Carlisle’s 37-7 mid-game run turned the tables on Norwalk Monday night as the Class 4A 8th-ranked Wildcats defeated the Warriors 55-38 in non-conference girls basketball action at Norwalk. The game was broadcast live on 94.3 KNIA and also available on the Warrior Productions YouTube channel.

Norwalk matched Carlisle for most of the first half and led 21-16 before the Wildcats scored the final six points of the second quarter. Carlisle’s tenacious trapping defense helped force a series of Warrior turnovers in the third and the margin ballooned to 49-28 behind a combination of transition baskets and three-pointers.

The Wildcats improved to 11-3 overall and the Warriors are now 3-10, suffering their ninth defeat against an opponent that has spent at least some time in the state rankings.

Carlisle was led by 17 points from freshman standout Macy Comito and 13 apiece from Isabelle Noring and Katie Keeney. The Wildcats knocked down six three-pointers on the night, compared to five for Norwalk.

Sophomore Bailey Birmingham paced the Warriors with 21 points, making a pair of treys and 7-of-8 free throws. Avery Thomas splashed down three long-range shots in scoring 11 points, Ava Carlson had four points and Anna Larson added two.

Norwalk returns to action Friday night at Pella as part of a girl-boy doubleheader starting at 6:15 p.m.

WARRIOR WRESTLERS HOST SOUTHEAST POLK

The Norwalk wrestling squad will be back on the home mats tonight as the Warriors host Class 3A top-ranked Southeast Polk. Junior varsity matches will start at 6:30 p.m., followed by the varsity dual at 7:30.

The Warriors defeated Grinnell 61-18 in their previous dual last Thursday, improving to 4-3 overall and 4-1 in the Little Hawkeye Conference. They also placed fifth at Saturday’s Bob Sharp Invitational in Ankeny.