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2020 3A State Final: Northwood v Salem

By Randy Beckett
Updated: March 1, 2020

#1 Salem Lions (25-3) had knocked off four ranked teams on their way to the state championship game. #7 Northwood (27-3) was coming off a Final Four win against 3A’s #2 team. Salem had put together a 25 win season and had ascended to the number ranking despite being without the services of their all-state senior PG Leah Miller for the entirety of the season due to a knee injury. Salem was led this season in scoring by junior guard Karly Sweeney (12PPG), while sophomore guard Natalie Noel (10.2) stepped up in Miller’s absence. Northwood was led by their frontcourt seniors Maddy Payne (12.8PPG) and Kate Rulli (12.8PPG).

Salem got out of the gates quickly with the first seven points of the contest and keeping the Panthers off the board for the first five minutes of action. However, the last 2:47 of the quarter would have Northwood turn the tables and finish the opening frame with a 7-0 run of their own. While the Lions lead 7:17 of the first quarter, the game would be tied at 7-7 after the first quarter.

Northwood would take their first lead in the first minutes of the second quarter. Both teams continued to struggle to find the bottom of the net throughout the period, including 1-10 shooting from the Panthers in the quarter. After a couple of lead changes and only 11 combined points in the quarter Salem held a slim 13-12 advantage. Salem was led by sophomore Abigail Ratts at the half with 6 points off the bench, while senior Maddy Payne had 6 points and 9 rebounds in the half. Salem shot 28.6% in the half and Northwood 20%.

The third quarter saw a back and forth battle with three lead changes and a couple of ties. Both squads continued the cold shooting but battled tooth and nail on every possession. Going into the final 8 minutes for the 3A state title Northwood owned a 21-20 lead.

From the 1:25 mark of the third until the 3:49 mark of the fourth, nearly six minutes of play, Salem would go without a point and trail 26-20. The Lions would draw within four points, 30-26, with 1:36 left on a Ratts driving layup. From their Northwood would connect on 7-9 free throws down the stretch to take home the 3A State Championship 37-29. Northwood won the battle of the boards 36-20 and connected on 15-18 free throws despite shooting 31% from the floor. The Lions got up 11 more shots in the game, due to creating 18 turnovers, but shot a cold 28% from the field and only got 2 points off those turnovers. The Panthers were led by 19 points, 10 rebound performance from senior forward Maddy Payne, while Abigail Ratts led the Lions with 10 points.

Northwood (37): Payne (19), Miller (7), Hartman (3), Minnich (2), Rulli (2), Fielstra (1), Wise (1)

Salem (29): Ratts (10), Tomlinson (6), Sweeney (5), Noel (4), Backherms (3), Nice (2), Ezzell (1)