MONTICELLO - Black Hawk junior Jen Wellnitz had the WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal game against Monticello circled on her calendar.
Wellnitz scored a game-high 26 points and had six steals to propel the Warriors to a 40-37 win over the Ponies Friday night. With the win, Black Hawk (15-9) advances to play at Barneveld, ranked No. 2, for a regional title tonight.
"I felt like it was a mission," said Wellnitz of her team's win against the Ponies, which had beat them twice this year. "You can't come in here and take these guys lightly. It's an honor to beat Monticello on their home floor because they are a good ballclub."
Monticello sophomore Alyssah Kubly scored on a layup with 44 seconds left to cut the Warriors' lead to 38-37, but Wellnitz answered by slashing to the basket for a layup to put the Warriors up 40-37. With 12 seconds to go, Monticello coach Lori Brokopp called a timeout. Brokopp said she wanted to set up a 3-pointer for Kubly or junior Marissa Berg. The ball went in to Kubly but before she could get a shot off Wellnitz poked it away. Black Hawk junior Michelle Flanagan came up with the loose ball and was fouled. She missed the free throw, but a fullcourt shot by the Ponies (17-7) went awry before the buzzer.
"It was frustrating," Brokopp said. "We have had this play in and practiced it several times. To not get a shot off is a little disappointing. Jen got her hands on a lot of balls and tipped them. They just made a few more plays than we did."
Early on, it was all Black Hawk, which went on an 11-0 first quarter run fueled by some hot shooting and a fullcourt press that forced the Ponies into 13 turnovers. Flanagan and Wellnitz each knocked down 3-pointers to spark the Warriors' surge. Black Hawk senior Abby Schiferl, who scored five of her seven points in the first quarter, then was able to score down low. Wellnitz later scored on a layup to give the Warriors an 11-point lead. Schiferl drilled a 3-pointer to give the Warriors their largest lead at 18-6, with 2:18 to go in the period.
"We have used that press the last couple of games," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We put it in against Albany. I tried not to advertise it a whole lot. I'm not sure if (Monticello) heard that we were pressing. Tonight, I think we might have stayed with it a bit too long and it was less effective.
"We couldn't have shot it a whole lot better than we did early on. In the first two games against Monticello they came out and got the lead and we were fighting to get back in it. The shoe was on the other foot tonight. 'Throw the first punches' is a line we use a lot."
Even though the Warriors were able to throw the first punches jumping out to an 11-point lead, the Ponies rallied. Berg converted a three-point play to cut the Warriors' lead to 18-12. Monticello senior Amy Silver hit a jumper at the end of the first quarter to slice the Warriors' lead to 18-14.
The Ponies pulled to within one point on a couple occasions but were never able to take the lead. Both teams struggled shooting in the third quarter, as the Warriors outscored the Ponies just 4-2 in the period. Wellnitz scored on a layup midway through the third quarter to push the lead to five.
Berg scored a team-high nine points to lead the Ponies. Sophomore Courtney Leuzinger and Kubly each added six points.
"We probably couldn't have shot it any worse than in the second and third quarters," Mike Flanagan said. "We knew they were going to get after you. You know they are well coached. We weathered the storm. We win grinders. That is how we are built."
The Ponies didn't go quietly, though.
Silver made a fade away jumper with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter that cut the Warriors' lead to 36-35. Wellnitz made two free throws with 1:36 to go before the frantic finish in the final seconds.
Brokopp's message to her team after the nail-biting loss was clear.
"After a season-ending loss, there is no reason to dwell on it too much," she said. "We got down 8 or 10 points and they didn't hang their heads. They kept firing away. I thanked the seniors for their dedication to the program and experience they brought to the team. I told the underclassmen they have to put this in a place so you remember it and remember the sting of this game. I told them they can't take second place in the conference away from them."
Black Hawk has a short turnaround before playing Barneveld in a regional title game tonight. Mike Flanagan is well aware the odds are stacked against his team. Barneveld went unbeaten in the conference. winning by an average of 30 points.
"It's all about stars aligning," Flanagan said. "We have to hope they feel a little bit of pressure playing in a big game at home. We have nothing to lose. We are not supposed to have a chance. In games where you are not supposed to be in it, sometimes your team responds."
