WPIAL champion Norwin girls run away from York William Penn in PIAA opener
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Friday, March 8, 2024 | 9:54 PM
Norwin’s Lauren Palangio rips the ball away from York’s Ciarra Gibbs during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Lauren Palangio scores over York’s Jayda Price during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Ava Kobus celebrates with Kendall Berger after hitting a three-pointer against York during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Kendall Berger fights for a rebound with York’s Ennesty Smith during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Lauren Palangio defends on York’s Ciarra Gibbs during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Kendall Berger fights for a loose ball with York’s A’Shyia Smith (left) and Ennesty Smith during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Kendall Berger fights for a loose ball with York’s Ennesty Smith during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Ava Kobus and Bella Furno defend York’s Ciarra Gibbs during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Ava Kobus defends York’s Ciarra Gibbs during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin coach Brian Brozeski urges the team on against York during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
Norwin’s Lauren Palangio fights for a rebound with York’s Ennesty Smith during their PIAA Class 6A first-round game Friday at Norwin.
After getting knocked to the floor early, Lauren Palangio quickly dusted herself off and jumped back into character.
With a shrug and a few adjustments, her teammates followed her lead.
The Norwin senior forward continued to be a grandiose presence in the paint, helping the WPIAL champion Lady Knights to a lopsided victory in their PIAA playoff opener on Friday night.
The 6-foot-1 Palangio had 14 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks to pace Norwin to a 54-29 win over visiting York William Penn in the Class 6A first round.
Norwin (22-3) will play Chartiers Valley (17-8) in the second round on Tuesday at a time and site to be announced.
Norwin, which is winning by an average of 23.5 points in the playoffs, beat the Colts, 63-47, in the WPIAL semifinals. All four WPIAL teams in 6A advanced to the state second round. North Allegheny and Peters Township also won Friday.
York (16-11), the seventh-place team from District 3, played a physical brand from the tip, but the Bearcats struggled to penetrate Norwin’s defense, turned the ball over and gave the Lady Knights transition baskets.
It was 33-10 at halftime.
“We gave ourselves the first quarter to adjust,” Palangio said. “After that, we were locked in.”
Palangio, who also had a double-double in the WPIAL final against North Allegheny, has become as much a facilitator as a scorer, with the offense running through her, outside-in and inside-out.
“People don’t realize how good of a player Lauren is,” Norwin coach Brian Brozeski said. “She has a great basketball IQ, and she is extremely athletic for her size. It’s almost unprecedented.”
Crisp ball movement led to scoring, with the ball often going into Palangio, who kept it moving.
In the fourth quarter, the ball went around the horn with only a couple of dribbles, and senior Bailey Snowberger finished with a 3.
“We’re not afraid to share the ball,” said Palangio, who made 6 of 6 free throws. “If we get a good shot inside first, great. If not, someone might be open outside.”
Senior Ava Kobus added 13 points for Norwin, which has won 13 straight. Kobus, perhaps the team’s streakiest player at home, hit a 3-pointer and scored seven in the second quarter as Norwin went on a 15-0 run.
Sophomore Ava Christopher had a steal and layup, junior Averi Brozeski hit a 3 and then a jumper, and Norwin closed out the quarter with a pair of nice connections — Palangio from Christopher, and Kobus from Palangio.
The lead reached 27 in the third as junior Bella Furno made back-to-back baskets, and it was 43-21 going to the fourth.
Norwin started the 30-point running clock on two free throws by Palangio with 3:59 to play.
Thinking they might see a zone, the Lady Knights found success, surprisingly, without running a zone play.
“We saw some film where they were full man and others where they were in a zone,” Brian Brozeski said of York. “We prepared for both. You have to be ready to jump in and out (of styles). We’re in states now. It’s the top teams remaining. Everyone is going to be big, strong and athletic.”
York, which had not qualified for the state playoffs in 26 years, could not sustain a scoring run against the Lady Knights.
“Credit to (Norwin),” York sixth-year coach Kevin Glover said. “They’re a really good team. You can tell they’re used to the moment. They are well-balanced, and they play well together.
“There were so many possessions where we weren’t on the same page.”
Junior Kendall Berger added seven points, and Christopher had six for the Lady Knights.
Senior Ciarra Gibbs led York with nine points, and senior Zykura McGee added five.
“We’re all buying in,” Palangio said. “We have another goal in mind. We won the WPIAL. Now we want to win the state.”
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
Tags: Norwin
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