quick field goals to open the fourth quarter.

“I don't really think we were worried,” Polczynski said. “Coach said there were going to be ebbs and flows. Right there, we were in a low. I knew I had support from my team and they'd support me.”

The Knights came together in a big way for a 51-38 Section 6-2A win Tuesday night at Penn Hills High School.

Penn Hills' scoring spree led to a 9-2 Norwin run, and the Knights, off to their worst start since they opened the 2012-13 season 1-3, gained confidence with the win.

“I think it boosted the morale,” said Polczynski, who made her first five shots and tied for a game high with 18 points. “We needed a win. It was a hard weekend, but we came out of the gate strong and are ready for the rest of the season.”

Norwin (1-3, 1-0) started to wobble to open the fourth quarter. Indians forward Tayonna Robertson scored after grabbing an offensive rebound to cut the deficit to 35-28. Following a fruitless possession by the Knights, Ariana Dunston scored on a layup. The ensuing Norwin inbounds pass soared out of bounds, and Penn Hills capitalized with an Alyssa Sledge layup to cut the deficit to three.

Alarm bells weren't sounding for Knights coach Brian Brozeski.

“We try to maximize our high points and minimize our lows,” Brozeski said. “I was confident in our girls (that) once we had a chance to regroup, we'd get back to where we needed to be.

Creating a turnover helped Norwin right the ship. Lucy Race scored from in close, and Jayla Wehner scored in transition to stretch the lead to seven.

That allowed the Knights to use long possessions and drain time.

“I think we needed to play harder, play tougher,” Penn Hills coach Robert Cash said. “I try to tell them every night you have to come here and play. ”

Penn Hills (1-3, 0-1) led 11-9 at the end of the first quarter. The Knights went ahead for good 21-20 on a free throw by Polczynski with 1 minute, 11 seconds left in the first half.

Olivia Gribble, who finished with nine points, knocked down a 3-pointer to give Norwin a five-point lead early in the third quarter. The Indians followed by shooting 2 of 17 in the third quarter, including opening with a scoreless stretch of 3:21 before Robertson completed a 3-point play.

“We were fortunate,” Brozeski said. “They got some open looks, but we were fortunate they weren't dropping for them.”

Robertson, who led Penn Hills with 18 points and 12 rebounds, was taken off on a stretcher after going down with an injury with 4.2 seconds remaining. Cash said her injury was undetermined at the time.

Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.

Tags: Norwin, Penn Hills