The Wayne High girls basketball team bounced back from an opening-round loss in the Mid State Conference tournament Thursday with a 50-45 win over Norfolk Catholic in action at Norfolk Catholic High School.
The Blue Devils got off to a fast start and built a 13-point first-quarter advantage, but the Knights battled back and actually took the lead early in the fourth quarter before Wayne rallied to improve to 13-8 on the season.
The Blue Devils got out to a 10-0 lead early in the game. Kylie Hammer had eight of those points, including a three-point play and a 3-pointer to stake Wayne to the double-digit advantage.
Wayne continued to dominate the early part of the game, leading by as many as 16 after a Molly Hoskins 3-pointer made it 20-4 before Wayne finished the quarter with a 24-11 advantage.
Wayne continued to play well in the first half, never leading by less than double digits. Frankie Klausen hit a late 3-pointer, but the Knights answered with one of their own to make it 36-26 at intermission.
Wayne’s offense struggled to open the second half, missing seven shots and committing four turnovers before Jenna Trenhaile ended a 9-0 Norfolk Catholic run to give Wayne a 38-35 lead.
The Knights continued to cut into the deficit and eventually took a 41-40 lead before Wayne responded. Gabi Meyer broke a 43-43 tie with a free throw and Klausen followed with a 3-pointer to make it 47-43, and Wayne would never trail again as they advanced to Saturday’s 11 a.m. matchup with O’Neill.
Hammer led the Blue Devil effort with 16 points, Klausen added 10 and Trenhaile and Hoskins each had six. Meyer put in four points, Ashton Boyer and Tori Kniesche each had three and Jamie Gamble scored two.
