Cardinals shut down Crowder perimeter threat to avenge loss

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By MATT KING

mking@dailyjournalonline.com

PARK HILLS – Central graduate Kinley Norris swished two 3-pointers during an opening 10-2 run by the Mineral Area women’s basketball team on Wednesday evening.

Crowder never matched that total, as the Cardinals held a squad that averages nearly 10 triples per outing to just 1-of-18 behind a superb defensive effort.

Mineral Area earned arguably its highest profile victory of the season in a 70-55 final while snapping an 11-game win streak by the Roughriders.

Norris connected three more times from long range, and scored 17 points as the Cardinals avenged a two-point road defeat from two weeks earlier.

Ashley Buragas notched another double-double with 12 points, 14 rebounds and six steals. Madison Ayers also had 12 points for Mineral Area (16-5, 1-3).

A pivotal third quarter saw the Cardinals outscore their guests 26-12 while pushing the tempo and converting seven turnovers into quality fast breaks.

Ayers drove for a layup, and Marceline Clermont followed with a 3-pointer before Norris sank two more within a 17-2 surge that created a 52-34 lead.

Buragas was limited to one first-half field goal – although multiple instances of contact were not whistled – but she muscled in a key putback for a 3-point play.

Jaelah Clayton added a steal and layup, and Mineral Area carried a 61-44 advantage into the fourth quarter after Buragas followed another basket by drawing a charging foul.

Crowder (16-2, 2-1) narrowed the gap with an 11-0 run covering more than four minutes. Adyson Roberts and Barbara Perandini made layups, and several free throws made the margin 65-55.

Norris answered with her final dagger from the left corner with 2:13 remaining, and established a season best for 3-pointers after sinking four on seven previous occasions.

Aubri Wilson compiled 20 points with eight rebounds and three steals for the Roughriders. She was a solid 9-of-11 from the line and netted eight points in the third quarter.

Crowder trailed 15-8 before promptly attacking off the dribble as both Buragas and Ayers received a short rest period to close the first quarter.

Wilson and Perandini finished aggressive drives to the rim, and center Opal Hardy swatted a shot just after giving her team an 18-16 edge.

Ayers began the second stanza with free throws and an ensuing layup. Buragas jumped in front of an incoming pass for a steal, and Casey Teague finished a 2-on-1 rush with Presley Holweg.

Breanna Dohleman increased the MAC lead to six until Wilson completed a 3-point play at 35-32 with 4.9 seconds left before intermission.

Clermont dished out four assists and equaled Teague with eight points and five rebounds to bolster the Cardinals, who will host Three Rivers on Saturday for Homecoming.

Perandini ended with nine points, and Hardy totaled eight points with five blocks for Crowder. Roberts collected a team-high nine rebounds.