NORFOLK – A cold-shooting second half doomed the Wayne High girls’ state tournament hopes as Pierce defeated the Blue Devils 52-34 in the finals of the C1-7 subdistrict Thursday at Norfolk High School.
After getting behind 7-0 early in the game, Wayne scored six straight points on a Lindy Sandoz free throw and a basket and 3-pointer by Gabi Meyer to pull within 7-6.
Pierce rebuilt their lead to nine at 19-10 before baskets by Meyer and Kelsey Boyer cut the deficit to 21-15. After Pierce regained a 10-point lead, Boyer drilled a pair of 3-pointers and followed with a three-point play to get Wayne within one at 25-24.
Pierce took a 32-29 lead at the half, but Wayne got back within a point when Morgan Keating opened the second half with a basket.
After that – Wayne went cold.
The Blue Devils had three turnovers and missed 11 consecutive shots until Kylie Hammer hit a basket early in the fourth quarter. That would prove to be Wayne’s last basket of the game, as Hammer would score Wayne’s final point on a free throw before Pierce closed out the win to advance to next week’s district finals.
Boyer led the 18-7 Blue Devils with 11 points and Hammer added 10. Meyer put in seven points and Keating, Sandoz and Jamie Gamble each had two points. Hammer had six rebounds and seven assists, Allison Echtenkamp had five rebounds and Boyer had four rebounds and two steals.
