MONTICELLO - Staying on the floor and out of foul trouble was a battle Friday night, when the Black Hawk girls basketball team withstood upset-minded Monticello for a 58-50 victory.
With Monticello sophomore Marissa Berg on the bench in foul trouble, the Ponies had the Warriors on the ropes early in the fourth quarter. Monticello freshman Alyssah Kubly drilled a
3-pointer to give the Ponies a 47-42 lead with about 6 minutes to go.
Berg came back into the game for 10 seconds before she fouled out with 5:28 left battling for a loose ball.
"I lost Berg in the fourth quarter and that really hurt," Monticello coach Tom Eveland said.
"The officials did a great job. It was just a judgment call. It happens. I am very proud of the girls. They left everything out on the court."
Black Hawk sophomore Jen Wellnitz, who scored a game-high 24 points, said Berg fouling out was a big turning point. The Warriors (13-1, 6-0 Six Rivers East) went on an 11-0 run after Kubly's
3-pointer and Berg fouled out to seize control of the game.
"I was really happy to see Marissa foul out," Wellnitz said. "She's such a weapon. I tried to keep from fouling."
Wellnitz hit a jumper in the lane to give the Warriors a 48-47 lead to key the spurt. Black Hawk senior Kayla Meier knocked down a jumper and senior Chaesta Shager drilled a clutch 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to give the Warriors a 51-47 lead. Meier finished with 15 points.
"We really wanted to win this game," Wellnitz said. "I know everyone started doubting us after we lost to Randolph on Saturday. We are still a good team. We can have some bad games like everyone else."
The Ponies (8-7, 4-3) played a 2-3 zone throughout the game to combat the Warriors' size. Wellnitz time and again penetrated the zone.
Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said a player may take a shot that coaches think is too quick or ill-advised.
"Chaesta made a big 3-pointer," Flanagan said. "Sometimes kids just make plays when you least expect it."
Flanagan credited Wellnitz's ability to penetrate the zone for creating scoring chances.
"The more Jen is under control, the better we are," Flanagan said. "The more she penetrates, the more she opens up looks for Kayla and Kate Quinn."
The Ponies shot 52 percent (13-for-25) in the first half. Berg scored seven points in the first quarter as Monticello took a 17-13 lead.
Black Hawk senior Kate Quinn scored on a putback and Wellnitz had a steal and layup to give the Warriors a 25-21 lead.
Meier scored on two inbounds plays and Katie Powers had a steal and layup to give the Warriors a 32-23 lead late in the second quarter. Monticello seniors Katie Gierhart and Becky Nelson each hit 3-pointers late in the period to cut the Warriors' halftime lead to 34-29.
Kubly scored 12 points to lead the Ponies. Nelson scored 11 points and Berg added 10.
"We have been long overdue shooting," Eveland said. "Our shooting is starting to come around."
Both teams struggled shooting in the third quarter. However, the Ponies were able to battle back with three Black Hawk starters on the bench in foul trouble.
Kubly drilled a 3-pointer at the end of the quarter to give the Ponies a 42-40 lead.
"We knew we had to play hard on defense and get through screens," Meier said. "We know they always shoot well on their home floor."
Black Hawk is entering a stretch where it will play three games in six days, including a big conference showdown with No. 5-ranked Barneveld on Saturday, Feb. 11.
"We are not looking that far ahead," Flanagan said. "We will worry about that game when we come to it. We have to get ready for Parkview and Albany. We just want to play better."
With Monticello sophomore Marissa Berg on the bench in foul trouble, the Ponies had the Warriors on the ropes early in the fourth quarter. Monticello freshman Alyssah Kubly drilled a
3-pointer to give the Ponies a 47-42 lead with about 6 minutes to go.
Berg came back into the game for 10 seconds before she fouled out with 5:28 left battling for a loose ball.
"I lost Berg in the fourth quarter and that really hurt," Monticello coach Tom Eveland said.
"The officials did a great job. It was just a judgment call. It happens. I am very proud of the girls. They left everything out on the court."
Black Hawk sophomore Jen Wellnitz, who scored a game-high 24 points, said Berg fouling out was a big turning point. The Warriors (13-1, 6-0 Six Rivers East) went on an 11-0 run after Kubly's
3-pointer and Berg fouled out to seize control of the game.
"I was really happy to see Marissa foul out," Wellnitz said. "She's such a weapon. I tried to keep from fouling."
Wellnitz hit a jumper in the lane to give the Warriors a 48-47 lead to key the spurt. Black Hawk senior Kayla Meier knocked down a jumper and senior Chaesta Shager drilled a clutch 3-pointer midway through the fourth quarter to give the Warriors a 51-47 lead. Meier finished with 15 points.
"We really wanted to win this game," Wellnitz said. "I know everyone started doubting us after we lost to Randolph on Saturday. We are still a good team. We can have some bad games like everyone else."
The Ponies (8-7, 4-3) played a 2-3 zone throughout the game to combat the Warriors' size. Wellnitz time and again penetrated the zone.
Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said a player may take a shot that coaches think is too quick or ill-advised.
"Chaesta made a big 3-pointer," Flanagan said. "Sometimes kids just make plays when you least expect it."
Flanagan credited Wellnitz's ability to penetrate the zone for creating scoring chances.
"The more Jen is under control, the better we are," Flanagan said. "The more she penetrates, the more she opens up looks for Kayla and Kate Quinn."
The Ponies shot 52 percent (13-for-25) in the first half. Berg scored seven points in the first quarter as Monticello took a 17-13 lead.
Black Hawk senior Kate Quinn scored on a putback and Wellnitz had a steal and layup to give the Warriors a 25-21 lead.
Meier scored on two inbounds plays and Katie Powers had a steal and layup to give the Warriors a 32-23 lead late in the second quarter. Monticello seniors Katie Gierhart and Becky Nelson each hit 3-pointers late in the period to cut the Warriors' halftime lead to 34-29.
Kubly scored 12 points to lead the Ponies. Nelson scored 11 points and Berg added 10.
"We have been long overdue shooting," Eveland said. "Our shooting is starting to come around."
Both teams struggled shooting in the third quarter. However, the Ponies were able to battle back with three Black Hawk starters on the bench in foul trouble.
Kubly drilled a 3-pointer at the end of the quarter to give the Ponies a 42-40 lead.
"We knew we had to play hard on defense and get through screens," Meier said. "We know they always shoot well on their home floor."
Black Hawk is entering a stretch where it will play three games in six days, including a big conference showdown with No. 5-ranked Barneveld on Saturday, Feb. 11.
"We are not looking that far ahead," Flanagan said. "We will worry about that game when we come to it. We have to get ready for Parkview and Albany. We just want to play better."
