FORT ATKINSON - Which is better: Coming out of nowhere to reach state for the first time in school history, or doing it again a second time a year later as a favorite?
"I looked at the Wisconsin Girls Yearbook and it predicted us to get to state, then I looked at last year's and not one of the predicted teams made it to state," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said.
Moments earlier, Flanagan's Lady Warriors knocked off Central Wisconsin Christian in the WIAA Division 4 Fort Atkinson sectional championship Saturday night, 58-41.
"I told the girls early in the season that anyone can make it. These girls took that to heart and worked so hard and I am so proud of them," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk (26-1) had been ranked in the top 10 in the state all season in various prep polls, but Flanagan said his team took it all in stride.
"These girls are so level-headed. They don't take anything for granted. They know they have to work hard and work as a team and that's what they do," he said. "I love them all."
For senior Kim Wellnitz, the unquestioned leader on the floor, the excitement is just as bold the second time around.
"It's so exciting! It feels so great," she said. "We came in here and played our hearts out. We wanted to make it up to the Kohl Center so bad. I'm so very proud of my whole team and our coaches for all the work we put in to this."
The Warriors struggled early against the Crusaders (23-4), coughing up a 7-2 lead to trail 13-12 after the first quarter. But in the second, Black Hawk looked like a team on a mission, hitting shots left and right and playing its trademark press defense.
"(The pressure) was intense on the floor," junior guard Melissa Wellnitz said. "We were going so hard and we tried everything. We knew we had to start over and get all of our power going again."
The Warriors struggled against Barneveld in the regional final a week before and again against Albany in the sectional semifinal Thursday.
"We knew we had to get it right this game," Melissa Wellnitz said. "At the end we were crying and didn't know what to do because we were so excited. It was awesome. It means the world to get back to state."
Black Hawk outscored Central Wisconsin 23-10 in the second to take a 12-point halftime advantage, a lead that would never be challenged.
"Basketball is a game of momentum, and once we get into the swing of things and play how we normally play, our offense plays really well," sophomore Rachel Rygh said. "When things start moving we play more aggressive and we play better."
Rygh opened the second quarter with a big 3-pointer, giving Black Hawk the lead again. A minute later, sophomore Chaesta Shager hit another 3. Rygh scored four straight points in three minutes into the second to give the Warriors a four-point lead and added another bucket off of an inbounds pass with 2:36 to play in the half to push the lead to five.
"I was a little nervous, but once you hit the first one things just kind of go," Shager said.
Two decisive blows came from Alyssa Piefer and Shager. Piefer drilled a rainbow 3 with 1:12 to play to put Black Hawk up 10 at 32-22. With four seconds left in the half, Kim Wellnitz found Shager wide open for a 3, giving the Warriors the 12-point advantage at the break.
A 15-4 run in the third all but sealed the Warriors' second straight state berth.
"It feels amazing. This is all I've ever wanted to do since I was little," Shager said, who wasn't on last year's team. "There are no words to describe it. It just feels amazing."
Melissa Wellnitz led the Warriors in scoring with 14 points, many of which were clutch drives to the hole. Black Hawk had four players in double figures, with Kim Wellnitz (11 points), Rygh (12) and Shager (11) adding big contributions.
The Warriors will play Minong Northwood (25-0) Thursday at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the Kohl Center, Madison. Northwood was ranked No. 1 in the state in the final WisSports.net Coaches Poll. Black Hawk was ranked third behind Wausau Newman and ahead of Wisconsin Rapids Assumption. Weston (24-3, ranked 13th) and Newman (24-2) also earned tickets way to state.
"I looked at the Wisconsin Girls Yearbook and it predicted us to get to state, then I looked at last year's and not one of the predicted teams made it to state," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said.
Moments earlier, Flanagan's Lady Warriors knocked off Central Wisconsin Christian in the WIAA Division 4 Fort Atkinson sectional championship Saturday night, 58-41.
"I told the girls early in the season that anyone can make it. These girls took that to heart and worked so hard and I am so proud of them," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk (26-1) had been ranked in the top 10 in the state all season in various prep polls, but Flanagan said his team took it all in stride.
"These girls are so level-headed. They don't take anything for granted. They know they have to work hard and work as a team and that's what they do," he said. "I love them all."
For senior Kim Wellnitz, the unquestioned leader on the floor, the excitement is just as bold the second time around.
"It's so exciting! It feels so great," she said. "We came in here and played our hearts out. We wanted to make it up to the Kohl Center so bad. I'm so very proud of my whole team and our coaches for all the work we put in to this."
The Warriors struggled early against the Crusaders (23-4), coughing up a 7-2 lead to trail 13-12 after the first quarter. But in the second, Black Hawk looked like a team on a mission, hitting shots left and right and playing its trademark press defense.
"(The pressure) was intense on the floor," junior guard Melissa Wellnitz said. "We were going so hard and we tried everything. We knew we had to start over and get all of our power going again."
The Warriors struggled against Barneveld in the regional final a week before and again against Albany in the sectional semifinal Thursday.
"We knew we had to get it right this game," Melissa Wellnitz said. "At the end we were crying and didn't know what to do because we were so excited. It was awesome. It means the world to get back to state."
Black Hawk outscored Central Wisconsin 23-10 in the second to take a 12-point halftime advantage, a lead that would never be challenged.
"Basketball is a game of momentum, and once we get into the swing of things and play how we normally play, our offense plays really well," sophomore Rachel Rygh said. "When things start moving we play more aggressive and we play better."
Rygh opened the second quarter with a big 3-pointer, giving Black Hawk the lead again. A minute later, sophomore Chaesta Shager hit another 3. Rygh scored four straight points in three minutes into the second to give the Warriors a four-point lead and added another bucket off of an inbounds pass with 2:36 to play in the half to push the lead to five.
"I was a little nervous, but once you hit the first one things just kind of go," Shager said.
Two decisive blows came from Alyssa Piefer and Shager. Piefer drilled a rainbow 3 with 1:12 to play to put Black Hawk up 10 at 32-22. With four seconds left in the half, Kim Wellnitz found Shager wide open for a 3, giving the Warriors the 12-point advantage at the break.
A 15-4 run in the third all but sealed the Warriors' second straight state berth.
"It feels amazing. This is all I've ever wanted to do since I was little," Shager said, who wasn't on last year's team. "There are no words to describe it. It just feels amazing."
Melissa Wellnitz led the Warriors in scoring with 14 points, many of which were clutch drives to the hole. Black Hawk had four players in double figures, with Kim Wellnitz (11 points), Rygh (12) and Shager (11) adding big contributions.
The Warriors will play Minong Northwood (25-0) Thursday at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the Kohl Center, Madison. Northwood was ranked No. 1 in the state in the final WisSports.net Coaches Poll. Black Hawk was ranked third behind Wausau Newman and ahead of Wisconsin Rapids Assumption. Weston (24-3, ranked 13th) and Newman (24-2) also earned tickets way to state.
