EVANSVILLE - Black Hawk's girls basketball team was in its fourth-straight WIAA Division 4 sectional semifinal game at Evansville Thursday. Albany was there for the first time since 2001. Experience won.
"It's exciting," Black Hawk senior forward Kim Wellnitz said after the Warrior's 54-28 victory. "We've been there before and we know it's exciting and you get nervous and you don't know what to feel - but once your there you just give it your heart and play it out. It could be the last game."
Both teams met up for the third time this season, both taking severely different paths to get there. Black Hawk (25-1) has set a school record for most wins in a season, while Albany (13-11) overcame a late-season lull to rattle off three-straight postseason wins and grab a regional title.
"We've lived on our defense all year," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "We are pretty tenacious on defense whether its in the first quarter or the fourth quarter, and that's what I think the difference was in the game."
The Warriors won the first two meetings by a combined 61 points, and their press-filled defense flustered Albany's guards once again.
"They have so many weapons," Albany head coach Mike Brunhoefer said. "I thought we played real well. But (Black Hawk is) a good team. They are very well coached and I look forward to getting a day off and going up to watch them at state."
An 11-0 run in the first quarter gave the Warriors a double-digit advantage early, but the Comets worked their way back to make it 17-10 headed into the second. At halftime, Black Hawk led 22-16 but was struggling with fouls and running the offense.
"I thought defensively we were pretty solid in that first half," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "We shot pretty atrociously in that first half. In our offensive possessions we were getting our shots off a bit to early I think and we talked about getting the ball into Kim Wellnitz. Good things happen when Kim gets the ball."
In the second half, the Warriors turned to Wellnitz and junior shooter Rachel Rygh, who dropped seven of her game-high 17 points in the third.
"Coach always tells me to keep shooting. I'll have an off night and I'll have an on night," Rygh said. "We had some of our key players in foul trouble and we weren't getting into the offense the way we wanted to. In the second half things just ran more smoothly."
Black Hawk opened the third on a 9-0 run, giving itself a cushion. Rygh and Wellnitz, a senior forward who scored 14 points, worked the inside-out to perfection, putting enough pressure on Albany's defense that the Warriors were able to take advantage of.
"We were really concerned about the first three minutes of the second half," Brunhoefer said. "We wanted to weather the storm and I thought for the most part we did. We talked about who were going to try and stop. I said we much rather keep working on Kim (Wellnitz) and make them hit from the outside, but doggone it, to Rachel's credit, she goes out and nails those 3s."
Wellnitz, who struggled with free throw shooting in the regional final win against Barneveld, was 3 for 4 from the line down the stretch.
"It took a lot of relief off," she said. "Coach (Bruce) Jackson told me I wasn't following through, but once I followed through they started going down."
The Warriors outscored the Comets 15-6 in the third and stalled away the fourth.
"We got a little flustered in the first half," Wellnitz said. "We had to limit our fouls and stop reaching."
Albany's top scoring threat, Hayli Peach, couldn't get into a groove. Rygh, who stands 5-foot, 10-inches, kept the 5-5 Peach at bay for much of the night.
"I knew it would be tough coming in. I thought we could keep with them, and at halftime it was close. But then they just stalled and drew us out of our defense and we couldn't do much against them," Peach said, who scored 11 points. Sydney Bump led Albany with 13 points.
Black Hawk will get a day to rest its legs before traveling to Fort Atkinson to face Central Wisconsin Christian, which edged Manitowoc Lutheran in triple-overtime, 46-44. The winner will qualify for the state semifinals, which will be played next week at the Kohl Center in Madison.
"It's so exciting - it's the best feeling in the world," Rygh said. "Last year we made it all the way to the first game of state and that was just really fun, I can't wait. I want to do it again. Some teams may get into a bit of shock once they get there (Madison), but we know what it's like.
Albany will not be suiting up any more this year, but Brunhoefer was proud of his team's effort. The Comets played the entire year without a senior on their roster.
"Now they've gotten a taste for it. They never have been to the regional finals, at least not in nine years. Now we've won it, we come here and give a good showing. It's is nothing to hang their heads about. Black Hawk's a good team," Brunhoefer said.
