Blackjack.

It's been 21 up and 21 down for the Norwin girls basketball team, and it's a safe bet that its unbeaten winning streak could continue well into the WPIAL playoffs.

The Lady Knights' gambling style of defensive play has resulted in them becoming one of the most dominant teams in WPIAL basketball at 21-0.

They have outscored opponents by an average of 24 points, which includes a 47-point drubbing of Albert Gallatin on Monday night.

Norwin's defensive pressure has held every team to 60 points or less and has enacted the mercy rule several times this season.

Coach Bob Shrader's squad, which still isn't ranked among the top 10 teams in the state for some reason, has filled the win column with impressive section wins over the likes of Hempfield (16-5), Latrobe (12-9) and Uniontown (12-9), as well as non-section triumphs over North Allegheny (11-9), McKeesport Area (12-10), Elizabeth Forward (19-4), Serra Catholic (13-5) and Vincentian Academy (14-7).

In spite of the zero losses this season, some rankings have both Mt. Lebanon (21-1) and Butler (22-1) ahead of the Lady Knights.

The WPIAL pairings committee will meet on Tuesday to decide what seed the Lady Knights will receive, which will in turn determine what side of the bracket they'll be slotted.

In accumulating an unblemished record, Norwin has earned at least the second seed in the tournament and shouldn't have to face either Mt. Lebanon or Butler until the championship game.

Norwin has put the proof on the table with its undefeated run. Now it's time to just let the cards fall and see if they come up 21.

Bill Hartlep can be reached at starsports@gatewaynewspapers.com [1].