SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk senior Jett Rufenacht understands the 3-point shot can be a difference-maker in any game. The trifecta was in full effect for the Black Hawk boys basketball team Tuesday.
Black Hawk's offense was clicking on all cylinders and the Warriors made 10 from behind the arc en route to a 78-32 win over Albany in a WIAA Division 5 regional quarterfinal game.
"The 3-point shot is a really big weapon in basketball," said Rufenacht, who scored a game-high 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds and hit two 3s. "In the first game of the year, we were 3-for-20 on 3s. We are doing really good shooting it right now. We are probably up there (shooting 3s) with the best teams in the conference."
With the win, Black Hawk (16-6) advances to play at Barneveld (15-8) in a regional semifinal game Friday. Albany closes the season 7-16 overall.
The Warriors put the game away with a 31-9 run the first 8 minutes of the second half. Black Hawk junior Kyle Lovelace drilled three 3s during the surge. Rufenacht scored 10 points during the run. Black Hawk senior C.J. Leuzinger had a steal and threw down a one-handed dunk on the break to extend the Warriors' lead to 56-26 with 9 minutes, 47 seconds left in the game.
"It felt good," Leuzinger said. "I think it kind of got the team going and the student section going. It kind of lit up the crowd. To do it on this stage in the first-round of the playoffs is a really big confidence booster."
It was a complete game for the Warriors in all phases. Black Hawk had a balanced scoring attack with five players reaching double figures. Black Hawk junior Conner Meyer scored 14 points and had eight rebounds and senior Jason Treuthardt added 12 and knocked down three 3s. Lovelace had 11 and hit three 3s and Leuzinger chipped in 10 and had a team-high four steals.
"We talked a lot before the game about how we have to have a playoff mindset and how we have to bring energy," Rufenacht said. "We are playing our best ball right now. We looked pretty good if you ask me."
Since the Warriors have great size with Meyer and Leuzinger at 6-5 and Rufenacht at 6-4, Albany used 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones throughout the game.
"Before we play Black Hawk the two things I'm worried about is rebounding and handling their press," Albany coach Derek Allen said. "We kept them off the boards and handled their press pretty good. Unfortunately, we didn't make shots. We have struggled shooting the ball all season from the perimeter. I think as a 6 seed they (Black Hawk) have the potential to make it to the Kohl Center. I don't think you can say that about any other 6 seeds."
Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson understands the Warriors will see a steady diet of zone defenses because of the size they have. Playing inside out takes on more importance in Anderson's mind.
"Teams pack it in against us playing zones so much that we have to hit them (3s)," Anderson said. "We need kids to hit them and they did tonight. Kyle and Jett got hot in the second half."
Early on, Albany was hanging with Black Hawk. The Comets were within five points of the Warriors in the first 8 minutes, trailing 11-6. Black Hawk senior Michael Flanagan hit a 3 and that ignited a 13-2 run by the Warriors. Meyer scored down low and on a layup to push the Warriors' lead to 12-points. Rufenacht scored on a layup to cap the run to give the Warriors a 24-10 lead.
Treuthardt buried a 3 and then scored on a layup to give the Warriors their biggest lead of the first half at 18-points, 31-13. The Comets sliced Black Hawk's lead down to 14-points at the half, 31-17. The Comets were plagued by some cold shooting in the first half shooting 33.3 percent (7 of 21) and finished the game shooting 27.6 percent (13 of 47).
Albany junior Josh Dahl scored a team-high 9 points and junior Corbin Kelley added 8.
"Josh (Dahl), Corbin (Kelley) and Logun (Parker), they can get to the basket on anyone," Allen said. "Black Hawk does a really good job of collapsing and they are all like 6-6."
Black Hawk's big second half run coincided with a press defense that forced the Comets into turnovers. Albany finished with 18 turnovers in the game.
"The press was really effective in the second half," Leuzinger said. "Our energy was a factor in that run. In the second half, we were playing with the playoff energy."
Albany had just eight players suit up for the game due to injuries and they relied most of the game on six players.
"We have three guys who don't come off the court unless they are in foul trouble," Allen said.
Three of Albany's starters will be back next year. Allen is looking forward to building the program.
"Hopefully, we will have a good offseason in the weight room and playing summer basketball and then we will be ready to rip next year," Allen said. "We have to get stronger to compete with the Black Hawks, Barnevelds and Pecs in the conference. We have to get more depth. We will see what kids we have in Albany and try to get them to play basketball."
Black Hawk now gears up for a regional semifinal against Barneveld, the defending state champion. The Golden Eagles have knocked off the Warriors twice this season.
"They (Barneveld) are a really good basketball team," Leuzinger said. "We are a very good team as well. Barneveld is our focus. Barneveld is a tough place to play and a tough atmosphere."
Anderson is excited to get the opportunity to play Barneveld for the third time this season.
"They (Barneveld) tied for conference champions for a reason," Anderson said. "All those guys have a lot of tournament experience. It's a really hostile environment."
Anderson said the key will be handling Barneveld's pressure matchup zone defense.
"When we are open we just have to shoot it with confidence and know it's going to go in," he said. "If we do that we will be right there."
