SOUTH WAYNE - Over the last several years, Black Hawk has made a point to attack teams early both on offense and defense. The strategy has led to back-to-back state appearances and this season the gameplan is no different.
The Warriors exploded to a 15-0 lead early in the first quarter against Albany and showed the Six Rivers East that they will once again be the team to beat in conference play with a 59-45 win Tuesday.
"Early on we were finishing plays," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "We had a lot of girls getting to the rim and getting second-chance opportunities, but we just did not convert."
Black Hawk led by as much as 21 points in the first quarter and held a 24-5 lead headed into the second. Albany turned the ball over eight times before their first basket, which came with 3 minutes, 26 seconds left in the opening frame.
"We're a very defensive-minded team and our defense is always going to be way ahead of our offense at this stage. We want the defense to be there every single night," Flanagan said. "That's two games in a row we've started fast. We just have to learn how to finish games now."
The Warriors forced Albany into nine turnovers in the first quarter, 14 in the first half and 18 in the game. However, Black Hawk gave the ball back 15 times in the game, including 10 times in the second half, which was one of the reasons Albany was able to crawl back into the game.
"We struggled at times with decision-making. We got into foul trouble and their kids hit some big shots, and credit goes to them. They have some kids who can shoot the ball," Flanagan said.
The Comets (2-2, 0-1) trailed 33-15 at halftime but cut the deficit to nine points thanks to a 14-2 run in a four-minute stretch in the third. Hillary Best and Cassidy Bump took charge in the run, each scoring four points.
"From the second quarter on we really got after it. We came out from halftime and hustled and got after loose balls," said Albany coach Bryce Pickett, whose team outscored Black Hawk 34-26 in the final 18 minutes of the game. "We got down early and ultimately that's what hurt us. But you can't say enough about the girls' effort."
With 1:41 remaining in the third, it was Black Hawk freshman Jen Wellnitz that provided the spark, going up strong in the paint despite a Comet hand on the ball, pushing the lead back to 11. Wellnitz, playing in just her second varsity game, scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
"(Wellnitz) played a lot better against (River) Ridge, but we know that she's going to have those nights as a freshman where they're going to look (either) really good or struggle. I would expect that with a freshman playing varsity, starting and playing the number of minutes we're asking of her right away," Flanagan said. "She's an athlete. She's a very good athlete and I think she can become a very good basketball player, but right now she is a very good athlete who can make some very good basketball plays."
Katie Powers drilled a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left and Melissa Wellnitz drove the lane for a basket at the buzzer to give Black Hawk a 44-28 advantage headed into the fourth. The 7-0 run took the momentum away from Albany.
"We saw what our weaknesses are and we saw what we have to work on. Black Hawk's got to come to us in February and we'll be ready," Pickett said.
Rachel Rygh, who fouled out, led the Warriors with 17 points, including 11 in the first half. Melissa Wellnitz added 13.
Best led the Comets with 12 points, Courtney Pfeuti had nine, including six in the fourth quarter, and Cassidy Bump finished with eight points, all in the second half.
"It's so early," Flanagan said of the season. "Everybody wanted to talk about this game so much and it's just the first conference game. That's all it is. This doesn't really mean a whole lot except for one thing - you're 1-0 in conference. Likewise, it doesn't mean a whole lot to them because they're 0-1 in conference and have 11 more chances to go out there and win."
Black Hawk (2-0, 1-0) travels to Pecatonica (0-3, 0-0) Friday while Albany hosts Monticello (1-2, 1-0) the same evening.
"The effort was there, we just have to learn to play four quarters of basketball," Pickett said. "We saw tonight that we never give up. And that alone I can't say enough about. We want to win a conference title and that showed in the second half of that game that they're willing to do whatever it's going to take."
The Warriors exploded to a 15-0 lead early in the first quarter against Albany and showed the Six Rivers East that they will once again be the team to beat in conference play with a 59-45 win Tuesday.
"Early on we were finishing plays," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "We had a lot of girls getting to the rim and getting second-chance opportunities, but we just did not convert."
Black Hawk led by as much as 21 points in the first quarter and held a 24-5 lead headed into the second. Albany turned the ball over eight times before their first basket, which came with 3 minutes, 26 seconds left in the opening frame.
"We're a very defensive-minded team and our defense is always going to be way ahead of our offense at this stage. We want the defense to be there every single night," Flanagan said. "That's two games in a row we've started fast. We just have to learn how to finish games now."
The Warriors forced Albany into nine turnovers in the first quarter, 14 in the first half and 18 in the game. However, Black Hawk gave the ball back 15 times in the game, including 10 times in the second half, which was one of the reasons Albany was able to crawl back into the game.
"We struggled at times with decision-making. We got into foul trouble and their kids hit some big shots, and credit goes to them. They have some kids who can shoot the ball," Flanagan said.
The Comets (2-2, 0-1) trailed 33-15 at halftime but cut the deficit to nine points thanks to a 14-2 run in a four-minute stretch in the third. Hillary Best and Cassidy Bump took charge in the run, each scoring four points.
"From the second quarter on we really got after it. We came out from halftime and hustled and got after loose balls," said Albany coach Bryce Pickett, whose team outscored Black Hawk 34-26 in the final 18 minutes of the game. "We got down early and ultimately that's what hurt us. But you can't say enough about the girls' effort."
With 1:41 remaining in the third, it was Black Hawk freshman Jen Wellnitz that provided the spark, going up strong in the paint despite a Comet hand on the ball, pushing the lead back to 11. Wellnitz, playing in just her second varsity game, scored 10 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.
"(Wellnitz) played a lot better against (River) Ridge, but we know that she's going to have those nights as a freshman where they're going to look (either) really good or struggle. I would expect that with a freshman playing varsity, starting and playing the number of minutes we're asking of her right away," Flanagan said. "She's an athlete. She's a very good athlete and I think she can become a very good basketball player, but right now she is a very good athlete who can make some very good basketball plays."
Katie Powers drilled a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left and Melissa Wellnitz drove the lane for a basket at the buzzer to give Black Hawk a 44-28 advantage headed into the fourth. The 7-0 run took the momentum away from Albany.
"We saw what our weaknesses are and we saw what we have to work on. Black Hawk's got to come to us in February and we'll be ready," Pickett said.
Rachel Rygh, who fouled out, led the Warriors with 17 points, including 11 in the first half. Melissa Wellnitz added 13.
Best led the Comets with 12 points, Courtney Pfeuti had nine, including six in the fourth quarter, and Cassidy Bump finished with eight points, all in the second half.
"It's so early," Flanagan said of the season. "Everybody wanted to talk about this game so much and it's just the first conference game. That's all it is. This doesn't really mean a whole lot except for one thing - you're 1-0 in conference. Likewise, it doesn't mean a whole lot to them because they're 0-1 in conference and have 11 more chances to go out there and win."
Black Hawk (2-0, 1-0) travels to Pecatonica (0-3, 0-0) Friday while Albany hosts Monticello (1-2, 1-0) the same evening.
"The effort was there, we just have to learn to play four quarters of basketball," Pickett said. "We saw tonight that we never give up. And that alone I can't say enough about. We want to win a conference title and that showed in the second half of that game that they're willing to do whatever it's going to take."
