MANSFIELD: The task seemed monumental.
In order for Norton to advance to the state final four, it would need to upset top-ranked and undefeated Ottawa-Glandorf, a team with considerably more tournament experience.
If it hadn’t been for that pesky foul line, the Panthers might have accomplished what hadn’t been done since 1986.
A dismal showing at the foul line cost Norton that chance, as it fell 51-34 at Pete Henry Gymnasium in a Division II Mansfield regional final.
Admittedly, that lack of experience on this big of a stage might have doomed the Panthers (22-6). Norton finished 2-of-10 at the free-throw line and the Titans (27-0) converted 17-of-28.
“Clearly the experience hurt us tonight,” Norton coach Brian Miller said. “You can’t win a regional title game going 2-of-10 from the line. They end up making who knows how many and it turned out very lopsided.”
The Titans possess two elements that have frustrated Norton all year. They run a 2-3 zone and their offense is run through a big body with handles like a guard. That would be junior Kadie Hempfling.
With Norton coming out timid, Hempfling scored seven of her game-high 13 points in the first five minutes of the game, keying the Titans to a 7-0 start and initiating two controversial fouls on Panthers guard Bryana Housley.
“She can handle the ball and handle our press,” Miller said. “She’s just a smart player and she can control the tempo for them.”
With Housley forced to sit in the second quarter, Ottawa-Glandorf went on another extended 11-0 run to open a 24-16 halftime lead.
Norton came out of the break rejuvenated and energetic. Housley matched Hempfling shot for shot and Panthers junior Jordan Bird stirred up momentum with two 3-pointers from the wing to close within five with seconds remaining. However, Titan sophomore Erin Kaufman threw in a floater at the buzzer to maintain a 38-31 lead with a quarter to play.
“That big bucket hurt us,” Miller said. “We had cut it to five and gained all that momentum and, just like that, we lost it.”
The Titans went conservative and executed perfect stall ball in the fourth. Norton was forced to make it a free-throw contest and the Panthers lost that matchup.
Ottawa-Glandorf advances to the state semifinals Thursday. It will square off against second-ranked Kettering Alter at 1 p.m.
Bird and Housley had a team-high 11 points apiece. Senior leader Jimi Howell was limited to four points and six rebounds.
Hempfling added seven rebounds and five assists to her stat sheet. Kylie White added 12.
Even with the tough loss, Miller knows that his program made a statement this year. With Howell being the lone loss in the rotation, the 14th-year coach expects big things in the future.
“The inexperience of my underclassmen kind of panned out here tonight,” Miller said. “But what a great learning experience to make it this far. This sets the tone for the next couple years and the expectations for us will be very high.”
Don’t expect Norton to shy away, either.
“They’ll respond in the offseason and I expect to be back here next year. Hopefully, we can redeem ourselves.”