At 5-foot-2, Giuliana Giannikas is often out-sized on the basketball court. But the budding point guard uses her skill and cool temperament to overcome mismatches.
Well, that and something else.
“You just have to be physical and be a dog,” the Norwin freshman said.
Giannikas was nipping at Hempfield’s heels for much of Tuesday night’s Section 2-6A matchup, which was slow-moving for the better part of three quarters until the host top-ranked Lady Knights pulled away in the fourth for a 56-32 victory.
Giannikas scored a game-high 17 points, including trio of 3-pointers as Norwin (10-2, 4-1) beat Hempfield (9-5, 1-4) for the 18th straight time dating to 2012.
The Lady Knights had 17 points to Hempfield’s four in the final frame.
“Goules (jewels) is so crafty and creative,” Norwin coach Brian Brozeski said. “With her height, she’s at such a low level, she can maneuver so low in traffic. She is now figuring out the high school game. She is never in awe out there.”
Norwin had dropped two of three coming in, and Hempfield has now lost three straight.
Hempfield, which led briefly in the first quarter, cut the deficit to 39-31 early in the fourth in a three-point play by sophomore Carina Rimmel. But that was the Spartans’ last field goal of the quarter as Norwin ran off 15 straight points and closed it out with a 17-1 run.
“We’re into section play in early January, and everyone has ebbs and flows,” Brozeski said. “On those hard days, you have to be able to fight through it.”
Sophomore Nia O’Barto added 10 points for Norwin, including six in the fourth. Another sophomore, Aubrey Graney, had nine points, while sophomore Lenyn Brozeski had eight.
Senior Gabby Coccia led Hempfield with 10.
“We were a little timid and started to feel sorry for ourselves,” Hempfield coach Bob Madison said. “We didn’t give our best. (Norwin) plays one way, and it’s in your face.”
Giannikas twice stretched the lead to 10 in the third on driving layups and made it 36-27 late in the quarter before Lenyn Brozeski’s 3 gave the Lady Knights a 39-28 lead going to the fourth.
“We made adjustments and settled into our offense,” Giannikas said. “We played well together as a team.”
Norwin played its fourth full game without senior guard Ava Christopher, who has a knee injury.
“Ava does a little of everything for us,” Giannikas said. “So we all have to step up and play bigger roles.”
Junior Reagan Fisher and sophomore Lily Houghtalen scored six each for Hempfield.