The Norwalk basketball teams split a varsity doubleheader against Ballard on Tuesday night in Norwalk. The Warrior girls improved to 4-0 with a come-from-behind 60-46 win over the Class 4A third-ranked Bombers. Ballard won the boys game 56-50 in the season opener for both teams. The games were streamed live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3).

The Norwalk girls posted a 14-point victory despite falling behind 15-0 in the first five minutes of the game. Showing zero panic, the Warriors cut the margin to 19-8 after one quarter and 26-25 at the half. They entered the final stanza with a four-point lead and pulled away down the stretch.

First-year Norwalk head coach Joe Sigrist tells KNIA/KRLS Sports that he was “super proud” of the way his team responded to the early 15-0 hole. “These girls have tons of fight,” he said. “They do everything we ask them in practice, they’re working super hard and we’re starting to see that pay dividends on the court.”

Norwalk junior standout Bailey Birmingham, who entered the night averaging nearly 34 points per game, scored just five in the first half but finished with a game-high 21, making 11-of-12 free throws. Braelyn Clark tallied 17 big points off the bench while sophomore Ava Carlson had eight points to go along with numerous rebounds and hustle plays throughout.

In regards to Clark’s 17-point effort, Coach Sigrist adds that he feels like he has eight starters on the team. “When you’re that deep and we play the style that we play – up and down – I think we really wear teams down, and I think that happened tonight,” he said.

Alliyah Thompson scored a team-high 15 points for Ballard, which dropped to 1-2 overall.

In a back-and-forth boys game full of runs, Ballard rode the hot hand of sophomore Jude Gibson and outscored Norwalk 22-12 in the fourth quarter to win by six. Gibson scored many of his game-high 21 points during the second half and hit two 3-pointers during a pivotal 13-2 run. Owen Greco added four treys and 15 points for the Bombers.

The Warriors, who led 38-34 after three, were led by Tim Koerselman’s 15 points. Ballard played great team defense in holding Norwalk senior Redek Born to just two made field goals and eight points. Cameron Thomas and Jack Larson both chipped in seven. The Warriors are starting the season without one of their top returning players in senior Aidan Harder, who is recovering from injury.

Both Norwalk squads open Little Hawkeye Conference play on Friday night at Pella.