WATERTOWN - Maybe the third time will be the charm.
Black Hawk's girls basketball team picked up a rare opportunity Saturday, as they defeated Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 56-35 to qualify for the WIAA state tournament for the third straight year.
"It's like a dream come true. It's so amazing," said senior Rachel Rygh, who scored 18 points. "It hasn't really sunk in yet. We won the game, but it just feels like another game."
The Warriors will face off against Wausau Newman Catholic (26-1) in the Division 5 semifinal game Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:15 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison. The game will be a rematch from last year's state championship game, in which Newman won 64-30.
"It's not really revenge. It's just one of those things that you just really want another shot at them," Rygh said. "They did beat us in the state final, so it's kind of nice to have another run at them."
Two years ago, Black Hawk (26-0) reached state only to lose to Six Rivers West foe Potosi in the first round. This year, the Six Rivers East champion Warriors have a chance to face River Ridge (19-7), another Six Rivers West rival, in the championship, should both teams win on Thursday. The two schools opened the season against each other with Black Hawk coming out on top 55-31. River Ridge will have to get by Prentice (25-1) in the state opener at 1:30 on Thursday.
"It's awesome. I can't describe it because it's so cool," said senior Melissa Wellnitz, who had 13 points. "I was really nervous coming into the game, but once warm-ups started, the nerves went down. You just have to get ready to go."
Saturday's sectional final showed two sides of the Warriors - a suffocating defense that causes its opponents to collapse under pressure; and the ability to beat themselves when their opponents turns up the heat.
"When you're up by 20 you want to keep the lead and take care of the ball. But we weren't so good at doing that because they came out in a 1-2-2 press," Melissa Wellnitz said. "You can't dribble against it, but we tried to do that. Coach (Mike Flanagan) warned us and warned us and finally we got it through our head that you have to pass it."
Neither team had the upper-hand through the first 13 minutes of the game. However, Black Hawk went on a 10-2 run to close out the first half. That gave the Warriors a 22-12 advantage at halftime and tons of momentum.
"I thought that we were effective in some areas of the game, especially just attacking," Flanagan said. "This group of kids, they fight awfully hard and the effort's always there. We went out and competed and made it a little tougher than we needed to make it at times, but that's what this is about at this stage of the game. It's a bunch of teenage girls with their emotions running pretty high."
The defense then turned up the heat on the Resorters to open the second half. Black Hawk forced Elkhart Lake into seven turnovers in a 3 1/2 minute span to in the third quarter, which gave the offense ample opportunities to put points on the board. With 4:36 left in the third, the Warriors led 31-13.
"We were all happy and knew we had to keep going and playing hard. The third quarter is our quarter, and as we call it, we want to cut the head off," Melissa Wellnitz said.
With both Jen and Melissa Wellnitz taking a rest on the bench, Alyssa Piefer and Katie Powers were left with ball control duties. The final four minutes of the third was a different story, as the Resorters forced Black Hawk's guards into a flurry of miscues themselves.
"Melissa and Jen are our major ball handlers, and so Katie and I knew we had to slow it down just in order to get the ball across," Piefer said.
Elkhart lake brought the score back to within 14 at 34-20 - and again to 13 (40-27) early in the fourth quarter. But free-throw shooting, rebounding and steady play helped the Warriors milk the clock and celebrate with their families and legions of fans.
"I thought the press kind of got to us. But after a while we calmed down a little bit and got used to it and started doing our thing," Rygh said.
Piefer scored 13 and grabbed four rebounds, Kayla Meier came off the bench for seven points and four boards and freshman Jen Wellnitz had eight rebounds.
"That's the mark of a good team - when you don't have to rely on one or two kids. We're going to get some scoring from Melissa and Jen and Rachel most nights," said Flanagan, whose squad forced 25 turnovers. "Kayla Meier and how about Alyssa Piefer? Now there is one tough kid (Piefer). Physically undersized, but nobody fights harder than she does. And she created some opportunities."
Flanagan also credited his team defense with having yet another big game.
"We're a defensive team. When we're solid in the half court we can make it tough for other team's to score," he said.
Elkhart Lake shot just 2 of 16 from beyond the arc, and started 0-for-10.
After taking statistics on the bench and watching sisters Melissa and since-graduated Kim reach state the last two years, Jen Wellnitz will now get a chance to show off her all-around skills on the state's biggest stage.
"I'm excited," said Jen Wellnitz, who admitted that she might look past the week of activities, including any pep rallies and the shoot-around. "It's cool and all, but we still have to play. I want to win."
