By Dana Harding (For OzarksSportsZone.com)
The Norwood girls basketball program enjoyed another magical postseason run in 2025.
The 25-7 Pirates made an unprecedented third-straight trip to the Class 2 final four, falling to Tipton in the third-place game.
A quartet of talented seniors return to lead Norwood this season in Jayden Chambers, Addy Gray, Gentry Davault and Lydia Harden.
“This group of seniors earned their third trip to the Class 2 final four, and are working to build on it in their final year,” head coach Wayne Jessen said. “Our goals haven’t changed. We’re wanting to win the Summit Conference, District 10 and win the final four.”
Chambers, a 5-foot-9 guard, averaged 7.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game last season.
“Jayden Chambers is an athletic and competitive defensive stopper,” Jessen said. “She will guard all five positions, and she is a scorer.”
Gray, a 5-foot-5 guard, posted 9.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest in 2025.
“Addy Gray is one of the smartest players I’ve had, and she is a tremendously tough and competitive player,” Jessen said.
Davault, a 6-foot-1 wing, averaged 7.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.3 blocks per game as a junior.
“Gentry Davault is a smart, tough and physical player that has the ability to play in college,” Jessen said.
Harden, a 5-foot-8 guard, will look to take on a more prominent role this season.
“Lydia Harden is a player who can shoot,” Jessen said. “We plan on her being a huge role player for us.”
Sophomores Kalie Chadwell and Jacee Hall also return for the Pirates.
Chadwell, a 5-foot-6 guard, led Norwood in scoring last season with 10.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game as a freshman.
“Kalie Chadwell is tough, hard-working and driven to be a great player,” Jessen said. “She does everything on both ends well. As a sophomore in high school, she’s skilled enough to play in college.”
Hall, a 5-foot-7 guard, averaged 2.5 points and 1.1 rebounds last season.
“Jacee Hall is an athletic player who can play several positions for us and a good shooter,” Jessen said.
Entering his fourth season at the helm, Jessen is confident his team will be able to adjust to a new playstyle this season.
“We’re going to play a different style this year,” Jessen said. “But these kids have the mind-set and ability to change. We have five players who have a tremendous amount of varsity experience that should help them through the adversity they’ll face during this season.
“The mission is more than about the game. It’s going to eventually end for most of them in high school, so it’s got to be more than about Xs and Os. You’ve got to learn the life lessons you attain from playing this great game called basketball.
Norwood opens its season Nov. 24 at home against Glendale.
