It wasn’t pretty, but the Norwalk girls basketball team relied on defense and grit Monday night to outlast Carlisle 63-54 in double overtime. The game was heard live on kniakrls.com (KNIA3).
Overcoming a five-point second-half deficit and 21 missed free throws for the game, the Class 4A eighth-ranked Warriors outscored the 12th-ranked Wildcats 12-3 in the second OT to notch what could be a pivotal road win when the 4A regional brackets are released later this season.
The score was tied 47-47 at the end of regulation and 51-51 after Carlisle’s Alyvia Freeman ended the first overtime with a game-tying drive to the hoop as time expired. Norwalk junior Bailey Birmingham scored off the opening tip of the second extra session and the Warriors never looked back, pulling away at the free throw line to improve to 10-2 overall.
Norwalk, which was playing for the first time in 25 days, made 28-of-49 foul shots on the night compared to just 5-of-7 for Carlisle. The Wildcats, who dropped to 8-4, had won eight straight games, including three in January. Warrior coach Joe Sigrist praised his team’s defensive commitment and resolve to outlast a quality ranked opponent on their home floor.
“We said this was a pivotal toss-up game that could go (toward) hosting a regional final or having to go on the road, so it was a big step for us,” Sigrist said. “Not playing for 25 days I didn’t know what to expect, and I’m just really proud of our girls finding a way.”
Birmingham made 16-of-22 free throws and led the Warriors with a game-high 27 points. Ava Carlson scored nine points for Norwalk, followed by Payton Travis with eight and Pearl Brown seven. Brown tied the score with two late free throws in regulation and added a big putback bucket in the first OT.
Carlisle standout Macy Comito hit four 3-pointers after halftime, but the Warriors made her work for all 24 of her points. Maddy Fischer added three treys and 13 points for the Wildcats.
Norwalk was scheduled to host a make-up game vs. Oskaloosa tonight, but that contest has been pushed back to Thursday and will now be part of a girl-boy doubleheader starting at 6:00 p.m.