The Norton Bluejays won the last time they faced the Decatur Community Red Devils, and things went their way on Tuesday too. Norton walked away with a 36-23 victory over Decatur Community. Given Norton's advantage in MaxPreps' Kansas basketball rankings (they are ranked 30th, while Decatur Community is ranked 132nd), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Leading Norton to victory were Payton Bailey and Jenessa Ruder. Bailey scored seven points along with seven rebounds and five assists, while Ruder scored 14 points along with seven rebounds. Hallie Brooks was another key contributor, scoring six points along with three steals.
Despite the defeat, Decatur Community saw an underclassman step up: Brylee Minnick scored 11 points along with seven rebounds and two steals. Another player making a difference was Jenna Fortin, who scored six points.
Norton's win bumped their record up to 12-4. As for Decatur Community, their loss dropped their record down to 9-7.
Both squads will have to hit the road in their upcoming games. Norton will face off against Smith Center at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Smith Center is coming into the match with four straight losses at home, meaning Norton will have to defend against a squad hungry for a win. As for Decatur Community, they will head out on the road to face off against Northern Valley at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.
