A clash of long-time rivals was renewed Tuesday as the Norwalk and Pella basketball teams split victories in a varsity doubleheader heard live on 92.1 KRLS.
The #3 in 3A Dutch boys toppled the Warriors 51-42, while the #13 Pella girls were knocked off by Norwalk 57-45 — which split the season series for both schools.
In the opener, Pella started strong, stretching to a five point lead, but foul trouble weakened an already short-handed backcourt, which the athletic Warriors pounced on, forcing a total of 19 turnovers; the majority of which after the start of the 2nd quarter. While the Dutch had buzzer beaters before the end of the 1st and 2nd quarters, Norwalk’s balanced attack was too much to overcome.
Bailey Birmingham continued her breakout season for the Warriors as a freshman, tallying 17 points, and she was proud of how her team generated offense from their defense against a talented opponent.
“I knew that it was going to be a close game the whole time and that we just couldn’t give up,” she says. “Our defense really helped us there, and Anna [Larson] with her threes early and our pressure really kicked in.”
Anna Larson added 11 points and five steals, and Ava Johnson scored 11 and tallied 7 rebounds. Hear from both Johnson and Birmingham on this week’s KNIA/KRLS Radio Sports Page, which airs every Wednesday at 6 p.m. and Thursday at 10 a.m. on KNIA/KRLS. Pella was paced by 13 points from Reagan Van Wyk.
The nightcap was a game in which the Dutch never trailed, but couldn’t quite pull away from their rivals from Norwalk. Pella added just seven points in the 2nd quarter before exploding to a 21 point 3rd, only to give up six 4th-quarter turnovers to allow the Warriors to stay somewhat close in the 4th. Pella Head Coach Derek Schulte knows they will have to win this slower paced game in the postseason, and while it wasn’t pretty, they needed to find a way to get back in the win column after dropping two last week.
Pella’s Parker Elder led the way with 12 points and three blocked shots, while Norwalk was led by 15 points and three steals from Braeden Carlson.
The Dutch boys improve to 11-4 overall and 7-2 in conference action, while the girls drop to 9-6 and 4-5 against league opponents; both hit the road to Newton Friday (92.1 KRLS).
Norwalk’s girls improve to 9-6 and 5-4 in the league and take control of 4th place, while the boys drop to 6-8 overall and 3-6 in the LHC. The Warriors are at home Friday vs. Oskaloosa (KNIA3).