WISCONSIN DELLS — In their tightest game of the season, the top-ranked Warriors outlasted WIAA Division 4 state runner-up Melrose-Mindoro 78-62 at JustAGame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells Jan. 18.
Natalie Leuzinger, a Wisconsin preferred walk-on, scored 28 points to lead Black Hawk (12-0), the defending WIAA Division 5 state champion. Leuzinger is now just three points shy of the program record held by Darlington interim coach Jen Wellnitz, who went on to play at UW-Green Bay after graduating from Black Hawk.
“I knew I was close, but my mom told me and Flan (head coach Mike Flanagan) told me this morning,” said Leuzinger on Jan. 22. Leuzinger has 1,578 points thus far in her career. Black Hawk’s next game was set for Jan. 21 at home against Barneveld. “I’m still going to go out and play my game. If I do that we’ll play well and we should get a win.”
The senior guard was 9 of 11 from the field, including a 4 for 5 mark from beyond the arc. She was also 6 of 7 from the charity stripe and added three rebounds, three assists and four steals.
“That game was really fun to play in. We knew it was going to be a battle,” Leuzinger said. “I love those types of games. We play a lot of teams where we just crush them, but we want some competition and (Melrose-Mindoro is some fun competition.”
Black Hawk led 43-35 at halftime and outscored the Mustangs by eight in the second half.
Bailey Butler had 20 points with four 3-pointers, seven assists and four rebounds for Black Hawk, while sister Hannah Butler finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Maddy Huschitt hit four 3s to end the game with 12 points.
Melrose-Mindoro (11-1), ranked second in D4 this season, was led in scoring by Mesa Byom (26), a South Dakota State commit, and Calette Lockington (13), who will play for Viterbo next season.
“Not a lot of people know this, but it is a bit of a rivalry between us, because we did lose to them in the middle school state championship a couple of times,” Leuzinger said. “We’ve always wanted to play them in high school.”
Black Hawk 90, Monticello 19
MONTICELLO — The Warriors led 62-6 at halftime.
Leuzinger had 21 points and seven rebounds, while Hannah Butler had 14 points and Bailey Butler finished with 12 points, eight assists and seven steals. Tara Wellnitz added nine points and four rebounds.
Black Hawk was 8 of 15 from deep.
Marshall 70, New Glarus 31
NEW GLARUS — Two-time defending Division 3 state champion Marshall followed its on-court leaders to a punishing win over the Glarner Knights Jan. 17.
Anna Lutz, a UW-Milwaukee commit, had 27 points for the Cardinals, while teammate Laura Nickel had 21 points.
Seventh-ranked Marshall (9-4, 3-0 Capitol South) led 39-15 at halftime and outscored New Glarus 31-16 in the second half.
Jaylynn Benson led the Knights (7-5, 1-2) in scoring with seven points.
Brodhead 50, Edgerton 35
EDGERTON — The Cardinals put three players in double-figures when picking up a much-needed Rock Valley Conference win Jan. 17.
Freshman Abbie Dix led the way with 18 points, while senior Carissa Purdue scored 13 and sophomore Kiarra Moe added 11 for the Cardinals. Shannon Rusch led Edgerton with 12 points.
Brodhead (9-4, 6-4) led just 23-20 at halftime, but outscored the Crimson Tide (3-10, 2-8) by 12 in the second half.
Albany 70, Pecatonica 13
ALBANY — The Comets (9-5, 4-2 Six Rivers East) held the Vikings (4-8, 1-4) to nine points in the first half and just four in the second half of their conference game Jan. 16. Albany led 37-9 at halftime.
Three Comets reached double digits in scoring in the contest. Kristin O’Bel led the way with 16 points, while Payton Wachholz had 13 and Kaiya Zurfluh finished with 11. Brianna Dahl added eight points, 10 assists and five steals for Albany.
Argyle 67, Juda 39
JUDA — Maggie Godfrey’s double-double helped power the Orioles to a Six Rivers East win Jan. 16.
Godfrey finished with 15 points and 16 rebounds, plus four steals and three blocks. Teammate Tori Lantz had 18 points and six rebounds for Argyle (10-5, 5-1), which also got 17 points and six boards from Grace Ganshert.
