The Norwalk basketball teams traveled to Winterset Monday evening for their annual matchup against the Huskies. In a doubleheader split, the Warrior girls fell in heartbreaking fashion 45-44 while the Norwalk boys secured a 57-46 win, as aired live on 94.3 KNIA.

The Norwalk girls started strong with a 12-6 lead after the first quarter. The Huskies clawed their way back into the game in the second, but the Warriors still led 22-19 at halftime. Winterset was able to hang close for much of the third quarter, but the fourth is when they made their move. The Huskies led by as many as three in the closing minutes, but for the second time in as many games, a Jocelyn Bice transition layup gave the Warriors the lead in the closing seconds. This time, however, Winterset’s Abby Benshoof connected on a buzzer-beating jumper to win it in dramatic fashion.

Bren Moritz led the way with 17 points while Bice added 15. Norwalk drops to 1-3 overall.

The Norwalk boys continued their winning ways by using a strong first quarter to take control, leading 15-5 after one. The Huskies trimmed the lead to 23-16 at the half in what started as a low-scoring affair. Winterset kept fighting back throughout the third and fourth quarters, getting the deficit down to three multiple times, and at one point got it down to two. But the Warriors were able to hold off every Winterset rally and closed out what Head Coach Chris Larson thought was a gritty performance.

Cole Tunender led the way with 22 points, which included a one-handed dunk with an and-1 in the fourth quarter. Norwalk moves to 2-1 overall.

The Warriors will have three days off before returning to Little Hawkeye Conference play at Pella Friday night. That game will air live on 92.1 KRLS.

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