A young team that will battle hard every night and always play for each other – that’s the early description of this year’s Norwalk girls basketball team from head coach Jill Martin.

The Warriors opened their 2022-23 season on Monday and were defeated at ADM 66-44. Norwalk started slow and dug an early hole, fought back within seven points in the second half, but ran out of momentum in the fourth quarter.

Martin appreciated the fight her team showed and expects that to continue all season. The Warriors have just one senior on the varsity roster in Kaylee Cary, one junior in Anna Larson, five sophomores and two freshmen. Martin says that team unity is a major strength.

“I honestly don’t think they care who scores,” she said. “They just generally are so happy for each other when they excel at something. They recognize the little things; not even just scoring, but a good box out or locking somebody down or making the extra pass.”

Norwalk’s top returning scorer from last year’s 13-10 squad is sophomore guard Bailey Birmingham, who averaged 9.7 points per game. Birmingham opened the season with a big game at ADM, tallying 24 points, seven rebounds and four steals. Coach Martin says that Birmingham has been working on her basketball skills since a young age and is respected by her teammates as a natural leader.

“She’s been busting her butt for a very long time,” Martin said. “I’ve known her since she was little. She puts in the time and everything she gets is deserved. She works really hard, and the girls respect that. They see that. I think they see her as a natural leader and they’ll follow her… but she’s also just a good teammate in general.”

The Warriors’ other returning starter is Larson, a tenacious lock-down defender who also handles and distributes the ball. She averaged 3.0 points per game last year, totaling 86 assists and 41 steals. The starting lineup in game one also included Cary, along with sophomores Ava Garvey and Braelyn Clark.

Martin says the girls have bought in to a new offensive scheme and will just need some game experience to keep improving and competing in a tough, deep Little Hawkeye Conference that she views as one of the state’s best. She says the team is excited to take each game one at a time and build on the momentum of last year’s winning record.

The Warriors play their second non-conference game of the season Tuesday night at Class 4A sixth-ranked Ballard.