The Norton Bluejays waltzed into their matchup on Monday with five straight wins but they left with six. They managed a 43-37 victory over Ellis. The score was all tied up 19-19 at the break, but Norton was the better team in the second half.
Norton's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jenessa Ruder, who scored 16 points along with five rebounds and four steals. Ruder hasn't dropped below 15points for three straight games. Hallie Brooks was another key contributor, scoring ten points along with two steals.
Norton's win bumped their record up to 7-2. As for Ellis, their loss dropped their record down to 8-4.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Norton will take on Smith Center at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Smith Center's defense has only allowed 26.4 points per game this season, so Norton's offense will have their work cut out for them. As for Ellis, they will head out on the road to challenge Victoria on Tuesday.
