The Norwalk boys basketball team survived a hornet’s nest at Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson on Friday night, outscoring the Yellow Jackets 22-7 in the fourth quarter to win a Class 4A substate semifinal 69-52. The game was heard live on 94.3 KNIA and KNIA3.

The Warriors improved to 18-5 on the season and will now face defending state champion West Des Moines Valley (17-5) in Tuesday night’s Substate 2 final at Des Moines Lincoln.

Norwalk coach Aaron Pelzer credits his squad for showing great composure in the face of a raucous atmosphere against an opponent that was extremely physical from start to finish. The Yellow Jackets rode the hot shooting hand of Jayden Calabro during a 26-point third quarter but managed just seven points in the fourth when they were also whistled for two technical fouls.

Redek Born led Norwalk with 27 points, knocking down 13-of-15 free throws and scoring on several tough drives to the basket. Grady Sigrist and Aidan Harder combined for eight 3-pointers and 29 points, Tim Koerselman scored five and Cameron Thomas and Mason Johnson added four each.

Sigrist’s buzzer-beating tip-in capped a 14-2 run to close the first half and put the Warriors up 29-19. Thomas Jefferson kept coming back in the third as Calabro hit four treys and the margin was cut to 47-45 on Jordan Dewaele’s steal and dunk at the end of the quarter.

Norwalk responded in the fourth behind 12 points from Born and Johnson’s tough defense on Calabro, who finished with 27 points.

Tuesday’s substate final will mark the third meeting in 12 months between Norwalk and Valley. The Tigers defeated the Warriors 63-48 in last year’s state quarterfinals and 51-41 in regular season play this past December.