Black Hawk's girls basketball team picked up a rare opportunity Saturday, as they defeated Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah 56-35 to qualify for the WIAA state tournament for the third straight year.
"It's like a dream come true. It's so amazing," said senior Rachel Rygh, who scored 18 points. "It hasn't really sunk in yet. We won the game, but it just feels like another game."
The Warriors will face off against Wausau Newman Catholic (26-1) in the Division 5 semifinal game Thursday afternoon at approximately 3:15 p.m. at the Kohl Center in Madison. The game will be a rematch from last year's state championship game, in which Newman won 64-30.
"It's not really revenge. It's just one of those things that you just really want another shot at them," Rygh said. "They did beat us in the state final, so it's kind of nice to have another run at them."
Two years ago, Black Hawk (26-0) reached state only to lose to Six Rivers West foe Potosi in the first round. This year, the Six Rivers East champion Warriors have a chance to face River Ridge (19-7), another Six Rivers West rival, in the championship, should both teams win on Thursday. The two schools opened the season against each other with Black Hawk coming out on top 55-31. River Ridge will have to get by Prentice (25-1) in the state opener at 1:30 on Thursday.
"It's awesome. I can't describe it because it's so cool," said senior Melissa Wellnitz, who had 13 points. "I was really nervous coming into the game, but once warm-ups started, the nerves went down. You just have to get ready to go."
Saturday's sectional final showed two sides of the Warriors - a suffocating defense that causes its opponents to collapse under pressure; and the ability to beat themselves when their opponents turns up the heat.
"When you're up by 20 you want to keep the lead and take care of the ball. But we weren't so good at doing that because they came out in a 1-2-2 press," Melissa Wellnitz said. "You can't dribble against it, but we tried to do that. Coach (Mike Flanagan) warned us and warned us and finally we got it through our head that you have to pass it."
Neither team had the upper-hand through the first 13 minutes of the game. However, Black Hawk went on a 10-2 run to close out the first half. That gave the Warriors a 22-12 advantage at halftime and tons of momentum.
"I thought that we were effective in some areas of the game, especially just attacking," Flanagan said. "This group of kids, they fight awfully hard and the effort's always there. We went out and competed and made it a little tougher than we needed to make it at times, but that's what this is about at this stage of the game. It's a bunch of teenage girls with their emotions running pretty high."
The defense then turned up the heat on the Resorters to open the second half. Black Hawk forced Elkhart Lake into seven turnovers in a 3 1/2 minute span to in the third quarter, which gave the offense ample opportunities to put points on the board. With 4:36 left in the third, the Warriors led 31-13.
"We were all happy and knew we had to keep going and playing hard. The third quarter is our quarter, and as we call it, we want to cut the head off," Melissa Wellnitz said.
With both Jen and Melissa Wellnitz taking a rest on the bench, Alyssa Piefer and Katie Powers were left with ball control duties. The final four minutes of the third was a different story, as the Resorters forced Black Hawk's guards into a flurry of miscues themselves.
"Melissa and Jen are our major ball handlers, and so Katie and I knew we had to slow it down just in order to get the ball across," Piefer said.
Elkhart lake brought the score back to within 14 at 34-20 - and again to 13 (40-27) early in the fourth quarter. But free-throw shooting, rebounding and steady play helped the Warriors milk the clock and celebrate with their families and legions of fans.
"I thought the press kind of got to us. But after a while we calmed down a little bit and got used to it and started doing our thing," Rygh said.
Piefer scored 13 and grabbed four rebounds, Kayla Meier came off the bench for seven points and four boards and freshman Jen Wellnitz had eight rebounds.
"That's the mark of a good team - when you don't have to rely on one or two kids. We're going to get some scoring from Melissa and Jen and Rachel most nights," said Flanagan, whose squad forced 25 turnovers. "Kayla Meier and how about Alyssa Piefer? Now there is one tough kid (Piefer). Physically undersized, but nobody fights harder than she does. And she created some opportunities."
Flanagan also credited his team defense with having yet another big game.
"We're a defensive team. When we're solid in the half court we can make it tough for other team's to score," he said.
Elkhart Lake shot just 2 of 16 from beyond the arc, and started 0-for-10.
After taking statistics on the bench and watching sisters Melissa and since-graduated Kim reach state the last two years, Jen Wellnitz will now get a chance to show off her all-around skills on the state's biggest stage.
"I'm excited," said Jen Wellnitz, who admitted that she might look past the week of activities, including any pep rallies and the shoot-around. "It's cool and all, but we still have to play. I want to win."
