High School Girls Basketball: Norton, Aberdeen Eagles Escape CMW Mustangs with Late Charge

By Paul Taylor

BEL AIR, MD- Nazje Norton scored 14 of her game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Aberdeen Eagles to a 67-49 win over the host C. Milton Wright Mustangs.

The game got off to a slow start for both teams, as a total of just three points were scored in the game’s opening minutes. The Eagles took a 12-9 lead after the first quarter, as Norton, Katie Sanderson, and Stephanie Jones each chipped in four points for Aberdeen. The Mustangs were led in the quarter by Alexis Cuffee, who totaled five of her team’s nine points.

The second quarter was tightly contested until the closing seconds. The Mustangs were within striking distance, when Jones went off with a minute left until halftime. She turned a close game into a ten point Eagle lead at halftime at 33-23. Jones scored 14 of her team’s 21 points in the quarter. Lauren Hagarty and Megan Aro each hit a three pointer to keep the Mustangs’ hopes for an upset alive.

The third quarter was the best offensive output of the evening for the Mustangs, as they scored 16 points. Hagarty and Aro each splashed home three pointers again in the period, and Emma Hahner added four points offensively. Hahner was matched up with the Eagles’ Stephanie Jones defensively in the quarter and held Jones to just four points in the period.

The Eagles took a five point lead to the fourth quarter, leading 44-39. That’s when Norton took over. She scored 14 points in the period, part of a 23 point outburst for the Eagles in the period. Hahner fouled out for the Mustangs with 5:45 to go, and that’s when Norton and Jones led the charge for the Eagles and put away the win.

————————–1—–2—–3—–4—–Final

Aberdeen————-12—–21—–11—–23—–67

C. Milton Wright—–9—–14—–16—–10—–49

Aberdeen:

Nazje Norton 26 points
Stephanie Jones 25 points
Taylor Cole 8 points
Lisa Eller 4 points
Katie Sanderson 4 points

C. Milton Wright:

Lauren Hagarty 12 points
Megan Aro 9 points
Emma Hahner 9 points
Alexis Cuffee 7 points
Blake Bukowski 6 points
Erin Triolo 2 points
Hayley Yudiski 2 points
Morgan Fulton 1 point
Alexis Johnson 1 point