The Norwalk basketball and bowling teams were all defeated on Tuesday as the 2022-2023 winter sports season resumed.

The Warrior basketball teams both lost home games vs. Dallas Center-Grimes – the girls falling 63-37 and the boys losing 57-46. Both games were broadcast live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3).

The Norwalk girls held their own against the Class 4A 2nd-ranked Fillies for much of the night, relying on an active zone defense and traps. The Warriors tied the score at 11-11 in the second quarter before DC-G finished the half on an 11-0 run. The Fillies, now 8-2 overall and 4-0 in the Little Hawkeye Conference, broke the game open in the fourth period by out-scoring Norwalk 23-11.

The Warriors dropped to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in conference play, but head coach Jill Martin continues to be impressed by her team’s effort and understanding of the scouting report. Martin says that the young Warrior squad simply got tired down the stretch against an outstanding opponent.

“I can’t say enough good things about this group of girls that we have,” she said. “I think they’re really maturing right before us. It’s a young group but they’re understanding the importance of that scout and then applying it onto the court with some purpose.”

Norwalk sophomore Braelyn Clark got to the free throw line 14 times in the game, making her final eight attempts and scoring a team-high 12 points. Bailey Birmingham faced numerous double-teams from the Fillies and was held to eight points (all in the second half) while Anna Larson added seven. Finley Fitzgerald hit three second-half treys for DC-G and led the team (unofficially) with 15 points.

In the boys game, Norwalk led 23-19 late in the first half before the Mustangs finished on an 8-0 run that was capped by Hudson Ehlert’s banked-in three-pointer at the horn. The Warriors simply couldn’t get momentum back on their side in the second half and were outscored 20-13 in the final period, falling to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the Little Hawkeye. DC-G improved to 6-1 and 3-1, respectively.

Norwalk coach Aaron Pelzer called the Mustangs a well-coached team and noted that the Warriors struggled with their energy, ball movement and shot selection for much of the game. Braeden Carlson scored 12 second-quarter points for Norwalk and matched Jack Brown for team-high scoring honors with 14. Brown made four three-pointers. DC-G was led by Ehlert’s 19 points and 14 from Calix Cahill.

WARRIOR BOWLERS LOSE TO BLUEJAYS

The Norwalk bowling teams both lost to Bondurant-Farrar Tuesday in a dual meet held at Great Escape in Pleasant Hill. The Bluejays won the girls meet 2360-1965 and took the boys meet 2866-2738. The Norwalk girls bowlers are now 3-3 overall and the boys’ record is 2-4.