The Norwalk boys basketball team won’t be meeting a traditional power when they resume Class 4A postseason play on Friday night, but they might be facing a program on the rise.

The Warriors improved to 17-5 with Monday’s 72-37 rout of Des Moines Lincoln. They will now journey to Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson for Friday’s Class 4A, Substate 2 semifinal at 7:00 p.m.

The 2nd-seeded Yellow Jackets are 18-3, which is a remarkable feat considering recent history. This is Thomas Jefferson’s first winning season since 2009-2010, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. They finished 3-19 last season and went a combined 2-41 the previous two years. Their current win total of 18 is three more than the past five seasons combined.

The Yellow Jackets enter their postseason on a six-game winning streak that includes two wins over Sioux City Heelan and another against cross-town rival Abraham Lincoln. The team averages 70 points per game despite modest shooting numbers and their top five scorers are all seniors.

Leading this year’s resurgence is 5-foot-8 guard Jayden Calabro, who averages 20.9 points per game, 4.8 rebounds and team-high totals of 67 assists and 49 steals. Six-foot-six Jordan Dewaele averages 17.4 points and eight rebounds per contest. Norwalk is led by senior point guard Redek Born’s 22.5 points and four assists per night.

Friday’s winner will advance to the Substate 2 final and play West Des Moines Valley or Urbandale on Tuesday, February 27, at a site to be determined.