Black Hawk's offense was clicking on all cylinders and the Warriors made 10 from behind the arc en route to a 78-32 win over Albany in a WIAA Division 5 regional quarterfinal game.
"The 3-point shot is a really big weapon in basketball," said Rufenacht, who scored a game-high 14 points, grabbed nine rebounds and hit two 3s. "In the first game of the year, we were 3-for-20 on 3s. We are doing really good shooting it right now. We are probably up there (shooting 3s) with the best teams in the conference."
With the win, Black Hawk (16-6) advances to play at Barneveld (15-8) in a regional semifinal game Friday. Albany closes the season 7-16 overall.
The Warriors put the game away with a 31-9 run the first 8 minutes of the second half. Black Hawk junior Kyle Lovelace drilled three 3s during the surge. Rufenacht scored 10 points during the run. Black Hawk senior C.J. Leuzinger had a steal and threw down a one-handed dunk on the break to extend the Warriors' lead to 56-26 with 9 minutes, 47 seconds left in the game.
"It felt good," Leuzinger said. "I think it kind of got the team going and the student section going. It kind of lit up the crowd. To do it on this stage in the first-round of the playoffs is a really big confidence booster."
It was a complete game for the Warriors in all phases. Black Hawk had a balanced scoring attack with five players reaching double figures. Black Hawk junior Conner Meyer scored 14 points and had eight rebounds and senior Jason Treuthardt added 12 and knocked down three 3s. Lovelace had 11 and hit three 3s and Leuzinger chipped in 10 and had a team-high four steals.
"We talked a lot before the game about how we have to have a playoff mindset and how we have to bring energy," Rufenacht said. "We are playing our best ball right now. We looked pretty good if you ask me."
Since the Warriors have great size with Meyer and Leuzinger at 6-5 and Rufenacht at 6-4, Albany used 2-3 and 1-3-1 zones throughout the game.
"Before we play Black Hawk the two things I'm worried about is rebounding and handling their press," Albany coach Derek Allen said. "We kept them off the boards and handled their press pretty good. Unfortunately, we didn't make shots. We have struggled shooting the ball all season from the perimeter. I think as a 6 seed they (Black Hawk) have the potential to make it to the Kohl Center. I don't think you can say that about any other 6 seeds."
Black Hawk coach Charlie Anderson understands the Warriors will see a steady diet of zone defenses because of the size they have. Playing inside out takes on more importance in Anderson's mind.
"Teams pack it in against us playing zones so much that we have to hit them (3s)," Anderson said. "We need kids to hit them and they did tonight. Kyle and Jett got hot in the second half."
Early on, Albany was hanging with Black Hawk. The Comets were within five points of the Warriors in the first 8 minutes, trailing 11-6. Black Hawk senior Michael Flanagan hit a 3 and that ignited a 13-2 run by the Warriors. Meyer scored down low and on a layup to push the Warriors' lead to 12-points. Rufenacht scored on a layup to cap the run to give the Warriors a 24-10 lead.
Treuthardt buried a 3 and then scored on a layup to give the Warriors their biggest lead of the first half at 18-points, 31-13. The Comets sliced Black Hawk's lead down to 14-points at the half, 31-17. The Comets were plagued by some cold shooting in the first half shooting 33.3 percent (7 of 21) and finished the game shooting 27.6 percent (13 of 47).
Albany junior Josh Dahl scored a team-high 9 points and junior Corbin Kelley added 8.
"Josh (Dahl), Corbin (Kelley) and Logun (Parker), they can get to the basket on anyone," Allen said. "Black Hawk does a really good job of collapsing and they are all like 6-6."
Black Hawk's big second half run coincided with a press defense that forced the Comets into turnovers. Albany finished with 18 turnovers in the game.
"The press was really effective in the second half," Leuzinger said. "Our energy was a factor in that run. In the second half, we were playing with the playoff energy."
Albany had just eight players suit up for the game due to injuries and they relied most of the game on six players.
"We have three guys who don't come off the court unless they are in foul trouble," Allen said.
Three of Albany's starters will be back next year. Allen is looking forward to building the program.
"Hopefully, we will have a good offseason in the weight room and playing summer basketball and then we will be ready to rip next year," Allen said. "We have to get stronger to compete with the Black Hawks, Barnevelds and Pecs in the conference. We have to get more depth. We will see what kids we have in Albany and try to get them to play basketball."
Black Hawk now gears up for a regional semifinal against Barneveld, the defending state champion. The Golden Eagles have knocked off the Warriors twice this season.
"They (Barneveld) are a really good basketball team," Leuzinger said. "We are a very good team as well. Barneveld is our focus. Barneveld is a tough place to play and a tough atmosphere."
Anderson is excited to get the opportunity to play Barneveld for the third time this season.
"They (Barneveld) tied for conference champions for a reason," Anderson said. "All those guys have a lot of tournament experience. It's a really hostile environment."
Anderson said the key will be handling Barneveld's pressure matchup zone defense.
"When we are open we just have to shoot it with confidence and know it's going to go in," he said. "If we do that we will be right there."
