MINERAL POINT - Darlington senior Elizabeth Mathias didn't mind being mobbed by fans storming the court after the Redbirds stunned No. 1 seed Fennimore 60-48 to win the WIAA Division 4 Mineral Point regional championship Saturday night.
"It's the most amazing feeling," said Mathias, who scored a team-high, 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. "We knew a lot of it was mental. We just had to play and not let them get in our head. We have come so far even from last year. We all deserve this. After this one, I believe we can do anything."
It's just the second time in school history that Darlington (21-4) has advanced to the sectional. The only other time the Redbirds made a run to the sectional was in 2001. Fennimore swept two games from Darlington in the SWAL during the regular season. The Redbirds, which are one of the hottest teams, having won 17 of their last 19 games, returned the favor and avenged those two losses.
"We felt all year long we kept getting better and that we could beat Fennimore," said Mike Chambers, who is in his first year as Darlington's head coach. "Fennimore is a great team. They are highly ranked and respected. We haven't always seen that because we haven't been there as much."
The basketball world is starting to take notice. Darlington has beaten No. 2 seed Lancaster and top seed and eighth ranked Fennimore (20-3) to advance to a Division 4 sectional semifinal Thursday against 10th ranked Belleville at Waunakee.
Mathias had plenty of help in a team effort by the Redbirds. Darlington junior Amy Jorgenson scored 13 points and sophomore Cassidy Chambers added 12. Darlington senior Carley McDonald and junior Claire Scott each had eight points and five rebounds.
"That is the way it's been all year," Chambers said. "We have a pretty deep bench that I could use more. The girls know what is expected of them. They get it done."
The Redbirds limited the Eagles to just 29.7 percent shooting (14-for-47). The Eagles did most of their damage from the free-throw line, hitting 16 of 22 from the charity stripe. The Redbirds held Fennimore junior Breland Prochaska to just 10 points, which was well below her season average of 19.8 points per game.
"We had a chip on our shoulder coming in here," Chambers said. "We want people to know who we are."
The fouls piled up early on. Jorgenson picked up two of her three fouls in an 11-second span in the first quarter, forcing her to the bench.
"I was a little nervous about that," Jorgenson said. "That's exactly what I didn't want to do. When it happened you can't go back. I just had to fight through it."
The Redbirds had several players step up in the first half. McDonald, who scored six of her eight points in the first half, drilled a 3-pointer with 6:26 left in the second quarter to give the Redbirds a 15-14 lead.
Chambers had the hot hand to start the third quarter. She ignited the run by hitting two 3-pointers and scored eight points during a 19-8 Redbirds' run. Jorgenson capped the surge with a layup with 1:30 left in the third quarter to give the Redbirds a 43-35 lead.
The Redbirds were able to maintain the lead with a key stretch in the fourth quarter. After the Eagles cut the Redbirds' lead to 45-42, Scott stepped up and scored on a putback. Mathias then scored down low on two straight possessions to extend the lead to 51-44. The Redbirds made 7 of 10 free throws in the final 1:50 to put the game away. Jorgenson made 4 of 4 free throws in the final 34.5 seconds.
"We lost to them in conference. We really wanted this one," Jorgenson said.
"It's the most amazing feeling," said Mathias, who scored a team-high, 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. "We knew a lot of it was mental. We just had to play and not let them get in our head. We have come so far even from last year. We all deserve this. After this one, I believe we can do anything."
It's just the second time in school history that Darlington (21-4) has advanced to the sectional. The only other time the Redbirds made a run to the sectional was in 2001. Fennimore swept two games from Darlington in the SWAL during the regular season. The Redbirds, which are one of the hottest teams, having won 17 of their last 19 games, returned the favor and avenged those two losses.
"We felt all year long we kept getting better and that we could beat Fennimore," said Mike Chambers, who is in his first year as Darlington's head coach. "Fennimore is a great team. They are highly ranked and respected. We haven't always seen that because we haven't been there as much."
The basketball world is starting to take notice. Darlington has beaten No. 2 seed Lancaster and top seed and eighth ranked Fennimore (20-3) to advance to a Division 4 sectional semifinal Thursday against 10th ranked Belleville at Waunakee.
Mathias had plenty of help in a team effort by the Redbirds. Darlington junior Amy Jorgenson scored 13 points and sophomore Cassidy Chambers added 12. Darlington senior Carley McDonald and junior Claire Scott each had eight points and five rebounds.
"That is the way it's been all year," Chambers said. "We have a pretty deep bench that I could use more. The girls know what is expected of them. They get it done."
The Redbirds limited the Eagles to just 29.7 percent shooting (14-for-47). The Eagles did most of their damage from the free-throw line, hitting 16 of 22 from the charity stripe. The Redbirds held Fennimore junior Breland Prochaska to just 10 points, which was well below her season average of 19.8 points per game.
"We had a chip on our shoulder coming in here," Chambers said. "We want people to know who we are."
The fouls piled up early on. Jorgenson picked up two of her three fouls in an 11-second span in the first quarter, forcing her to the bench.
"I was a little nervous about that," Jorgenson said. "That's exactly what I didn't want to do. When it happened you can't go back. I just had to fight through it."
The Redbirds had several players step up in the first half. McDonald, who scored six of her eight points in the first half, drilled a 3-pointer with 6:26 left in the second quarter to give the Redbirds a 15-14 lead.
Chambers had the hot hand to start the third quarter. She ignited the run by hitting two 3-pointers and scored eight points during a 19-8 Redbirds' run. Jorgenson capped the surge with a layup with 1:30 left in the third quarter to give the Redbirds a 43-35 lead.
The Redbirds were able to maintain the lead with a key stretch in the fourth quarter. After the Eagles cut the Redbirds' lead to 45-42, Scott stepped up and scored on a putback. Mathias then scored down low on two straight possessions to extend the lead to 51-44. The Redbirds made 7 of 10 free throws in the final 1:50 to put the game away. Jorgenson made 4 of 4 free throws in the final 34.5 seconds.
"We lost to them in conference. We really wanted this one," Jorgenson said.
