Preview: Smith Center Redmen vs. Norton Bluejays
Smith Center is 1-9 against Norton since December of 2014 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Smith Center Redmen will be playing at home against the Norton Bluejays at 7:00 p.m. Both teams come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Last Monday, Smith Center didn't have too much breathing room in their matchup against Superior, but they still walked away with a 58-52 win.
Smith Center got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Daveyon Orr out in front who shot 6-for-7 from beyond the arc and dropped a double-double on 21 points and 11 rebounds. It was the first time this season that Orr pulled down eight or more rebounds. Another player making a difference was Tegan McKenzie, who scored seven points along with six blocks and five rebounds.
Meanwhile, Norton waltzed into their game on Tuesday with two straight wins but they left with three. They walked away with a 45-38 win over Decatur Community. Given Norton's advantage in MaxPreps' Kansas basketball rankings (they are ranked 77th, while Decatur Community is ranked 331st), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
It was another big night for Roman Hauser, who shot 4-for-6 from downtown and almost dropped a double-double on 19 points and nine rebounds. He is on a roll when it comes to points, as he's now scored 16 or more in the last three games he's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Tyce Melvin, who scored eight points along with nine rebounds.
Smith Center's win ended a 13-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 7-9. As for Norton, they pushed their record up to 13-3 with that victory, which was their third straight at home.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Smith Center have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 31.9 rebounds per game. However, it's not like Norton struggles in that department as they've been averaging 25.1 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Smith Center ended up a good deal behind Norton in their previous matchup back in February of 2023, losing 47-28. Will Smith Center have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other basketball content.
