SOUTH WAYNE - For a second straight game, the Black Hawk Warriors limited an opponent to just two points in the first quarter en route to a 44-34 win over Rio Friday night in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal.
Black Hawk forced the Vikings to commit eight turnovers in the first quarter while sprinting out to a 9-2 first quarter lead and a 37-17 advantage through three quarters. Black Hawk forced the Vikings to commit eight turnovers in the first quarter while sprinting out to a 9-2 first quarter lead and a 37-17 advantage through three quarters.
Senior Kayla Meier scored 14 points and sophomore Jen Wellnitz put together an impressive line of 11 points, 13 rebounds, and five steals to lead the Warriors. Rio came alive in the fourth quarter with a 17-7 edge to make the final margin 10 points.
"We played really well for three quarters," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "The win would've been a little more rewarding if we would've just played well all four quarters."
Black Hawk (21-2) will host No. 4 seed Randolph (19-5) for the Division 5 regional championship tonight. The Warriors will be looking to avenge a 56-43 loss to the Rockets in a non-conference game on Jan. 28.
"We're just thankful to have another game and another opportunity," Flanagan said.
No 4 Randolph 47, No. 5 Juda 39
RANDOLPH - The Randolph Rockets scored 16 of their 18 fourth quarter points at the free throw line to turn back the Panthers in a Division 5 regional semifinal.
Juda fought back from a 20-13 halftime deficit to draw to within 29-26 to begin the fourth quarter. With under 2 minutes to play, the Panthers closed the gap to 39-37, then 41-39 after a pair of Randolph free throws and a Juda field goal. But, the Rockets connected on six free throws to close out the game.
"We were a little cold shooting the ball early and that hurt," said Juda head coach Curtis Brown. "We played a really good first half, but we needed to do that for the whole game."
Seniors C.J. Dunwiddie and Ellen Kiser each scored 11 points to lead the Panthers. Brown acknowledged the role of four seniors, Dunwiddie, Kiser, Katlyn Devoe, and Amber Ramos in a successful season that ended with a record of 16-8.
"The hard part is saying good-bye to a special group of seniors," he said.
Dunwiddie was a four year starter for Juda, and Kiser, a University of North Dakota recruit, started 86 straight games for Juda.
Barneveld 50, Monticello 40
BARNEVELD - The Ponies had no answer for Barneveld freshman Rachel Slaney who scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Eagles past the Ponies in a Division 5 regional semifinal.
Slaney scored 11 of her team's 13 points in the second quarter to help the Eagles take a 24-13 halftime lead. Monticello (11-12) came back in the third quarter to pull to within 33-28 but couldn't get any closer.
Freshman Alyssah Kubly paced the Ponies with 12 points and sophomore Marissa Berg added seven points.
Wisconsin Heights 68, New Glarus 50
NEW GLARUS - A second quarter drought cost the Glarner Knights in a Division 4 regional semifinal loss to the Vanguards Friday. New Glarus was outscored 19-6 in the second quarter which put them behind 36-21 at halftime.
The Glarner Knights couldn't mount a second half comeback and the Vanguards held senior Alycia Atwell (11.7 points per game) and junior Anya Schween (10.9) to eight and five points, respectively. New Glarus had beaten Wisconsin Heights twice during the regular season.
"They just came out ready to go," said New Glarus head coach Megan Scheele. "I don't know if they said we are not going to get beat a third time. They shot really well in the beginning and never looked back."
Sophomore Courtney Feller had a team-high 14 points and sophomore Sierra Watrud scored 10 for New Glarus (14-9).
Cambridge 49, Darlington 34
CAMBRIDGE - The Redbirds scored at the buzzer to end the first half and take a 21-20 halftime lead, but the Blue Jays limited Darlington just 13 points in the second half and put an end to the Redbirds' season in a Division 4 regional semifinal.
Senior Amy Jorgenson (20 points) and junior Claire Scott (12) combined to score 32 of Darlington's 34 points. Darlington, who reached the sectional semifinal last season, ends the season 15-9.