"It's exciting," Black Hawk senior forward Kim Wellnitz said after the Warrior's 54-28 victory. "We've been there before and we know it's exciting and you get nervous and you don't know what to feel - but once your there you just give it your heart and play it out. It could be the last game."
Both teams met up for the third time this season, both taking severely different paths to get there. Black Hawk (25-1) has set a school record for most wins in a season, while Albany (13-11) overcame a late-season lull to rattle off three-straight postseason wins and grab a regional title.
"We've lived on our defense all year," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "We are pretty tenacious on defense whether its in the first quarter or the fourth quarter, and that's what I think the difference was in the game."
The Warriors won the first two meetings by a combined 61 points, and their press-filled defense flustered Albany's guards once again.
"They have so many weapons," Albany head coach Mike Brunhoefer said. "I thought we played real well. But (Black Hawk is) a good team. They are very well coached and I look forward to getting a day off and going up to watch them at state."
An 11-0 run in the first quarter gave the Warriors a double-digit advantage early, but the Comets worked their way back to make it 17-10 headed into the second. At halftime, Black Hawk led 22-16 but was struggling with fouls and running the offense.
"I thought defensively we were pretty solid in that first half," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "We shot pretty atrociously in that first half. In our offensive possessions we were getting our shots off a bit to early I think and we talked about getting the ball into Kim Wellnitz. Good things happen when Kim gets the ball."
In the second half, the Warriors turned to Wellnitz and junior shooter Rachel Rygh, who dropped seven of her game-high 17 points in the third.
"Coach always tells me to keep shooting. I'll have an off night and I'll have an on night," Rygh said. "We had some of our key players in foul trouble and we weren't getting into the offense the way we wanted to. In the second half things just ran more smoothly."
Black Hawk opened the third on a 9-0 run, giving itself a cushion. Rygh and Wellnitz, a senior forward who scored 14 points, worked the inside-out to perfection, putting enough pressure on Albany's defense that the Warriors were able to take advantage of.
"We were really concerned about the first three minutes of the second half," Brunhoefer said. "We wanted to weather the storm and I thought for the most part we did. We talked about who were going to try and stop. I said we much rather keep working on Kim (Wellnitz) and make them hit from the outside, but doggone it, to Rachel's credit, she goes out and nails those 3s."
Wellnitz, who struggled with free throw shooting in the regional final win against Barneveld, was 3 for 4 from the line down the stretch.
"It took a lot of relief off," she said. "Coach (Bruce) Jackson told me I wasn't following through, but once I followed through they started going down."
The Warriors outscored the Comets 15-6 in the third and stalled away the fourth.
"We got a little flustered in the first half," Wellnitz said. "We had to limit our fouls and stop reaching."
Albany's top scoring threat, Hayli Peach, couldn't get into a groove. Rygh, who stands 5-foot, 10-inches, kept the 5-5 Peach at bay for much of the night.
"I knew it would be tough coming in. I thought we could keep with them, and at halftime it was close. But then they just stalled and drew us out of our defense and we couldn't do much against them," Peach said, who scored 11 points. Sydney Bump led Albany with 13 points.
Black Hawk will get a day to rest its legs before traveling to Fort Atkinson to face Central Wisconsin Christian, which edged Manitowoc Lutheran in triple-overtime, 46-44. The winner will qualify for the state semifinals, which will be played next week at the Kohl Center in Madison.
"It's so exciting - it's the best feeling in the world," Rygh said. "Last year we made it all the way to the first game of state and that was just really fun, I can't wait. I want to do it again. Some teams may get into a bit of shock once they get there (Madison), but we know what it's like.
Albany will not be suiting up any more this year, but Brunhoefer was proud of his team's effort. The Comets played the entire year without a senior on their roster.
"Now they've gotten a taste for it. They never have been to the regional finals, at least not in nine years. Now we've won it, we come here and give a good showing. It's is nothing to hang their heads about. Black Hawk's a good team," Brunhoefer said.
