Makayla Noritis filled the stat sheet on offense and defense to help Southwestern knock off McCracken County. (Les Nicholson Photo)
Southwestern coach Junior Molden thought he made a mistake in last year’s first-round loss in the state tournament when he didn’t play Malaya Noritis enough. He didn’t make the same mistake Wednesday night. Noritis, a versatile senior forward, played 31 minutes in a 67-56 victory over McCracken County, which was 31-1 coming into the game.
She responded with 15 points on 5-for-5 shooting from the field and 5-for-7 at the foul line but also had seven rebounds, three blocked shots, two assists, and only one turnover. Not bad for a player averaging 5.7 points per game — fifth on the team — and shooting 36 percent from the field on the season.
“A really good coach texted me today and said if Makayla comes to play, I like Southwestern’s chance to make the second round,” Molden said. “This is Makayla’s senior year. She gives us so much energy. Efficiency-wise, she was our leader.”
Noritis often had to guard McCracken star Destiny Thomas, who scored 22 points but needed 20 shots from the field to do that.
“I knew I had to get stops for my team,” Noritis said. “I was not going to let her (Thomas) do things she does every game.”
Southwestern did do what it normally does. The Warriors made 3-pointers — 10 of 20. They shared the ball — 17 assists. They played defense — nine blocks and four steals.
Southwestern also had incredible team balance.
— Point guard Ayden Smiddy hit three 3-pointers and had 11 points, six assists and five rebounds. “I told her she needed to be the toughest player on the floor and she was,” Molden said.
— Shooting guard Kinsley Molden also hit three 3-pointers and had 15 points, one rebound and one assist.
— Center Payton Acey had a team-high 16 points, eight rebounds, four blocks, three steals and two assists. She even scored six points in less than 20 seconds when she hit a left-handed hook shot, got fouled, missed the free throw, banked in a 3-pointer after Southwestern rebounded the missed free throw, and hit the free throw after being fouled on the 3.
— Forward Kaylee Young had seven points, six rebounds, six assists, one block, and one steal.
The only negative for Southwestern was making 18 turnovers against McCracken’s pressure defense, something Molden knows his team must handle better in Friday’s 11 a.m. quarterfinal game against Franklin County — a winner over Henderson County in Wednesday’s final game.
