SOUTH WAYNE - The Lady Redbirds made it a game away from state a season ago in Division 4, further than any area team other than Monroe, which was in Division 2. Despite last season's success, and this seasons expectations, Darlington hit the road Thursday night as big underdogs to unbeaten Black Hawk.
"We've been prepping for them for a week and a half," Redbirds coach Kelly Rose said. "They are very athletic. We were hoping to get our shots (off). It was a really good matchup and for a good majority of the game - there were some breakdowns - I feel like we gave them a pretty good game."
The Warriors, ranked No. 1 in the state in the WisSports.net Coaches Division 5 Poll, has stymied teams using its smothering defense and sniper-like shooting skills from beyond the arc. For 22 minutes Thursday night, Black Hawk was the team with eyes wide open. Darlington trailed Black Hawk by just six points with 13:58 to play before the Warriors were able to run away and win 58-39.
"I hope we gave the impression to other teams that we're here to stay," Rose said.
From the outset it appeared that the Redbirds would be just another car Black Hawk had to pass on the road to state. The Warriors forced five Darlington turnovers in the first five possessions and jumped out to a 12-0 lead just four minutes into the game.
"We talked about making sure we took care of the ball, especially at the beginning of the game," Rose said. "We made some mistakes, but once we settled in I felt we got very confident."
Black Hawk's lead reached as high as 14 in the opening half after Natalie Leuzinger hit a 3-pointer and then drove to the lane in back-to-back possessions with 6:56 to play to make it 22-8. The Redbirds picked up their chins, lowered their shoulders and closed the half on an 11-4 run, trailing just 26-19 at the break.
"I thought (Darlington) did a good job trying to stay patient against our press and exposing a few things that we need to account for," Darlington coach Mike Flanagan said.
Just two minutes into the second half, it got even tighter after a big 3 by Darlington's Kaylee Meyers made it 28-24. It was the closest any Wisconsin team has been to Black Hawk this season in the second half.
"They were really packing it in and we weren't able to get our drives in," said freshman Bailey Butler, a starter for Black Hawk.
After four free throws by Black Hawk freshmen Kaylee Marty and Butler, Darlington's Bethany McDonald scored in transition to trim it to 32-26 with 13:58 to play in the game. It was as close as the Redbirds would get the rest of the contest, as the Warriors went on a 16-2 run to pull away.
"We told the team in the locker room that you've got to play good teams to get better. We'll take that and roll with it," Rose said.
Black Hawk, which has hardly been challenged on the hardwood this season, got its first real spark and sense of energy and emotion from not a senior leader, but a freshman. With under four minutes to go in the game, leading by 17, the Warriors were content passing around the perimeter and chewing clock. After a missed shot on offense, Black Hawk's press defense forced a turnover as Sydney Delzer picked off a pass near mid-court. The ball quickly rotated to Butler, who, instead of keeping the rock near the arc, bounced a perfect pass back inside to a wide open Delzer under the hoop. Delzer made the bucket and drew a foul, prompting Butler to punch her arm through the air and wail in delight.
"That was something I complimented her for. Those are the situations that bring that out of you - when you have to make big plays and fend off an aggressive opponent," Flanagan said.
Butler was pumped for the moment, despite the comfortable lead.
"When they are up and pressuring and we've got a wide-open player, that just gets me riled up," Butler said.
Bailey Butler led all scorers with 20 points. Leuzinger had 17 and sophomore Hannah Butler added 11 for Black Hawk. Darlington was led by Bethany McDonald's 7 points, but had nine players score in the game.
"They are really good shooters from the perimeter and beyond the perimeter," