State-ranked Norwalk too much for Newton girls

NORWALK — The Newton girls basketball team played within a reasonable deficit in three of the four quarters against Class 4A No. 5 Norwalk on Tuesday.

But a significant advantage in the second frame led the Warriors to a 58-23 home win in Little Hawkeye Conference play.

The Cardinals trailed by five after one and were outscored by five in the second half, but a 26-1 disparity in the second doomed the visitors on the road.

Norwalk scored its 18th straight win over the Cardinals, and it is 33-5 in the series since 2006.

Tori White led the Cardinals with nine points, eight rebounds and three steals, but Newton suffered its eighth loss in the last nine games.

Hailey Dickerson added four points and three boards, Payton Carkhuff totaled three points, five rebounds and two steals and Bella Winther put in three points.

Alex Riney grabbed three boards and Alex Garvis, Camryn Klein and Addyson Cibula all pulled down two rebounds.

Newton (9-11, 2-10 in the conference) shot 25 percent from the floor, made 2-of-11 from 3-point range and connected on 1-of-2 from the free-throw line. The Cardinals also committed 26 turnovers.

Norwalk was only 1-of-18 from 3 but made all 27 of its free throw attempts and committed only 10 turnovers. The Warriors shot 34 percent from the floor and had a 26-point advantage from the foul line.

Braylyn Birmingham led Norwalk (19-1, 10-1) with 22 points, four assists and four steals. She was 12-of-12 from the foul line.

Bailey Birmingham totaled 19 points and six boards. She was 8-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Notes: The Cardinals open 4A Region 6 play against Boone at 7 p.m. on Feb. 19 in Newton. The winner faces 10th-ranked Carlisle in the regional semifinals at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22 in Carlisle.