SOUTH WAYNE - Pecatonica head coach Josh Tarrell is glad he converted Brittany Kent from guard to center two years ago.
The Viking junior post came up big with 18 points and a commendable job guarding bona fide Black Hawk center Kim Wellnitz in Pecatonica's 63-47 Six Rivers East road victory Thursday night.
Kent made amends for a scoreless outing against Black Hawk on Dec. 4 by showcasing her inside-out threat to the Warriors (9-4 overall, 5-2 Six Rivers East). Pecatonica (12-1 overall, 7-0 Six Rivers East) led 29-27 early in the third when Kent connected from her customary spot at the top of the key with just over six-and-a-half minutes to play.
The Warriors decided to push the tempo for a Paige Butler bucket from underneath the basket. Pec sophomore Kimee Chandler continued the back-and-forth action by drilling a quick triple with 6 minutes, 18 seconds to go and gave the Vikings a 35-29 lead. A minute later, Kent went to work on the right block with an up-and-under move from the right block.
The last four or five games, she's been playing a lot more physical," Tarrell said. "That's what we need out of her."
Wellnitz put her squad on her back at the end of the third quarter and cut the Warriors' deficit from six to one point in a mere 18 seconds. First, she dropped in an easy bucket and then converted her older sister Aryn's steal for a hoop and ensuing foul shot. Wellnitz converted the freebie off the Alisha Esselstein foul with ease to cut the deficit to 40-39.
"She's a great post player. She throws you around down there and you have to play tough and physical on her," Kent said. "I'll be the first one to admit it, she's one of the hardest players I've ever had to guard."
Kent gave the Vikings a boost on Pecatonica's first possession of the final quarter. The junior drilled a triple from the top of the key again and then maneuvered through two Warriors for an easy layin.
"There was a lot of times when the lane was wide open so I took it to the hole and hoped for the best," Kent said.
Pecatonica had three players register double-digit point totals with Kent leading the way and Chandler and senior Danielle Senf adding 14 points apiece. Junior guard Elise Sigg nearly joined the club with nine. Wellnitz (20) and Butler (16) filled the Black Hawk basket up, but head coach Mike Flanagan stressed the need for a third option in pregame.
"I said in the locker room before the game, Kim's going to get her points and Paige is going to get her points," Flanagan said. "If we have a third girl that gets double digits that might be the difference. But, it's got to be a natural flow.
"It's hard not to go to 'The Well' when it's there and it's so deep. Where Kim was getting the ball, you're a fool not to give it to her and she's a fool not to take those shots."
The Vikings have a two-game lead on the second-place Warriors in the Six Rivers East and are sitting in the driver's seat en route to a conference championship.
"It feels really nice," Chandler said. "They're a great team and we worked so hard for it. It's just nice to get a win here because it's really tough to win here."
The Viking junior post came up big with 18 points and a commendable job guarding bona fide Black Hawk center Kim Wellnitz in Pecatonica's 63-47 Six Rivers East road victory Thursday night.
Kent made amends for a scoreless outing against Black Hawk on Dec. 4 by showcasing her inside-out threat to the Warriors (9-4 overall, 5-2 Six Rivers East). Pecatonica (12-1 overall, 7-0 Six Rivers East) led 29-27 early in the third when Kent connected from her customary spot at the top of the key with just over six-and-a-half minutes to play.
The Warriors decided to push the tempo for a Paige Butler bucket from underneath the basket. Pec sophomore Kimee Chandler continued the back-and-forth action by drilling a quick triple with 6 minutes, 18 seconds to go and gave the Vikings a 35-29 lead. A minute later, Kent went to work on the right block with an up-and-under move from the right block.
The last four or five games, she's been playing a lot more physical," Tarrell said. "That's what we need out of her."
Wellnitz put her squad on her back at the end of the third quarter and cut the Warriors' deficit from six to one point in a mere 18 seconds. First, she dropped in an easy bucket and then converted her older sister Aryn's steal for a hoop and ensuing foul shot. Wellnitz converted the freebie off the Alisha Esselstein foul with ease to cut the deficit to 40-39.
"She's a great post player. She throws you around down there and you have to play tough and physical on her," Kent said. "I'll be the first one to admit it, she's one of the hardest players I've ever had to guard."
Kent gave the Vikings a boost on Pecatonica's first possession of the final quarter. The junior drilled a triple from the top of the key again and then maneuvered through two Warriors for an easy layin.
"There was a lot of times when the lane was wide open so I took it to the hole and hoped for the best," Kent said.
Pecatonica had three players register double-digit point totals with Kent leading the way and Chandler and senior Danielle Senf adding 14 points apiece. Junior guard Elise Sigg nearly joined the club with nine. Wellnitz (20) and Butler (16) filled the Black Hawk basket up, but head coach Mike Flanagan stressed the need for a third option in pregame.
"I said in the locker room before the game, Kim's going to get her points and Paige is going to get her points," Flanagan said. "If we have a third girl that gets double digits that might be the difference. But, it's got to be a natural flow.
"It's hard not to go to 'The Well' when it's there and it's so deep. Where Kim was getting the ball, you're a fool not to give it to her and she's a fool not to take those shots."
The Vikings have a two-game lead on the second-place Warriors in the Six Rivers East and are sitting in the driver's seat en route to a conference championship.
"It feels really nice," Chandler said. "They're a great team and we worked so hard for it. It's just nice to get a win here because it's really tough to win here."
