North Andrew advances to district championship with commanding win

High school basketball district play continues this week for Classes 1-3, and Thursday evening was no exception in Rosendale, where North Andrew hosted the Class 1 District 15 Tournament.

The girls took center stage in the opening semifinal, featuring the top-seeded North Andrew Cardinals against the No. 4 seed Faith Christian Academy Knights. Despite a competitive first quarter, the game quickly got out of hand, with North Andrew securing a dominant 55-29 victory to advance to the district championship.

While the Cardinals’ home crowd brought plenty of energy at tip-off, it was the Knights who capitalized on the early momentum. Callie Switzner intercepted a pass and took it coast-to-coast for the game’s first two points. Moments later, Ava Bruner came up with another steal, converting it into a layup to give Faith Christian a 4-0 advantage.

North Andrew struggled to find its footing early, going more than four minutes without a basket. That drought was finally snapped at the 3:30 mark when Teigan Miller buried a deep two from the top of the key. Seeing one shot fall sparked the Cardinals’ offense, as Madison Lillard drilled a corner 3-pointer to put them ahead 5-4.

The Knights didn’t back down, though. Laney Brann knocked down a 3-pointer off an inbounds pass to tie the game at seven.

The quarter ended chaotically. Lillard saved a loose ball from going out of bounds, which was eventually passed down court to Ellie Lawrence for a fast-break layup. However, before the buzzer sounded, Switzner hit a tough, contested jumper, keeping Faith Christian within striking distance as North Andrew took an 11-9 lead into the second quarter.

The Knights struck first again with a quick basket, but those would be two of just four points they managed in the entire second quarter. North Andrew’s full-court press overwhelmed Faith Christian, forcing turnovers that disrupted any offensive rhythm.

The Cardinals built their lead with relentless pressure and dominance on the boards, highlighted by senior Piper Cook’s work inside. The 3-point shooting became contagious, with Lawrence knocking down a deep shot from beyond the arc as North Andrew continued to pile on.

The defensive intensity and offensive efficiency carried into the second half, where the Knights never found an answer for the press or a way to regain their scoring touch.

With the game fully in control, North Andrew cruised through the final two quarters, never letting up as they secured a spot in Saturday’s district championship game at 1 p.m.