Ironmen Set the Tone Early, Hold Off Panthers at Normal Community The crowd inside Normal Community High School may have been sparse, but the message delivered by the Ironmen was anything but quiet. From the opening tip, Normal Community seized control and never bothered to hand it back, dispatching United Township 67–57 in a game that was decided more by pace and poise than by the final margin. Normal Community came out crisp, confident, and comfortable in its own gym. Shots fell early and often, and by halftime the Ironmen had built a commanding 32–16 advantage. The Panthers, meanwhile, spent most of the first half chasing rebounds, chasing shooters, and chasing a rhythm that never quite arrived. The Ironmen looked like a team that knew exactly where it wanted to go—and how to get there. Credit United Township for refusing to fold. The third quarter belonged to the Panthers, who tightened defensively and finally found some daylight at their own end of the floor. Holding Normal ...