Black Hawk forced the Vikings to commit eight turnovers in the first quarter while sprinting out to a 9-2 first quarter lead and a 37-17 advantage through three quarters. Black Hawk forced the Vikings to commit eight turnovers in the first quarter while sprinting out to a 9-2 first quarter lead and a 37-17 advantage through three quarters.
Senior Kayla Meier scored 14 points and sophomore Jen Wellnitz put together an impressive line of 11 points, 13 rebounds, and five steals to lead the Warriors. Rio came alive in the fourth quarter with a 17-7 edge to make the final margin 10 points.
"We played really well for three quarters," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "The win would've been a little more rewarding if we would've just played well all four quarters."
Black Hawk (21-2) will host No. 4 seed Randolph (19-5) for the Division 5 regional championship tonight. The Warriors will be looking to avenge a 56-43 loss to the Rockets in a non-conference game on Jan. 28.
"We're just thankful to have another game and another opportunity," Flanagan said.
No 4 Randolph 47, No. 5 Juda 39
RANDOLPH - The Randolph Rockets scored 16 of their 18 fourth quarter points at the free throw line to turn back the Panthers in a Division 5 regional semifinal.
Juda fought back from a 20-13 halftime deficit to draw to within 29-26 to begin the fourth quarter. With under 2 minutes to play, the Panthers closed the gap to 39-37, then 41-39 after a pair of Randolph free throws and a Juda field goal. But, the Rockets connected on six free throws to close out the game.
"We were a little cold shooting the ball early and that hurt," said Juda head coach Curtis Brown. "We played a really good first half, but we needed to do that for the whole game."
Seniors C.J. Dunwiddie and Ellen Kiser each scored 11 points to lead the Panthers. Brown acknowledged the role of four seniors, Dunwiddie, Kiser, Katlyn Devoe, and Amber Ramos in a successful season that ended with a record of 16-8.
"The hard part is saying good-bye to a special group of seniors," he said.
Dunwiddie was a four year starter for Juda, and Kiser, a University of North Dakota recruit, started 86 straight games for Juda.
Barneveld 50, Monticello 40
BARNEVELD - The Ponies had no answer for Barneveld freshman Rachel Slaney who scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Eagles past the Ponies in a Division 5 regional semifinal.
Slaney scored 11 of her team's 13 points in the second quarter to help the Eagles take a 24-13 halftime lead. Monticello (11-12) came back in the third quarter to pull to within 33-28 but couldn't get any closer.
Freshman Alyssah Kubly paced the Ponies with 12 points and sophomore Marissa Berg added seven points.
Wisconsin Heights 68, New Glarus 50
NEW GLARUS - A second quarter drought cost the Glarner Knights in a Division 4 regional semifinal loss to the Vanguards Friday. New Glarus was outscored 19-6 in the second quarter which put them behind 36-21 at halftime.
The Glarner Knights couldn't mount a second half comeback and the Vanguards held senior Alycia Atwell (11.7 points per game) and junior Anya Schween (10.9) to eight and five points, respectively. New Glarus had beaten Wisconsin Heights twice during the regular season.
"They just came out ready to go," said New Glarus head coach Megan Scheele. "I don't know if they said we are not going to get beat a third time. They shot really well in the beginning and never looked back."
Sophomore Courtney Feller had a team-high 14 points and sophomore Sierra Watrud scored 10 for New Glarus (14-9).
Cambridge 49, Darlington 34
CAMBRIDGE - The Redbirds scored at the buzzer to end the first half and take a 21-20 halftime lead, but the Blue Jays limited Darlington just 13 points in the second half and put an end to the Redbirds' season in a Division 4 regional semifinal.
Senior Amy Jorgenson (20 points) and junior Claire Scott (12) combined to score 32 of Darlington's 34 points. Darlington, who reached the sectional semifinal last season, ends the season 15-9.
