Norristown peaking at right time

CHELTENHAM >> They’re not the champions of the Suburban One League’s American Conference, but right now they’re playing like they are.
For the second successive night, Norristown’s girls basketball team beat up on a playoff team — Friday, it was host Cheltenham — and the Eagles did it convincingly, leading wire-to-wire to drub the Panthers, 51-32.
Just as they muffled Plymouth Whitemarsh Thursday night, Norristown throttled Cheltenham with a suffocating defense, a truckload of clutch three-point shots and a decided advantage on the boards.
Friday, the Eagles got a combined 25 points from the Fortescue sisters, Patti and Lauren, another strong game from sophomore point guard Beyonce Collins and a double-figure rebounding night from Taijah James and left the Panthers seeking answers.
“It’s starting to happen here,” said Eagles head coach Vince Catanzaro. “It’s taken a lot of work, but we’re starting to learn the game.
“And our seniors have really stepped it up.”
“This year has been a long journey,” said Norristown senior guard Precious Milam. “I never expected us to get this far. This is my last year of basketball, and it’s been exciting.
“Coach says it starts in practice, and that’s where we’ve gotten better. That’s where we push each other.”
Friday the Eagles did some of that pushing against the Panthers, and the home team had a hard time pushing back.
With Lauren Fortescue and Milam combining for nine first-quarter points, the Eagles seized a seven-point lead after one quarter, and Cheltenham was left looking for ways to both defend and attack the Eagles.
“They’re playing really well right now,” said Panthers head coach Brendan Nolan. “They’re very well-balanced and they’re a tough matchup for anybody.
“I thought we defended pretty well, but we’re having a hard time finding a way to score right now. We’re going through some adjustments and looking for some answers.”
Norristown expanded its lead in the second quarter, and with Lauren Fortescue, Patti Fortescue and Collins combining for four second-quarter treys, the lead was 33-20 by halftime.
“We just knew we needed these last two wins,” Patti Fortescue said. “We worked as a team, passed well and communicated well.”
Looking for a way to make second-half inroads, the Panthers found only frustration, as the Eagles controlled tempo, used plenty of clock on each possession and left the home team swinging at the wind.
By game’s end the Eagles were all smiles and Nolan was left looking for answers.
“We have to figure out a way to get more points on the board,” he said. “We’ll try and get ready for the playoffs. We should get a (opening-round) home game, and we’ll be looking for improvement until then.”
Meanwhile, the Eagles were looking forward to showing off their improvement to their postseason foes. But they’re going in with a full understanding of how they got there.
“We’re going to have to come out with more energy,” Fortescue said. “We’re just going to try and play as hard as we can.”
Lately, that’s been more than good enough.
DRIBBLES AND DRABS
Savannah Roberts led the Panthers with 13 points, nine coming on a trio of three-balls. … Taijah James had her second successive double-figure rebounding night, securing 12 caroms and adding three blocked shots.