The reigning Class 3A champion Norwalk boys basketball team hosted Mason City Monday evening in the first round of the Class 4A Substate 8 playoffs. The Warriors battled hard for four quarters, and came away with a 71-62 victory, as aired on KNIA3.
Norwalk started the game hot, and led by as many as six in the first quarter. The Mohawks responded, and got the score to within 15-13 after one. The teams traded buckets throughout the second quarter, which featured a few lead changes. A strong last two minutes of the half allowed Norwalk’s lead to swell to 33-27 heading into the intermission. Mason City fought back in the third, but Norwalk held onto the lead, and was on top 48-45 heading into the fourth. That’s when the Warriors put the game away, leading by as many as 10 points on their way to the program’s first ever Class 4A postseason victory. Senior Max Juergens says Mason City gave the Warriors a quality battle, but his team was able to do what they do best, close games out
The Norwalk basketball teams hosted their penultimate doubleheader of 2020 Tuesday evening as Council Bluffs Lewis Central visited for a non-conference tilt. The Norwalk girls lost another down to the wire finish by a 46-44 final, while the boys rolled past the Titans 61-40, as aired live on 94.3 KNIA.
The Norwalk girls started strong, but allowed Lewis Central to remain within striking distance for much of the first half. A late second quarter run by the Titans tied the game at 18 heading into halftime. Norwalk fell behind in the third quarter, but fought back in the fourth and tied the game in the closing minutes. The Warriors trailed with under 10 seconds to play with a chance to tie with a 2, but a good look missed at the buzzer, and the Warriors lost yet another close game. Head Coach Jill Martin says she and the team need to figure out how to put together a complete, 32-minute game.