SOUTH WAYNE - The Black Hawk girls basketball team passed a big test with it's 47-32 win over Darlington Tuesday night.
The Warriors (4-1, 2-0, Six Rivers East) went on a decisive 14-0 third quarter run and rolled to a non-conference win over the Redbirds. Black Hawk's pressure defense took a toll on Darlington (3-3, 2-1, SWAL) as the Redbirds had 27 turnovers.
Black Hawk's third quarter spurt was highlighted by junior Rachel Rygh's 3-pointer that extended the Warriors' lead to 30-22 with 2 minutes, 57 seconds to go in the period. Then, Black Hawk senior Katie Place, who scored a game-high 10 points and had five rebounds, scored down low and was fouled. Place made the free throw to give the Warriors a 33-22 lead. The advantage snowballed after consecutive offensive rebounds by the Warriors led to sophomore Chaesta Shager's 3-pointer, which gave the Warriors a 37-22 lead.
"We always look forward to playing non-conference games," Place said. "Tough defenders will only help us. This can only help us when we get into the postseason and start playing those larger private schools."
Place said the momentum just built during the third-quarter run.
"Everything was just going well for us," she said. "We were clicking."
Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan enjoyed how aggressivly Place was attacking the basket.
"I think she wanted it," he said. "We challenged her to get more involved."
Darlington coach Adam Rotar said he didn't think the Warriors' press was the difference in the game.
"I felt it was a team thing," Rotar said. "They are as good as what you saw. They were not doing anthing special or spectacular. They did their basic things."
Early on, it was a seasaw game that featured contrasting styles with the Redbirds' 2-3 zone and strong offensive rebounding against the Warriors' press and transition game.
Darlington senior Ashley Martin scored down low at 3:03 in the first quarter to give the Redbirds an 8-6 lead. Martin scored seven of her eight points in the first half. Flanagan said limiting Darlington's Kelsey Fink and Martin's scoring were key. Fink was held scorless and Martin scored just one second half point.
"She's a heck of an outside shooter," Flanagan said, of Fink. "We wanted to keep Martin off the glass. We got all the respect in the world for every opponent and Darlington is no exception. Any time you can beat a quality opponent like that, you have to be happy."
Black Hawk junior Melissa Wellnitz drilled a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter to give the Warriors a 17-11 lead. Shager, who scored six points, made her first 3-pointer with 1:43 left in the second quarter to propell the Warriors to a 25-19 halftime lead.
Rygh scored nine points and senior Kim Wellnitz had eight points and nine rebounds. Melissa Wellnitz scored seven points, had six steals, five rebounds and three assists.
"We knew this would be a good one to win," Melissa Wellnitz said. "We all wanted it really bad."
Darlington junior Elizabeth Mathias scored nine points to lead the Redbirds and junior Carley McDonald added seven.
The Warriors (4-1, 2-0, Six Rivers East) went on a decisive 14-0 third quarter run and rolled to a non-conference win over the Redbirds. Black Hawk's pressure defense took a toll on Darlington (3-3, 2-1, SWAL) as the Redbirds had 27 turnovers.
Black Hawk's third quarter spurt was highlighted by junior Rachel Rygh's 3-pointer that extended the Warriors' lead to 30-22 with 2 minutes, 57 seconds to go in the period. Then, Black Hawk senior Katie Place, who scored a game-high 10 points and had five rebounds, scored down low and was fouled. Place made the free throw to give the Warriors a 33-22 lead. The advantage snowballed after consecutive offensive rebounds by the Warriors led to sophomore Chaesta Shager's 3-pointer, which gave the Warriors a 37-22 lead.
"We always look forward to playing non-conference games," Place said. "Tough defenders will only help us. This can only help us when we get into the postseason and start playing those larger private schools."
Place said the momentum just built during the third-quarter run.
"Everything was just going well for us," she said. "We were clicking."
Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan enjoyed how aggressivly Place was attacking the basket.
"I think she wanted it," he said. "We challenged her to get more involved."
Darlington coach Adam Rotar said he didn't think the Warriors' press was the difference in the game.
"I felt it was a team thing," Rotar said. "They are as good as what you saw. They were not doing anthing special or spectacular. They did their basic things."
Early on, it was a seasaw game that featured contrasting styles with the Redbirds' 2-3 zone and strong offensive rebounding against the Warriors' press and transition game.
Darlington senior Ashley Martin scored down low at 3:03 in the first quarter to give the Redbirds an 8-6 lead. Martin scored seven of her eight points in the first half. Flanagan said limiting Darlington's Kelsey Fink and Martin's scoring were key. Fink was held scorless and Martin scored just one second half point.
"She's a heck of an outside shooter," Flanagan said, of Fink. "We wanted to keep Martin off the glass. We got all the respect in the world for every opponent and Darlington is no exception. Any time you can beat a quality opponent like that, you have to be happy."
Black Hawk junior Melissa Wellnitz drilled a 3-pointer midway through the second quarter to give the Warriors a 17-11 lead. Shager, who scored six points, made her first 3-pointer with 1:43 left in the second quarter to propell the Warriors to a 25-19 halftime lead.
Rygh scored nine points and senior Kim Wellnitz had eight points and nine rebounds. Melissa Wellnitz scored seven points, had six steals, five rebounds and three assists.
"We knew this would be a good one to win," Melissa Wellnitz said. "We all wanted it really bad."
Darlington junior Elizabeth Mathias scored nine points to lead the Redbirds and junior Carley McDonald added seven.
