WAUKESHA — The defending WIAA Division 5 girls basketball state champions are showing no signs of slowing down for the upcoming season. The Black Hawk Warriors had a busy June, playing in two invitational tournaments and winning both against state-caliber competition from higher divisions.
First, Black Hawk (enrollment 99) won the Girls’ WBCA Jerry Petitgoue Invite July 27 at JustAgame Fieldhouse in Wisconsin Dells in the Division 2 field.
“The level of preparation in the summer is so much less than during the school year,” Warriors coach Mike Flanagan said. “Players have to get into the gym and practice on their own — they are not practicing every day with each other.”
Black Hawk toppled McFarland and Lake Mills in the first two rounds and then dominated Prairie du Chien in the title game, 54-32. In the same tournament, Oak Creek (2,089) won the Division 1 title over Slinger (1,060), with Rhinelander (781) taking third, beating DeForest (1,051) in the process. Colby (280) won the D3 championship, and Loyal (152) won the D4 title.
Two days later, Black Hawk was back on the court in the Platinum Division of the Wisconsin Varsity Invitational in Pewaukee and Waukesha. The Warriors were pooled with Oak Creek and Hudson, two of the largest schools in the state, and walked away with two victories and a plus-12-point differential. Black Hawk defeated Oak Creek 52-46 and turned right around and toppled Hudson 43-37 on the first day in group play.
On Day 2 in the tournament bracket, the Warriors upended New Berlin Eisenhower 59-46 in the semifinals, then rolled past Pewaukee in the championship, 53-39.
“We’re just happy for the kids. June was a busy month, now July will slow down for them,” Flanagan said.
Other teams in the Platinum Division included Onalaska (917), Madison Memorial (2,030), Green Bay Notre Dame (767), Milwaukee Divine Savior Holy Angels (1,374), Middleton (2,200), Platteville (430) and Hortonville (1,104). All 12 teams in the Platinum Division reached sectionals or state in the 2018-19 school year except Hudson, which finished 15-6 and lost in a Division 1 regional final to Kimberly, which made it to state.
“Against these squads, with more players and height, we were able to contend,” Flanagan said. “We make it our goal each year to be the best team in Division 5.”
Wrightstown won the Gold Division, Freedom was the champion in the Silver, and Berlin in the Bronze.
Black Hawk graduated just one starter from last year’s squad — Sydney Delzer. This year will be different, with a slew of impact seniors going for one more shot to win a gold ball. Hannah Butler and Natalie Leuzinger, two 1,000-point career scorers, lead the way, while other seniors, like Kristen Knapp and Maddy Huschitt, take on larger rolls.
“When your core group is seniors, it changes the demeanor of your team,” Flanagan said. “There’s a noticeable confidence and swagger. We know what we’ll get with Hannah, Natalie and Maddy. Kristen Knapp was one of those senior players who played like a senior. She was very confident and smart.
Kaylee Marty (a junior) showed her speed and athleticism, too. She had that spark. Macie (Stauffacher, a junior) also continued to redefine her role. It’s fun for us as coaches to watch them grow and adapt into their roles each year. No year is ever the same.”
Newcomers to the program this year will include a couple of freshmen and a junior transfer, Makayla Mau, a 6-2 post player from Riverdale.
“When a kid moves into a district, it’s always interesting to see how they will fit in,” Flanagan said. “Some of the freshman are ahead of their projective curve. Tara Wellnitz was one. They (newcomers) have had great role models ahead of them. The attention to detail, work ethic and positive attitudes can be really contagious.”
