Niles North opened with a disappointing 1-2 record, but the Vikings showed few signs of disappointment Friday night.
Natasha Williams came up with 17 points and 12 rebounds and sophomore point guard Marissa Norman hit two crucial three-pointers in the fourth quarter to lift the Vikings over No. 2 Fenwick 49-47 in North’s season-opening tournament.
“In practice, we all worked extra hard,” said the 5-foot-6-inch Norman, who finished with 13 points. “And we stayed late to work on our shooting.”
That worked for Norman. Fenwick (3-1), last year’s Class AA state runner-up, led by seven late in the third quarter. But the No. 24 Vikings (2-2) closed in, and Norman’s first three-pointer gave North a 35-34 lead with 5:20 left. Two minutes later, she connected for a 40-34 lead.
“We had a good practice Wednesday, a better idea of what we were trying to accomplish,” North coach Joel Kessler said.
He wanted to put the ball in the hands of Williams, the 6-3 Minnesota recruit. Not only did that work, but 5-4 Vikings junior Christina Davidson held Fenwick’s Kristin Heidloff to six second-half points and 17 for the game.
Fenwick still has a chance to win the tournament. The Friars meet Carmel at 8:30 p.m. Saturday–moved from 4 p.m. because of the Corsairs’ state championship football game. No. 12 Carmel (4-1) lost 49-45 to No. 21 Fremd (3-2). Ali Ridge had 20 points and Blair Lehman 18 for the Vikings.
