The 2023-24 Carney-Nadeau girls’ basketball team poses for a photo with its district championship medals and trophy on March 8, 2024 at Norway High School. The Wolves defeated the Knights 53-46 for their fourth district title in the last five seasons. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

NORWAY — The Carney-Nadeau girls reaped the benefits of a strong finish here Friday night as they outlasted Norway 53-46 in a Division 4 district basketball final.

This marked the fourth district title in five years for the Wolves (18-6) who face No. 1 Ishpeming (23-1) in a regional opener at 7 p.m. Monday in Kingsford. The Knights finished 15-10.

“It was a battle the whole game,” Wolves’ senior Mariska Laurila said. “Their press made it very challenging. Both sides played real good defense. A lot of points were scored off turnovers. We were very tired in the end.”

The Wolves were clinging to a 45-44 lead after Norway sophomore Lauren Adams split a pair of free throws with 2:31 left in the contest.

Senior Addison Laurin’s floater from the lane gave the Wolves a three-point lead, then added a gifter to make it 48-44.

After Norway got within 48-46, the Wolves scored the last five points and junior Grace Maule added the exclamation point on a buzzer-beating layup.

“That’s the way it is in games like this,” C-N coach Jake Polfus said. “Credit to the girls. I’m proud of the way they kept fighting. Some of the girls were here last year. Experience does help.”

Norway took a 33-28 lead on a 12-foot jump shot by Lauren Adams with 2:26 remaining in the third quarter.

C-N answered with an 8-0 run, taking a 36-33 lead on a layup by Laurin with :47 left in the third.

“Taking the lead in the third quarter helped us get energized,” Laurila said. “That gave us confidence we could hit our shots and put a little more pressure on them. Jake told us at halftime that defense was going to win this game. We lost to them in the district on this floor last year. To win it this year is an incredible feeling.”

Norway regained the lead at 39-38 on a floater by sophomore Kara Stanchina with 5:52 remaining in the contest.

The Wolves then went ahead and extended their lead to 43-39 on Maule’s 22-foot jumper from the left wing, moments before senior point guard Kelsie Smith drew her fifth foul.

“We had a four-point lead when Kelsie went out,” Polfus said. “That was a real concern, although we made some plays down the stretch. The clock couldn’t run down fast enough. Sometimes I think the worst and probably shouldn’t. It’s March. There’s not going to be any easy nights. You’ve got to be ready to play every night.”

Laurila scored 19 points. Laurin added 13 and Maule had 11 for the Wolves, who committed 20 turnovers.

“We’re going to come back next year and do it again,” Norway coach Brian Adams said. “I’m proud of everybody who wore a uniform. They deserve all the credit. Carney-Nadeau is an experienced team. I think our inexperience showed in the end. We missed some assignments. This was a good learning experience. Playing in a game like this is only going to help. We told the girls they have to put the time in during the summer. I wanted the girls to sit down and watch them receive the trophy and remember how this felt. This was all new. We had to figure out how we were going to get this thing going and we did.”

Lauren Adams hit 26 points for the Knights, who finished with 23 turnovers.

Polfus also had nothing but respect for the Knights after the contest.

“I can’t say enough about (Norway coach) Brian Adams,” Pulfus said. “He’s a great guy and does a tremendous job getting his teams ready. It’s fun coaching against people you get along with. I also can’t say enough about Lauren Adams. She’s a phenomenal player who never quits. I love the way she plays basketball.”

Carney 8 12 16 17 — 53

Norway 11 12 12 11 — 46

Carney-Nadeau — Kedsch 1, Laurin 13, Smith 8, Laurila 19, Maule 11, Lenca 1. FT: 12-16; F: 16; Fouled out: Smith; 3-point field goal: Maule.

Norway — Richter 7, Adams 26, Cavagnetto 2, P. Carlson 2, Stanchina 6, A. Carlson 3. FT: 12-17; F: 16; Fouled out: Stanchina; 3-point field goals: Adams 2, Richter 1.