(Photo courtesy of Bakerink Visuals)

For the second season in a row, the Norwalk girls basketball team defeated Central DeWitt in the quarterfinals of the state tournament, this time winning 50-37. The game was heard live on the KNIA3 stream, broadcast from the Casey’s Center in Des Moines. 

364 days before Tuesday’s win, the Warriors beat the Sabres in the 2025 state quarterfinals on a last-second shot by Pearl Brown. The 2026 quarterfinal was less dramatic, but just as physical. Though Central DeWitt never got within six points of Norwalk after the first quarter, tenacity was maintained as there were 34 total fouls between the two teams and lots of hard falls. The Warriors would take advantage of the foul surplus, going 16-17 from the free-throw line. The Sabres, however, struggled at the stripe, shooting 11-22. Norwalk outrebounded Central DeWitt 38-25 in the contest, pulling in 14 offensive boards. The Warriors move to 22-2 on the season. Norwalk senior Hannah Overholser tells KNIA Sports their best basketball is being played right now and that will continue.

“You’re supposed to be playing your best team basketball in March, and I think we are. We move the ball really well, and I think you’re going to see that for the rest of the tournament.”

Norwalk was led in scoring by sophomore Braylyn Birmingham, who notched a double-double with 26 points and ten rebounds. Birmingham, Iowa’s #2 scorer and best free-throw shooter by volume, shot 50% from the floor and went 10-10 from the free-throw line. Seniors Pearl Brown and Hannah Overholser followed with 11 and eight points, coming up big when Birmingham was double and triple-teamed. Senior Ava Carlson contributed nine rebounds. 

The Sabres were led in scoring by sophomore Jaelyn Sinclair, who had 13 points off the bench. Central DeWitt’s leading scorer for the season, Ava Putman, scored ten, seven below her season average. Norwalk head coach Joe Sigrist tells KNIA Sports Pearl Brown was to thank for that defensive job.

“It’s because of that girl right there. Best defender in the state. One of the best defenders I’ve ever coached, and when you put her with Braylyn, Ava’s rebounding, Hannah’s big shot making, we just have a team that is relentless.”

With the quarterfinal win, the Warriors advance to take on their co-Little Hawkeye Conference champion #2 Dallas Center-Grimes, in the semifinals. The Mustangs have identical overall and conference records with Norwalk, and split the season series 1-1. That game will be played on Thursday at 5 p.m. and can be heard live on 94.3 KNIA and the KNIA3 stream.