DARLINGTON — The eighth-seeded Redbirds opened the WIAA Division 4 playoffs with a rousing victory over the Mustangs, 55-40 on Feb. 23. Up next: Unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Mineral Point (24-0).

Against Melrose-Mindoro (11-14), Darlington (16-9) opened to a nearly 20-point lead in the first half, going up 21-3, but the Mustangs rallied to cut it to 25-16 by halftime. In the second half the Redbirds took care of business to close out the game. 

Jaylyn Schwartz scored 20 points for Darlington. It was the eighth-straight win for the Redbirds.

Mineral Point beat Darlington by 42 points in their first matchup of the season on Dec. 9, and then by 19 on Jan. 25. The winner will take on either Luther (19-6) or Lancaster (17-7).

New Glarus 59, Wisconsin Heights 39

NEW GLARUS — The Glarner Knights (18-7) hit seven first-half 3s and jumped out to a 40-13 lead after the first half en route to a first-round victory over conference rival Wisconsin Heights (5-20).

“Our great first half was the difference,” said New Glarus coach Kevin Parman. “Our pressure and defensive intensity is what gets our girls going. Making seven 3s in the first half doesn’t hurt.”

Sophomore Lindsey Schadewalt scored a game-high 21 points. Freshman Elle Lancaster added 15 points, including three 3s, and Alex Atwell tallied eight points in the paint.

“We shared the ball really well tonight and it showed. We just have to keep up the intensity for the whole game,” Parman said.

Up next is another familiar opponent: Cambridge (16-8). The two schools finished tied with Belleville (18-6) for the Capitol South title this season. In the last game of the regular season Feb. 17, New Glarus beat Cambridge at home 50-34. At Cambridge on Jan. 20, the Blue Jays won 67-53.

The Feb. 25 winner of New Glarus-Cambridge will get either Waterloo (9-15) or top-seeded and sixth-ranked Brodhead (22-2) on Feb. 26.