Norfolk Christian High School’s girls’ basketball team had gotten the better of Nansemond-Suffolk Academy for years and even eliminated it from the second round of the state tournament last year, but Friday was a different story.

The visiting Lady Saints featured strong play near the hoop and a great performance by sophomore guard Harper Birdsong en route to a 61-43 victory.

“I thought we played really hard,” NSA head coach Kim Aston said. “In certain stretches, we played really well. It was a pretty physical game,” but the Lady Saints withstood it.

The Lady Ambassadors graduated two Division I commits from last year’s team, but they featured fresh transfers this year to help fill that void.

Still, Aston said, “We felt like we were the better team.”

NSA got out to an early 12-point lead, but the lead was down to five at halftime. Senior guard/forward Kaylor Nash got into foul trouble early on.

“She sat out the whole second quarter, and that hurt us a little bit,” Aston said.

The Lady Saints were also essentially without junior forward Caylin Harris, who played only five minutes and came out because she had the flu.

Nansemond-Suffolk rediscovered its poise in the second half, featuring an impressive display of offensive rebounding.

Twenty-four of the Lady Saints’ 50 rebounds for the game were on the offensive end. Senior guard/forward Jessica Pieroni and Nash had five apiece, Birdsong and senior guard Macy Mears had four apiece and sophomore center Caroline Hogg had three.

Additionally, Aston said, “I think we really attacked well on the offensive end. Harper had 25 points and really controlled the game.”

She described Birdsong as unstoppable on Friday, and noted how the underclassman is really starting to reach her potential this year.

“I think that one big thing with her game this year compared to her game last year is she’s looking to be much more assertive on the offensive end,” Aston said.

She’s also not turning the ball over nearly as much, and is still averaging six to seven assists. On Friday, she had only two turnovers and led the team in nearly every statistical category; she had 11 rebounds, six assists and four steals.

Pieroni also had a big night, though she was not hitting her outside shot initially. Some offensive put-backs eventually helped get her going, and she ended up with 22 points along with 10 boards.

Nash finished with 10 rebounds, and Hogg had eight. Mears recorded seven points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

Nansemond-Suffolk (4-1) will return to action in KSA Events’ 2013 Holiday Girls’ Basketball tournament, running from Dec. 26-31 in Orlando, Fla.