Norwalk and Ballard split a varsity basketball doubleheader in Huxley on Tuesday night, as heard live on the KNIA3 stream. The Class 4A fourth-ranked Norwalk girls won the first game 69-34, improving to 4-0 overall. The boys game was competitive throughout, with Ballard prevailing 51-49 in the season opener for both squads.

Freshman Braylyn Birmingham had a huge night for the Norwalk girls, scoring 25 of her game-high 27 points in the first half. Birmingham made three left-wing 3-pointers, scored on impressive drives to the basket and knocked down all 10 of her free throws.

As a team, the Warriors made eight treys and shot 15-of-16 at the foul line. They dominated the first half with a tenacious press and halfcourt traps, forcing a young Bombers team into one turnover after another. The Warriors converted defense into offense and also passed the ball well in halfcourt sets to build a 35-8 second-quarter advantage. They led 46-16 at the half and opened the third with five quick points to activate the 35-point running clock rule for the rest of the game.

Hannah Overholser added three second-half threes and finished with 13 points for Norwalk. Bailey Birmingham scored 12 points, followed by Ava Carlson with nine and Grace Linder five.

In the boys game, Ballard senior Mason Gatchel scored off a Norwalk turnover with a minute to go, giving the Bombers a 50-49 lead. The Warriors had multiple opportunities in the final 60 seconds but could not take care of the basketball in a 51-49 defeat.

Norwalk overcame a slow start and got to halftime tied at 29. The Warriors opened the third quarter with a quick 9-2 run to take their biggest lead at 38-31, but the Bombers countered with nine straight points and held Norwalk to just 11 points in the final 14 minutes.

Ballard’s full court pressure and defensive length gave the Warriors trouble throughout the game and was ultimately the deciding factor. Cameron Thomas played an outstanding second half and led Norwalk with 15 points. Grady Sigrist added 12 points, followed by Tim Koerselman with six points and Kaleb Foltz and Audric Pelzer with five apiece. The Warriors hit eight 3-pointers as a team.

Both Norwalk teams will be back in action on Friday night, hosting Pella in the first Little Hawkeye Conference games of the season.