The Norwalk basketball teams won both ends of a varsity doubleheader at Winterset on Monday night. The Class 4A fourth-ranked Warrior girls overcame a six-point first-half deficit to win 76-34, improving to 6-0 overall. The Warrior boys also trailed early but relied on solid team defense to beat the Huskies 53-40 and improve to 2-1. Both games were carried live on 94.3 KNIA and the KNIA3 stream.

The Norwalk girls, who had rarely trailed – if ever – during their first five games, fell behind 18-12 early in the second quarter before dialing up the defensive pressure and turning the tide with an 18-3 run. The Warriors led 33-23 at halftime, then outscored Winterset 26-11 in the third quarter and 17-0 in the fourth. They finished the night with nine three-pointers and numerous fast break layups.

Norwalk girls head coach Joe Sigrist tells KNIA Sports that he was pleased with the team’s response following an uncharacteristic start on defense. He adds that the Warriors’ fast pace and constant pressure may have worn down their opponent in the second half.

“Giving up 16 points in a quarter is too many for us… but I love the way they responded and that’s what I told them when they came out of the game,” Sigrist said. “I thought our offense was very efficient tonight. We just needed our defense to catch up.”

Freshman Braylyn Birmingham led Norwalk with 25 points, scoring mostly around the basket and adding two treys. Senior Bailey Birmingham added 17 points, Payton Travis scored 12 points on four three-pointers and Hannah Overholser scored nine. Winterset, now 1-2 on the season, was led by Ashlynn Devine’s three treys and 13 points.

The Norwalk boys trailed 9-5 in the first quarter before turning the game in their favor with an 18-5 run. Winterset cut an eight-point halftime deficit to 32-29 in the third, but the Warriors responded with a 12-2 surge and held a double-digit lead the rest of the way.

Norwalk’s top scorers were Grady Sigrist with 20 points, Cameron Thomas with eight, Tim Koerselman and Jack Larson with seven apiece and Kaleb Foltz with six. Hank Wilmes led Winterset with 22.

The Warrior squads return to Little Hawkeye Conference play on Friday night at Pella Christian.