SOUTH WAYNE - Defense dominated the game for the Black Hawk girls basketball team in their Friday playoff game against Juda. So much so that it took the visiting Panthers nearly 16 minutes before they scored their first points of the game. The Warriors held up on the defensive side of the ball, their offensive play was just as proficient as they ran away with a 45-14 victory.
Knowing that they would be facing a stingy Warrior's defense, the Panthers and coach Curt Brown approached their game plan with a different mindset.
"We wanted to slow down the tempo and really control the clock," Brown said. "We knew that it wasn't going to be a high-scoring half for us, but we didn't want to rush ourselves into forcing errors."
However the Warriors and coach Mike Flanagan displayed patience in their game plan. At halftime, the Warriors held a 28-2 lead.
"They were intent on not letting us have a high number of possessions," Flanagan said. "But this is a big win for our team. Whether you win by 30 points or by 1, it's all about advancing and living to fight another day."
Despite his team's loss, Brown believes that his team's play throughout the playoffs has been well executed.
"I thought tonight's score is less indicative of how our team has played as of late," Brown said. "We were able to pick up a crucial win this past Tuesday, and although we came up short tonight, I thought our team has done a good job of playing hard. They (Black Hawk) are a well-coached team and are always tough to play, but I'm proud of the way our players have battled this year."
Alexis Goecks had five points for Juda.
Black Hawk senior Wellnitz scored a game-high 17 points, while fellow senior Michelle Flanagan added nine points. With the win, the Warriors (16-6) advance to play Monticello today, March 8 in the regional final.
"We've had our share of battles with Monticello these past couple of years," Flanagan said. "They are a good basketball team. We can't have a night where we don't show up and we have to be ready to go. The game will come down to who makes a couple of plays."
Brodhead 57,
Beloit Turner 20
BRODHEAD - In their opening playoff game of the postseason, the Cardinals continued to play in dominant fashion as they displayed a solid all-around game in their 57-20 win over Beloit Turner.
Any chance of keeping the game close by the visiting Trojans were dashed at the onset, as Brodhead was able to climb out to an early 20-3 lead after the first quarter. Led by seniors Carly Mohns and Meg Duffield in addition to stout defensive play, the Cardinals limited Beloit Turner in scoring less than 10 points in each of the four quarters.
Both Mohns and Duffield scored 14 points apiece for Brodhead.
The Cardinals (23-0) square off in the regional final against Marshall today.
Cuba City 60,
New Glarus 36
CUBA CITY - The stingy defense that propelled the New Glarus girls basketball team to a win over Belleville on Tuesday was unable to control the top-ranked Cubans in Friday's playoff game. When the final buzzer ended, the Knights lost 60-36.
New Glarus (10-14) matched Cuba City's pace early in the game, but as both teams entered the second quarter, the Cubans outscored the Knights by 16 points to give them a comfortable lead heading into halftime.
"We came out and got an early lead," Knights coach Megan Scheele said. "We knew they (Cuba City) were a tough team, but I told our players to go out and give it everything they had and to play with heart."
"We were confident in our play, but Cuba City was just able to prove why they are a top-seeded team. Their defensive pressure was tough and they showed that they are a well disciplined team."
Cuba City (22-1) had two players score 18 points apiece.
New Glarus senior Sierra Watrud scored a team-high 11 points in her team's final outing.
Knowing that they would be facing a stingy Warrior's defense, the Panthers and coach Curt Brown approached their game plan with a different mindset.
"We wanted to slow down the tempo and really control the clock," Brown said. "We knew that it wasn't going to be a high-scoring half for us, but we didn't want to rush ourselves into forcing errors."
However the Warriors and coach Mike Flanagan displayed patience in their game plan. At halftime, the Warriors held a 28-2 lead.
"They were intent on not letting us have a high number of possessions," Flanagan said. "But this is a big win for our team. Whether you win by 30 points or by 1, it's all about advancing and living to fight another day."
Despite his team's loss, Brown believes that his team's play throughout the playoffs has been well executed.
"I thought tonight's score is less indicative of how our team has played as of late," Brown said. "We were able to pick up a crucial win this past Tuesday, and although we came up short tonight, I thought our team has done a good job of playing hard. They (Black Hawk) are a well-coached team and are always tough to play, but I'm proud of the way our players have battled this year."
Alexis Goecks had five points for Juda.
Black Hawk senior Wellnitz scored a game-high 17 points, while fellow senior Michelle Flanagan added nine points. With the win, the Warriors (16-6) advance to play Monticello today, March 8 in the regional final.
"We've had our share of battles with Monticello these past couple of years," Flanagan said. "They are a good basketball team. We can't have a night where we don't show up and we have to be ready to go. The game will come down to who makes a couple of plays."
Brodhead 57,
Beloit Turner 20
BRODHEAD - In their opening playoff game of the postseason, the Cardinals continued to play in dominant fashion as they displayed a solid all-around game in their 57-20 win over Beloit Turner.
Any chance of keeping the game close by the visiting Trojans were dashed at the onset, as Brodhead was able to climb out to an early 20-3 lead after the first quarter. Led by seniors Carly Mohns and Meg Duffield in addition to stout defensive play, the Cardinals limited Beloit Turner in scoring less than 10 points in each of the four quarters.
Both Mohns and Duffield scored 14 points apiece for Brodhead.
The Cardinals (23-0) square off in the regional final against Marshall today.
Cuba City 60,
New Glarus 36
CUBA CITY - The stingy defense that propelled the New Glarus girls basketball team to a win over Belleville on Tuesday was unable to control the top-ranked Cubans in Friday's playoff game. When the final buzzer ended, the Knights lost 60-36.
New Glarus (10-14) matched Cuba City's pace early in the game, but as both teams entered the second quarter, the Cubans outscored the Knights by 16 points to give them a comfortable lead heading into halftime.
"We came out and got an early lead," Knights coach Megan Scheele said. "We knew they (Cuba City) were a tough team, but I told our players to go out and give it everything they had and to play with heart."
"We were confident in our play, but Cuba City was just able to prove why they are a top-seeded team. Their defensive pressure was tough and they showed that they are a well disciplined team."
Cuba City (22-1) had two players score 18 points apiece.
New Glarus senior Sierra Watrud scored a team-high 11 points in her team's final outing.
