Five Questions: Norwalk at Pella
Bowen Born PELLA — One of the best pure scorers the state has ever seen made a major impact on Friday night, but it was his passing that won his Norwalk Warriors a key Little Hawkeye Conference game, as Bowen…
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Continue ReadingPELLA — One of the best pure scorers the state has ever seen made a major impact on Friday night, but it was his passing that won his Norwalk Warriors a key Little Hawkeye Conference game, as Bowen Born and top-ranked Norwalk escaped Pella with a 66-65 win.
The 2,000 point scorer came into this one averaging over 40 points a game, but all things considered, the Dutch did a pretty strong job on him in this game, “holding” him to 29 points on 10-22 shooting. But it was the final two of his seven assists that helped his Warriors ice this game away.
With 1:59 remaining, Pella’s Treyton Sturgeon put back a missed 3 to cut the Norwalk lead down to 60-59. Born brought the ball down court, drove to the rim and found Joe Brown for a layup. 62-59 Norwalk. The Dutch turned it over on the ensuing possession, and Born did the same thing, finding Brown for another bucket with 30 seconds left, 64-59 Warriors. Logan Shetterly came down and drilled a 3 to cut the lead back to 2 with 24.3 left. Born went 1-2 at the line with 15.5 seconds left, 65-62 Norwalk. A Pella 3 was no good, and Joe Brown came down with the rebound. He made the front end of his 1-and-1, and iced the game. A Logan Shetterly halfcourt 3 at the horn was good, but it was just for the box score, as Norwalk held on to win 66-65.
Norwalk (12-3, 8-2) was led by Bowen Born, who scored a game-high 29 points and dished out 7 assists. Joe Brown added 15 points and 8 rebounds for the Warriors in the win.
Pella (12-4, 6-4) was led by Logan Shetterly, who poured in 26 points in the loss. Treyton Sturgeon added 14 points and 9 rebounds for the Dutch.
Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | F |
Norwalk | 15 | 17 | 21 | 13 | 66 |
Pella | 17 | 15 | 10 | 23 | 65 |
Norwalk: Bowen Born 29, Joe Brown 15, Tyler Johnson 9, Scott Anderson 6, Cole Tunender 3, Max Juergens 2, Liam Buckley 2
Pella: Logan Shetterly 26, Treyton Sturgeon 14, Grant Nelson 9, Johnathan Oltman 8, Joshua Warner 3, Karl Miller 3, Parker Elder 2
Where does Bowen Born rank among the all-time players in Iowa?
We’ve seen some really good players in our time as a company – AJ Green, Joe Wieskamp, Connor McCaffery, Garrett Sturtz, etc. – but Born is right there with them. He’s on pace to set the single season scoring record, but it’s not just the scoring that sets him apart from everyone else, it’s the other things he does. He’s a highly instinctual player with an incredible basketball IQ. He’s a great ball handler, fantastic passer, and obviously an elite scorer. Few players impact the game like he does, and he’ll be outstanding at UNI.
How do you defend Born?
I honestly don’t know that you do. He’s a lights out shooter, so you can’t sag off of him. He’s lightning quick with an outstanding first step and the ability to finish at the rim, so you can’t get right up on him. The best way to defend Norwalk is probably to take away the rest of the options, contest Born as best you can, and hope.
Does Norwalk have enough else alongside Born to win State?
This is the big question, and the answer is yes. With Tyler Johnson (42.5 3P%), Scott Anderson (41.1 3P%) and the seeming emergence of big man Joe Brown, the Warriors do have enough alongside Born to take home a state title. After all, Johnson and Anderson were key pieces for this group that was a runner-up last year. They have a lot of shooting to put alongside the best player in the state, and that will be enough to make them one of the favorites to take home the 3A crown.
What makes Pella so dangerous?
The Dutch have four double figure scorers, and in this one, six different players made at least one 3. When you’re able to put that type of balance and shooting on the floor, you’re going to be really tough to defend. Logan Shetterly is the type of guard who can take over a game when he gets it going. John Oltman can really shoot it, as can Karl Miller. Grant Nelson is a versatile piece who can score inside and out. Parker Elder gives them some length and athleticism off the bench. And most importantly, this team really shares the ball well. This Pella group is a lot like Boyden-Hull teams of the past – a bunch of guys who are between 6-2 and 6-4 who pass it well, handle it and shoot it.
What is the ceiling for Pella?
In a 3A field that looks wide open, there’s absolutely no reason to believe the Dutch can’t win the state title. They’re explosive, deep, versatile and talented.