The Norwalk Warriors split a boy girl basketball doubleheader on the road at Grinnell Friday with the girls falling 67-46 and the boys winning 51-42. In the girls contest Grinnell fresh off their first loss of the season to Indianola on Tuesday, was ready to put the loss behind them and came out firing from behind the ark taking an early 15-8 lead. Grinnell would mix in full court pressure defense in the second half to extend their lead to fourteen at the halftime break leading 35-21.
For Norwalk the play of the Johnson sisters in sophomore Ava Johnson, and senior Olivia Johnson, would keep Norwalk around as the two sisters would score a combined twenty one points. Coach Jill Martin tells KNIA Sports the Johnson’s are a fun group that she’s glad are on her team as they are just good girls that love to compete, feed off each other and are selfless teammates.
Despite the Johnson sisters, Grinnell would prove to be too strong with two many offensive weapons that featured three girls in double figures as they would pull away for the 21 point win.
In the boys game the Warriors and Tigers would battle in a slow back and forth defensive game, trading baskets in the first quarter to remain knotted up at ten after the first period. Norwalk despite leading scoring Redek Born leaving late in the second quarter after being poked in the eye, would hold a small four point lead 22-18 at the break lead by junior Braeden Carlson who would finish the night with a game high 22 points.
Following the halftime break, Norwalk would begin to take command as Born would once again be on the bench, this time in foul trouble as he would pick up his 4th foul with 4:47 remaining in the 3rd quarter. With Born on the bench for most of the 2nd half, Norwalk would need to rely on other offensive options to secure the win, as senior Vinny Mauro would take command contributing eleven points on the night to push Norwalk to their first win of 2022.
Both teams will enjoy the weekend following a week that featured three games in five days, but it doesn’t get much easier for the Warriors as they will next host Dallas Center-Grimes on Tuesday.