FORT ATKINSON - From the moment Black Hawk High School added a girls basketball program, the dreams of the Warriors playing in the state tournament started. After 30-plus years, that dream has become a reality.
"This is a dream come true," junior Kim Wellnitz said after Black Hawk's 44-30 victory over Randolph in the Division 4 Fort Atkinson Sectional Final on Saturday.
"My heart is just racing, I am so excited. I can't describe it."
Senior Paige Butler shared similar feelings.
"We did it! It's like a dream come true," she said.
The Warriors stuck to their usual game plan for the entire 32 minutes, something usually easier said than done.
"It wasn't easy," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "Randolph brought it. Everybody at this stage of the game understands where they are at and they are hungry."
The Rockets posed as a threat to Black Hawk, with senior 6-foot, 1-inch center Brittany Alsum guarding the lane, as well as having the ability to put herself into scoring position on every possession.
Randolph scored the first basket, and it took Black Hawk several shots, including multiple 3-point attempts, to put a shot through the hoop. However, it was Butler doing what she and the team have done all year - hitting a big 3.
"That always kind of happens - we hit a 3 at the beginning of the game. I don't know why, but we just do it. And that just makes us come alive," Butler said.
Butler's 3 with 6 minutes, 25 seconds left to play in the first quarter gave the Warriors a 3-2 lead. That lead soon vanished, and Black Hawk found itself down 6-3 midway through the first.
That's when the defense and fast-tempo game started taking over. Gabi Lehner had four steals in the first quarter, three coming in a minute stretch that saw the Warriors turn the deficit into an 8-6 lead.
However, Black Hawk trailed after the first quarter, 10-8.
In the second quarter, the two teams kept at it. Black Hawk scored the first six points on two big 3s from Butler and senior guard Maria Meives. By halftime, the score was tied 20-20 and the toe-tapping in the stands began.
"Some of our girls stood up in the locker room and challenged each other. We came out with a renewed intensity," Flanagan said. "We made some adjustments in our press and we got to them a little bit. That was the difference. We got them on the run and we took care of the basketball."
In the third, Black Hawk took off, though not because of any stylish drives to the basket or transition hoops. Instead, it was the fundamentals that took over, particularly free throw shooting.
"I can't stand when we don't shoot free throws well. (Free throws) win or lose ball games, and we had to make those shots. It's a mental thing, and they made it count," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk went to the line seven times off eight Rocket fouls in the third quarter. In those seven trips, Black Hawk went 8-for-12. Combined with a late 3 by Butler, the Warriors outscored Randolph 11-6 in the frame.
Black Hawk's endurance and depth provided the final push in the fourth.
"Our team is very fast and has lots of endurance. We just keep working hard and (Randolph) just got tired," Butler said.
Alsum & Co. had trouble running up and down the court, and both Kim and Melissa Wellnitz used the Rockets' fatigue to their advantage, driving uncontested to the hoop and putting the game further out of reach with every possession.
"When we started getting ahead and we saw the open layups coming, we just had to take it," Kim Wellnitz said.
When the clock finally showed less than a minute remaining, the Warriors cleared their bench, and the victory cheers ensued.
"We had to play out to the end. We knew the game wasn't going to be over until the clock ran out," Wellnitz added.
Butler finished with a game-high 16 points and Kim Wellnitz added 13. In all, seven Warriors scribbled numbers into the scorebook.
Now the Warriors have a week to practice and prepare for Six Rivers West champion Potosi. The Chieftains gave Black Hawk their first loss of the season, while Black Hawk topped Potosi just a week earlier.
"It's cautious optimism," Flanagan said of what the win means to the team. "Now we have to find a way to refocus. If we're going to take the time to go up to Madison, we might as well go there to win. We've got bigger dreams.
"(Playing Potosi) is what it is. We split with them before and now we get to face them on a neutral court. But, hey, why wouldn't you want to go and play a good basketball team? They're well coached and both teams are going to give it their all. The best team, the one who makes the most plays, will win that one," Flanagan said of the Division 4 semifinal .
Tipoff is at for 9:05 a.m. Friday at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Tickets, for $8 apiece, are available at the high school until 4 p.m. Tuesday. There also will be a fan bus traveling to the game. Tickets for the fan bus are $2 with the requirement of an already purchased ticket to the game.
