Willard defense clamps down Norwalk

NORWALK — It was apparent from the beginning. The Willard girls basketball team was already a decisive favorite on paper entering Tuesday's non-league game at Norwalk. But with the Truckers playing short-handed minus two ball handlers, it was less than ideal facing a Crimson Flashes team that prides themselves on playing aggressive defense. The result was Willard (2-0) jumping out to a 12-1 lead to start, and it only grew from there in a 54-24 win at Norwalk High School. Norwalk's first field goal wasn't until the 7:47 mark of the second quarter by Brooklyn Davis. The Truckers (3-2) had just three made baskets in the first half in falling behind 25-7 at the break. "I thought last year we could really play defense well until we ran out of gas sometimes," Willard coach Barry Pfahl said. "I think this team can be that good of a defensive team by the end of the year with a little more depth. And that will bode well. I like our defense, the way we push things aside, scramble around and trap it. "The kids are getting good rotations, and it just frustrates people because our goal is to keep you from doing what you want to do offensively. I was very pleased with the defense." Leading 5-1, Layla Dials stole the basketball and converted an easy layup. Kalli Sowers then followed with a steal that set up Sy Sivongsak with a layup, and added a 3-pointer herself that put Willard ahead 12-1 at the 2:27 mark of the opening quarter. "Kalli is probably the most aggressive of the bunch, and that's her genetic makeup," Pfahl said. "She plays tennis like that, she's a softball catcher going to Walsh University — and she gets her nose into it and gets after it. That's just the way she is, and she has always been our first stopper. "That was true last year, and some of the other kids have picked up on that," he added. "Layla is playing great defense now, and when you get two of them out there playing great defense and you have an athlete like Mckenna (Stephens) inside, that can be tough to deal with offensively." In the game preparation, Norwalk coach Brock Manlet said it was apparent how hard Willard played on defense. And with many key returners back from a team that played for a regional championship a year ago, that made for a tall task for his team minus Kylie Moser and Alex Nolan to injuries. "We knew they were going to challenge us every pass, dribble and possession that we had," Manlet said. "It was just a matter of if you can handle it or not, and unfortunately for us we have some kids who are young and a mistake or turnover kind of snowballs from there — which it did tonight. But you have to give Willard credit. That's a solid, veteran team, and that shows when you play them." Already in control, the lead quickly swelled to 40-11 in the third quarter as the Flashes led 40-13 entering the fourth. Manlet and the Truckers lost their next two games to COVID-19 cancellations because of the high numbers of Richland County. Norwalk was set to host Lexington on Saturday and Mansfield Madison next Tuesday. As it stands, Norwalk is off until Dec. 18 when it entertains Vermilion in an SBC Lake Division contest. "First and foremost, we're going to give the girls some time off," Manlet said of the schedule changes. "We're going to come back to practice on Monday and let them kind of clear their heads of this one and move on from it. The main thing we're telling them is there are some things we have to work on that maybe we got away with against some other teams that we played that we didn't get away with tonight." Manlet noted that Thursday was the best type of "practice" his team could have. "Even though it stinks to get beat like that, we have to play these type of teams and we have to get better," he said. "As long as we learn our lessons from what we did tonight, we'll be fine. "Sometimes you worry about younger kids getting down on themselves and hope they grow from it," Manlet added. Stephens scored 15 points and Presley Feltner added 10 for the Crimson Flashes, who also got eight points each from Dials and Sowers, and six points from Tristin Buurma. Pfahl said his team was simply glad to play a game. Willard has just two games so far through the first three weeks of the season. "I like the defense a whole bunch, and I think we're going to be one of the best shooting teams I've ever had," Pfahl said. "We have some good long-range shooters. Pretty much all the starters are potentially three-point shooters, Presley included. "I've learned where the defense is, and learned a lot tonight about the execution and what we need to get to work on." Elena Barber had six points and four rebounds for Norwalk, while Davis had six points, three rebounds and three steals. And while the Flashes are anxious to play, Norwalk will be likely finding itself in a similar situation with just one game in a 12-day span. "I definitely worry about it," Manlet said of the loss lingering during the layoff. "I think high school kids sometimes get caught up in who they're playing. Everyone knows what Willard has done the past few years and you can sometimes psyc yourself out with a big opponent — and I think there was a little of that tonight. "I think overall we'll be fine, but again, with a young team you worry about the loss hurting our confidence," he added. "I think we still have confidence, but the best remedy for that is getting back out on the floor and competing with another team." WILLARD (2-0) Jaiden Sexton 2-1—5; Sy Sivongsak 1-0—2; Kalli Sowers 3-0—8; Layla Dials 3-0—8; Mckenna Stephens 7-1—15; Tristin Buurma 2-2—6; Presley Feltner 5-0—10. TOTALS 23-4—54. NORWALK (3-2) Emily Koenig 1-0—2; Lana Oglesby 1-0—2; Elena Barber 2-2—6; Janel Jubak 2-0—4; Shyanne Moser 1-0—2; Brooklyn Davis 3-0—6; Summer Moehlman 1-0—2. TOTALS 11-2—24. Willard 12 13 15 14 — 54 Norwalk 1 6 6 11 — 24 3-point FGs: (W) Sowers 2, Dials 2. JV: Norwalk, 38-25.