Wellnitz scored a game-high 26 points and had six steals to propel the Warriors to a 40-37 win over the Ponies Friday night. With the win, Black Hawk (15-9) advances to play at Barneveld, ranked No. 2, for a regional title tonight.
"I felt like it was a mission," said Wellnitz of her team's win against the Ponies, which had beat them twice this year. "You can't come in here and take these guys lightly. It's an honor to beat Monticello on their home floor because they are a good ballclub."
Monticello sophomore Alyssah Kubly scored on a layup with 44 seconds left to cut the Warriors' lead to 38-37, but Wellnitz answered by slashing to the basket for a layup to put the Warriors up 40-37. With 12 seconds to go, Monticello coach Lori Brokopp called a timeout. Brokopp said she wanted to set up a 3-pointer for Kubly or junior Marissa Berg. The ball went in to Kubly but before she could get a shot off Wellnitz poked it away. Black Hawk junior Michelle Flanagan came up with the loose ball and was fouled. She missed the free throw, but a fullcourt shot by the Ponies (17-7) went awry before the buzzer.
"It was frustrating," Brokopp said. "We have had this play in and practiced it several times. To not get a shot off is a little disappointing. Jen got her hands on a lot of balls and tipped them. They just made a few more plays than we did."
Early on, it was all Black Hawk, which went on an 11-0 first quarter run fueled by some hot shooting and a fullcourt press that forced the Ponies into 13 turnovers. Flanagan and Wellnitz each knocked down 3-pointers to spark the Warriors' surge. Black Hawk senior Abby Schiferl, who scored five of her seven points in the first quarter, then was able to score down low. Wellnitz later scored on a layup to give the Warriors an 11-point lead. Schiferl drilled a 3-pointer to give the Warriors their largest lead at 18-6, with 2:18 to go in the period.
"We have used that press the last couple of games," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We put it in against Albany. I tried not to advertise it a whole lot. I'm not sure if (Monticello) heard that we were pressing. Tonight, I think we might have stayed with it a bit too long and it was less effective.
"We couldn't have shot it a whole lot better than we did early on. In the first two games against Monticello they came out and got the lead and we were fighting to get back in it. The shoe was on the other foot tonight. 'Throw the first punches' is a line we use a lot."
Even though the Warriors were able to throw the first punches jumping out to an 11-point lead, the Ponies rallied. Berg converted a three-point play to cut the Warriors' lead to 18-12. Monticello senior Amy Silver hit a jumper at the end of the first quarter to slice the Warriors' lead to 18-14.
The Ponies pulled to within one point on a couple occasions but were never able to take the lead. Both teams struggled shooting in the third quarter, as the Warriors outscored the Ponies just 4-2 in the period. Wellnitz scored on a layup midway through the third quarter to push the lead to five.
Berg scored a team-high nine points to lead the Ponies. Sophomore Courtney Leuzinger and Kubly each added six points.
"We probably couldn't have shot it any worse than in the second and third quarters," Mike Flanagan said. "We knew they were going to get after you. You know they are well coached. We weathered the storm. We win grinders. That is how we are built."
The Ponies didn't go quietly, though.
Silver made a fade away jumper with 2:41 left in the fourth quarter that cut the Warriors' lead to 36-35. Wellnitz made two free throws with 1:36 to go before the frantic finish in the final seconds.
Brokopp's message to her team after the nail-biting loss was clear.
"After a season-ending loss, there is no reason to dwell on it too much," she said. "We got down 8 or 10 points and they didn't hang their heads. They kept firing away. I thanked the seniors for their dedication to the program and experience they brought to the team. I told the underclassmen they have to put this in a place so you remember it and remember the sting of this game. I told them they can't take second place in the conference away from them."
Black Hawk has a short turnaround before playing Barneveld in a regional title game tonight. Mike Flanagan is well aware the odds are stacked against his team. Barneveld went unbeaten in the conference. winning by an average of 30 points.
"It's all about stars aligning," Flanagan said. "We have to hope they feel a little bit of pressure playing in a big game at home. We have nothing to lose. We are not supposed to have a chance. In games where you are not supposed to be in it, sometimes your team responds."
