DARLINGTON - Junior Kaylee Meyers understands for a team that likes to push the ball on the break, sometimes its best offense is a smothering defense.
The Darlington girls basketball team was clicking on all cylinders from the opening tip and rolled to an 82-38 win over Wisconsin Heights in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Friday. The Redbirds knocked off Wisconsin Heights in a regional championship game last year 54-47. What a difference a year makes.
"Our defense was definitely a lot better in this game than the last time we played them," Meyers said. "It was nice to see us force turnovers and score off of them. It was nice to play a team game and have that success."
With the win, Darlington (18-4) advances and will host SWAL rival Mineral Point in a regional championship game tonight. Before finding out who won the game, Meyers was already looking forward to a third game this year against the Pointers. Darlington swept the two league games against the Pointers.
"It's always nice top play Point at home," Meyers said. "I feel like we are just as athletic as last year. I can see us, if we keep playing like we have been, getting back to the sectional."
The Redbirds, which made a run to the sectional final last year, opened the game with a 21-4 run. Meyers, who scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds, knocked down a 3-pointer to open the game. The Redbirds forced turnovers, which led to a lot of scoring chances on the break. Meyers hit her second 3 and junior Kathleen Mathias scored on a layup to give the Redbirds a 10-2 lead with 12 minutes, 2 seconds left in the first half.
Mathias scored on another layup and senior Meghan Douglas drilled a 3 to extend the Redbirds' lead to 17-4 with about 10 minutes left in the half. Mathias added 15 points and senior Kennedy Rankin chipped in 11.
"We have a pretty balanced team inside and outside," Darlington coach Kelly Rose said. "From beyond the 3 we have pretty good shooters and we have good post players inside. We like to push the pace and run."
Darlington led at the half 43-16 and the lead snowballed from there. Doulas scored down low to open the second half. Moments later, Meyers scored on a layup and Mathias hit a jumper that gave the Redbirds a 32-point lead, 53-21.
When the Redbirds went to their bench against the Vanguards there was no drop off. Darlington extended its lead as it ballooned to 30 points and then hit 40 and a running clock with 9 minutes to go in the second half.
"We have a team mindset that we don't let up," Rose said. "For whoever is on the floor we are not letting up. We have to keep teaching our strategy and our game. I'm definitely proud of our productivity on offense. I don't think we took care of the basketball in the halfcourt as well as we could have."
Darlington made six 3-pointers. Both Meyers and Rankin each hit two 3s. The Redbirds also did the job at the free-throw line shooting 70.3 percent (19 of 27).
"We were poised with our shooting tonight," Rose said. "I'm really proud of them."
Rose is aware that beating Mineral Point a third time tonight will not be easy.
"Both Mineral Point and Boscobel are conference teams we have played twice and each of them has given us a good game," she said. "We have to be ready to go."
The Darlington girls basketball team was clicking on all cylinders from the opening tip and rolled to an 82-38 win over Wisconsin Heights in a WIAA Division 4 regional semifinal Friday. The Redbirds knocked off Wisconsin Heights in a regional championship game last year 54-47. What a difference a year makes.
"Our defense was definitely a lot better in this game than the last time we played them," Meyers said. "It was nice to see us force turnovers and score off of them. It was nice to play a team game and have that success."
With the win, Darlington (18-4) advances and will host SWAL rival Mineral Point in a regional championship game tonight. Before finding out who won the game, Meyers was already looking forward to a third game this year against the Pointers. Darlington swept the two league games against the Pointers.
"It's always nice top play Point at home," Meyers said. "I feel like we are just as athletic as last year. I can see us, if we keep playing like we have been, getting back to the sectional."
The Redbirds, which made a run to the sectional final last year, opened the game with a 21-4 run. Meyers, who scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed eight rebounds, knocked down a 3-pointer to open the game. The Redbirds forced turnovers, which led to a lot of scoring chances on the break. Meyers hit her second 3 and junior Kathleen Mathias scored on a layup to give the Redbirds a 10-2 lead with 12 minutes, 2 seconds left in the first half.
Mathias scored on another layup and senior Meghan Douglas drilled a 3 to extend the Redbirds' lead to 17-4 with about 10 minutes left in the half. Mathias added 15 points and senior Kennedy Rankin chipped in 11.
"We have a pretty balanced team inside and outside," Darlington coach Kelly Rose said. "From beyond the 3 we have pretty good shooters and we have good post players inside. We like to push the pace and run."
Darlington led at the half 43-16 and the lead snowballed from there. Doulas scored down low to open the second half. Moments later, Meyers scored on a layup and Mathias hit a jumper that gave the Redbirds a 32-point lead, 53-21.
When the Redbirds went to their bench against the Vanguards there was no drop off. Darlington extended its lead as it ballooned to 30 points and then hit 40 and a running clock with 9 minutes to go in the second half.
"We have a team mindset that we don't let up," Rose said. "For whoever is on the floor we are not letting up. We have to keep teaching our strategy and our game. I'm definitely proud of our productivity on offense. I don't think we took care of the basketball in the halfcourt as well as we could have."
Darlington made six 3-pointers. Both Meyers and Rankin each hit two 3s. The Redbirds also did the job at the free-throw line shooting 70.3 percent (19 of 27).
"We were poised with our shooting tonight," Rose said. "I'm really proud of them."
Rose is aware that beating Mineral Point a third time tonight will not be easy.
"Both Mineral Point and Boscobel are conference teams we have played twice and each of them has given us a good game," she said. "We have to be ready to go."