"This is a dream come true," junior Kim Wellnitz said after Black Hawk's 44-30 victory over Randolph in the Division 4 Fort Atkinson Sectional Final on Saturday.
"My heart is just racing, I am so excited. I can't describe it."
Senior Paige Butler shared similar feelings.
"We did it! It's like a dream come true," she said.
The Warriors stuck to their usual game plan for the entire 32 minutes, something usually easier said than done.
"It wasn't easy," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "Randolph brought it. Everybody at this stage of the game understands where they are at and they are hungry."
The Rockets posed as a threat to Black Hawk, with senior 6-foot, 1-inch center Brittany Alsum guarding the lane, as well as having the ability to put herself into scoring position on every possession.
Randolph scored the first basket, and it took Black Hawk several shots, including multiple 3-point attempts, to put a shot through the hoop. However, it was Butler doing what she and the team have done all year - hitting a big 3.
"That always kind of happens - we hit a 3 at the beginning of the game. I don't know why, but we just do it. And that just makes us come alive," Butler said.
Butler's 3 with 6 minutes, 25 seconds left to play in the first quarter gave the Warriors a 3-2 lead. That lead soon vanished, and Black Hawk found itself down 6-3 midway through the first.
That's when the defense and fast-tempo game started taking over. Gabi Lehner had four steals in the first quarter, three coming in a minute stretch that saw the Warriors turn the deficit into an 8-6 lead.
However, Black Hawk trailed after the first quarter, 10-8.
In the second quarter, the two teams kept at it. Black Hawk scored the first six points on two big 3s from Butler and senior guard Maria Meives. By halftime, the score was tied 20-20 and the toe-tapping in the stands began.
"Some of our girls stood up in the locker room and challenged each other. We came out with a renewed intensity," Flanagan said. "We made some adjustments in our press and we got to them a little bit. That was the difference. We got them on the run and we took care of the basketball."
In the third, Black Hawk took off, though not because of any stylish drives to the basket or transition hoops. Instead, it was the fundamentals that took over, particularly free throw shooting.
"I can't stand when we don't shoot free throws well. (Free throws) win or lose ball games, and we had to make those shots. It's a mental thing, and they made it count," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk went to the line seven times off eight Rocket fouls in the third quarter. In those seven trips, Black Hawk went 8-for-12. Combined with a late 3 by Butler, the Warriors outscored Randolph 11-6 in the frame.
Black Hawk's endurance and depth provided the final push in the fourth.
"Our team is very fast and has lots of endurance. We just keep working hard and (Randolph) just got tired," Butler said.
Alsum & Co. had trouble running up and down the court, and both Kim and Melissa Wellnitz used the Rockets' fatigue to their advantage, driving uncontested to the hoop and putting the game further out of reach with every possession.
"When we started getting ahead and we saw the open layups coming, we just had to take it," Kim Wellnitz said.
When the clock finally showed less than a minute remaining, the Warriors cleared their bench, and the victory cheers ensued.
"We had to play out to the end. We knew the game wasn't going to be over until the clock ran out," Wellnitz added.
Butler finished with a game-high 16 points and Kim Wellnitz added 13. In all, seven Warriors scribbled numbers into the scorebook.
Now the Warriors have a week to practice and prepare for Six Rivers West champion Potosi. The Chieftains gave Black Hawk their first loss of the season, while Black Hawk topped Potosi just a week earlier.
"It's cautious optimism," Flanagan said of what the win means to the team. "Now we have to find a way to refocus. If we're going to take the time to go up to Madison, we might as well go there to win. We've got bigger dreams.
"(Playing Potosi) is what it is. We split with them before and now we get to face them on a neutral court. But, hey, why wouldn't you want to go and play a good basketball team? They're well coached and both teams are going to give it their all. The best team, the one who makes the most plays, will win that one," Flanagan said of the Division 4 semifinal .
Tipoff is at for 9:05 a.m. Friday at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. Tickets, for $8 apiece, are available at the high school until 4 p.m. Tuesday. There also will be a fan bus traveling to the game. Tickets for the fan bus are $2 with the requirement of an already purchased ticket to the game.
