Both Norwalk basketball teams will be in action tonight in an away doubleheader at Pella that can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS. The girls team is currently 3-0, and the boys team is 0-1 after Tuesday’s home doubleheader against Ballard.

The #3 in 4A Norwalk girls have gotten out to a great start with large wins over ADM, Bondurant-Farrar, and Ballard. They have been led by sophomore Braylyn Birmingham’s scoring as she currently leads the state with 86 points in her first three games. She is also the team’s leader in rebounds (7), assists (3.7), and steals (4) through those three games. They will take on a #14 in 4A Pella team this evening that is 1-1 and finished third in the Little Hawkeye Conference last season, two spots behind Norwalk. The Dutch are coming off a close 59-67 loss to North Polk and have been led in scoring by junior Emma Walkup’s 31 points through two games. Norwalk defeated Pella in last year’s 4A Region 5 Championship, 85-56.

The Warrior boys dropped a close contest to Ballard on Tuesday, changing leads throughout the game but ultimately losing 51-57. They were led by junior Tillman Papcun’s 15 points, which is 12 more points than his per-game average last season. Papcun is the most likely candidate to be Norwalk’s scoring leader this season, as every teammate who scored more than him last season has graduated. Papcun also led the team in rebounds (7) and steals (2) in their season opener Tuesday. They will be taking on a Dutch squad that finished last season as the 3A runner-up, with an overall record of 18-7. Pella retains their leading scorer from last year in senior Jack McGuire, who averaged 14.7 points per contest. Most recently, Pella defeated Norwalk 66-46 in January. Norwalk boys head coach Aaron Pelzer tells KNIA Sports he’s expecting another tough matchup.

“They’re athletic, they’re good, they have quite a bit returning. I think they’re picked to win the conference this year.”

Both games can be heard live on 92.1 KRLS with pregame coverage beginning at 5:45 p.m. The combined broadcast will be called by Pella’s Trevor Castle and Norwalk’s Shaffer Landuyt.

The girls’ game begins at 6 p.m., with the boys to follow, and will be played at Pella High School.