MONTICELLO - It doesn't show up in the scorebook, but the dirty work Black Hawk senior Mikayla Sigafus did grabbing rebounds in the waning moments against Monticello was instrumental in the Warriors hanging on for a 47-45 win Friday.
Sigafus scored nine points, but her two offensive rebounds in the final 1 minute were pivotal in giving the Warriors second chance opportunities.
"That was huge," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said of Sigafus' offensive rebounds. "We always talk about making the hustle plays. Those plays don't always take talent. They take attitude and effort. You can't alter your speed and size, but you can alter your attitude and effort."
Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz, a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit, scored a game-high 23 points and had eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
"I think both teams always look forward to this game," Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. "It's always an exciting game. I feel like the intensity is just elevated between these two teams.
"Our struggles tonight were boxing out and rebounding. You want to go one and done. We could have had some more opportunities if we could have rebounded on defense. When you have your defense play hard and they shoot an awkward shot and they get the rebound that is the frustrating part."
Black Hawk (7-2, 5-0 Six Rivers East) used a 13-4 run from the end of the third quarter that spanned into the fourth to build an 11-point lead. Black Hawk senior Tessa Cushman drilled a 3-pointer and senior Michelle Flanagan scored on a putback to extend the Warriors' lead to 35-26 at the end of the third quarter.
Wellnitz scored on two layups early in the fourth quarter to give the Warriors a 39-28 lead. The Ponies (5-4, 1-3) rallied from the 11-point deficit with a 12-4 run. Monticello junior Jordan Garrison scored on a layup and senior Marissa Berg scored on a putback to cut the Warriors' lead to 43-35 with 3:10 left. Monticello junior Alyssah Kubly, who scored a team-high 17 points, had 12 rebounds and five steals, hit a jumper and Berg converted a conventional three-point play to slice the Warriors' lead to 43-40 with 2:02 to go.
Wellnitz scored on a layup with 1:02 left to give the Warriors a 45-41 lead. The Ponies made 2 of 4 free throws in the final 1:17 and the offensive rebounds by the Warriors proved to be too much to overcome.
Flanagan admires Kubly's game.
"There is not a team in the conference who wouldn't like to have her," Flanagan said of Kubly. "She is a weapon in many ways. She is one of the best shooters in our conference and she can take you off the bounce."
However, Flanagan wasn't happy about the Ponies storming back from an 11-point deficit.
"We blew the lead because we missed two wide open layups in transition, we took some quick shots and we fouled them," he said. "That is a the cardinal sin (fouling them) with a double digit lead. We have to get better at managing the end of the game."
Wellnitz didn't have her confidence shaken despite the Ponies' surge.
"They surprised me with the comeback," Wellnitz said. "My mindset didn't change. I still felt comfortable if we could bring it down and get a basket. If you get too heavy minded about it, it will mess you up because you are worrying too much about it."
Wellnitz always expects a game will come down to the fourth quarter against Monticello.
"You know it will always be a good game against Monticello," she said. "We are pretty evenly matched. It's always a challenge. These are the fun games."
Monticello junior Mackenzie Zanow gave the Ponies a lift off the bench scoring 10 points and Berg chipped in nine.
"I think Mackenzie has that ability," Brokopp said. "I knew she had it in her. I think she kind of gave us a spark tonight when we were down and hanging our heads. She came in and made plays and got everyone going."
Sigafus scored nine points, but her two offensive rebounds in the final 1 minute were pivotal in giving the Warriors second chance opportunities.
"That was huge," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said of Sigafus' offensive rebounds. "We always talk about making the hustle plays. Those plays don't always take talent. They take attitude and effort. You can't alter your speed and size, but you can alter your attitude and effort."
Black Hawk senior Jen Wellnitz, a University of Wisconsin-Green Bay recruit, scored a game-high 23 points and had eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.
"I think both teams always look forward to this game," Monticello coach Lori Brokopp said. "It's always an exciting game. I feel like the intensity is just elevated between these two teams.
"Our struggles tonight were boxing out and rebounding. You want to go one and done. We could have had some more opportunities if we could have rebounded on defense. When you have your defense play hard and they shoot an awkward shot and they get the rebound that is the frustrating part."
Black Hawk (7-2, 5-0 Six Rivers East) used a 13-4 run from the end of the third quarter that spanned into the fourth to build an 11-point lead. Black Hawk senior Tessa Cushman drilled a 3-pointer and senior Michelle Flanagan scored on a putback to extend the Warriors' lead to 35-26 at the end of the third quarter.
Wellnitz scored on two layups early in the fourth quarter to give the Warriors a 39-28 lead. The Ponies (5-4, 1-3) rallied from the 11-point deficit with a 12-4 run. Monticello junior Jordan Garrison scored on a layup and senior Marissa Berg scored on a putback to cut the Warriors' lead to 43-35 with 3:10 left. Monticello junior Alyssah Kubly, who scored a team-high 17 points, had 12 rebounds and five steals, hit a jumper and Berg converted a conventional three-point play to slice the Warriors' lead to 43-40 with 2:02 to go.
Wellnitz scored on a layup with 1:02 left to give the Warriors a 45-41 lead. The Ponies made 2 of 4 free throws in the final 1:17 and the offensive rebounds by the Warriors proved to be too much to overcome.
Flanagan admires Kubly's game.
"There is not a team in the conference who wouldn't like to have her," Flanagan said of Kubly. "She is a weapon in many ways. She is one of the best shooters in our conference and she can take you off the bounce."
However, Flanagan wasn't happy about the Ponies storming back from an 11-point deficit.
"We blew the lead because we missed two wide open layups in transition, we took some quick shots and we fouled them," he said. "That is a the cardinal sin (fouling them) with a double digit lead. We have to get better at managing the end of the game."
Wellnitz didn't have her confidence shaken despite the Ponies' surge.
"They surprised me with the comeback," Wellnitz said. "My mindset didn't change. I still felt comfortable if we could bring it down and get a basket. If you get too heavy minded about it, it will mess you up because you are worrying too much about it."
Wellnitz always expects a game will come down to the fourth quarter against Monticello.
"You know it will always be a good game against Monticello," she said. "We are pretty evenly matched. It's always a challenge. These are the fun games."
Monticello junior Mackenzie Zanow gave the Ponies a lift off the bench scoring 10 points and Berg chipped in nine.
"I think Mackenzie has that ability," Brokopp said. "I knew she had it in her. I think she kind of gave us a spark tonight when we were down and hanging our heads. She came in and made plays and got everyone going."
