FIRTH, Neb. - The Norris basketball teams are both ranked in the top four of the latest News Channel Nebraska Class B poll and both lived up to those expectations as both Titan teams earned wire-to-wire wins in a Tuesday evening sweep of conference opponents Hastings.  

 

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Norris (11-4) defeats Hastings (4-12) 60-23 

These two teams entered Tuesday night on opposite ends of the momentum spectrum – the Titans were 6-1 in the month of January while the Tigers were 1-6 – and those streaks were extended Tuesday in Norris’ sixth straight win over Hastings in the all-time series.  

Neither team was able to score for the first three minutes of the game, but once the Titans finally hit their stride they were impossible to slow down. Norris scored the first nine points of the game and outscored Hastings 13-3 in the first quarter to set the tone – the Titans held the Tigers to single digit scoring in all four periods.  And though the Titans were absent a key starter and looked a little less sharp than expected at times, the No. 4 team in NCN’s Class B rankings were in control throughout and cruised to their 11th win of the season.  

Bree Chambers had a career night, leading the Titans with 14 points, followed closely by Ize Tidball’s 13, and three other players scored at least five for a characteristically balanced Norris attack. Mackenzie Nollette was Hastings’ leading scorer for the first half of the season and filled that role again Tuesday, scoring eight of her team’s 23.  

 

BOYS BASKETBALL: Norris (16-1) defeats Hastings (8-8) 79-58 

The Tigers are a solid team this year and showed some strong fight in the middle of the first quarter and at the end of the third, but the Titans are the number one team in Class B and have been all year and showcased their bench depth, offensive efficiency and resolve on Tuesday. Norris’ only loss this season came to one of the best teams in Class A, and they’ve since won 14 games in a row this season and have now won all three against Hastings.  

Norris struck early to build an 8-0 lead that soon became 14-5 before Hastings’ Chance Vertin willed the Tigers back into the game, cutting the deficit to 14-13 – but they would get no closer. Norris finished the first on an 11-2 run and stretched that to 20-2 to start the second, leading by as many as 25 in the third. Hastings again put together a rally with a 12-2 run to close the third, but Noris then dropped another 20 points in the fourth quarter to ensure a potential Tiger rally remained out of reach.  

Vertin and Parker Ablott put together as good of a performance as a duo as possible, shouldering the entire offensive burden to give their team a chance. Ultimately it was Ablott that earned the honor of the game’s top scorer with 24 points, most of which came in the first half, while Vertin finished right behind with 22.  

For Norris, Barret Boesiger did what he’s done so well for his whole career, hit threes: he made six of them Tuesday to give him 49 on the season and a team-high 20 points. Chris Garner Jr. was excellent in transition to score 19, and Macoy Folkerts had a career game with 14 points. 

 

UP NEXT: Norris at Lincoln Pius X, 6/7:30 PM, on Friday, January 31 

Hastings vs. Bennington, time TBA, on Saturday, February 1 

 

NEXT ON OL RED: Milford @ Wilber-Clatonia, 6/7:30 PM, on Friday, January 31