Norland clamps down on South Dade in GMAC girls’ basketball quarterfinal victory
Norland’s vaunted defense stymied South Dade in a 41-25 win in GMAC quarterfinals at Ferguson on Tuesday.
The Vikings (14-8), who have appeared in the state final four each of the past four seasons, advance to GMAC semifinals, where they will face host Ferguson at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Norland held South Dade to just six points in the first half and forced 19 Buccaneers turnovers.
“We tried some new things [Tuesday], so we tried to mix it up defensively,” Norland coach Carla Harris-Curry said. “I’m proud of their effort on defense in the first half.”
Tyana Williams registered a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds as the combination of she and Brienne Williams proved to be too much inside for South Dade to handle.
Edreanna Jackson led Norland with 15 points and connected on three first-half three-pointers to establish the big Vikings lead.
South Dade (15-2) got eight points from Justice Johnson.
NOR: T. Williams 11, B. Williams 7, Jackson 15, Clarke 6, Johnson 2. SD: Johnson 8, Dean 2, Joseph 1, Alexander 3, Cooper 4, Chaney 8. Halftime: NOR 29-6. Three-pointers: Jackson 3. Rebounds: T. Williams 10, Assists: Clarke 4, Steals: Stevens 3, Blocks: B. Williams 2.
▪ GMAC quarterfinals – Ferguson 65, Hialeah 32: The time Ferguson point guard Giolibeth Perez missed with iliotibial band syndrome might have been a blessing in disguise for the Falcons.
The younger guards had to learn how to play without their lone senior, and now with Perez back, Ferguson is playing some of its best basketball.
On Tuesday, Perez, a Stony Brook signee, had 10 points, eight assists and four steals, spearheading a running-clock victory for Ferguson (19-6) against a tough Hialeah team at home to advance to GMAC semifinals against Norland.
“Our guard play had to grow. We have a young team,” Ferguson coach Gabriel Lazo said. “Those young girls had to play a little bit.”
Sophomore guard Natalia Pineda had game highs in points (22) and rebounds (11), and Bria Kingwood also registered a double-double of 10 and 10.
Hialeah (17-6) was led by 20 points from Taylor Jones.
FER: Pineda 22, Perez 10, Kingwood 10, Laureano 14, Buitrago 3, Diaz 2, Rodriguez 2, Sosa 2. HIA: Jones 20, Sweeting 5, Betties 5, Celestine 2. Haltime: FER 42-23. Three-pointers: Perez 2, Pineda 2, Laureano, Buitrago, Betties. Rebounds: Pineda 11. Assists: Perez 8. Steals: Perez, Pineda 4. Blocks: Daniels 3.
▪ Miami High 39, Booker T. Washington 34: Senior Philneka Jackson had a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Stingarees, who will next face South Miami in the semifinals at Miami High.
MIA: Sweeting 1, Richard 13, Rodriguez 3, Wilson 1, Paschal 6, Troupes-Bishop 2, Jackson 12. Rebounds: Jackson 12. Assists: Sweeting 5. Steals: Sweeting 5. Three-pointers: Rodriguez. HT: MIA 18-15.
▪ GMAC quarterfinals: South Miami 59, Reagan 10: Senior Khadijah Brown stuffed the stat sheet with 18 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and three steals for the Cobras (20-5) in a win at Miami High.
SM (20-5): Thomas 9, Brown 18, Herbet 9, Delgado 6, Garcia 5, Doctor 6, Colson 4, Betancourt 2. RR: Lacaya 2, Gonzalez 4, Mohres 2, Velez 2. Rebounds: Brown 14, Thomas 8. Steals: Delgado 4, Brown 3. Assists: Delgado 6. Blocks: Brown 5.
Miami Herald’s South Florida Top 10 rankings
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
1. Norland (17-3)
2. Westminster Academy (13-4)
3. Archbishop Carroll (20-2)
4. Mater Academy (17-3)
5. Dillard (16-5)
6. Sagemont (16-5)
7. Central (15-4)
8. Miami Christian (10-6)
9. South Miami (14-6)
10. Zion Lutheran (16-5)
Under consideration: Boyd Anderson (13-7), Coral Springs (15-4), Douglas (17-5), St. Thomas Aquinas (14-3), Dr. Krop (13-5), Miami High (11-7), McArthur (13-8), Coral Gables (17-4).
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
1. Dillard (16-3)
2. Miami Country Day (17-7)
3. Flanagan (19-3)
4. Miami High (20-3)
5. Ferguson (17-6)
6. Lourdes (18-6)
7. Northeast (14-6)
8. South Broward (18-6)
9. Blanche Ely (16-3)
10. Gulliver (20-3)
Under consideration: American Heritage (15-5), South Miami (16-6), Norland (13-8), Fort Lauderdale (14-8), Doral (19-4), Deerfield Beach (20-4).
Note: Records through Monday’s games.
This story was originally published January 19, 2016 at 11:05 PM with the headline "Norland clamps down on South Dade in GMAC girls’ basketball quarterfinal victory."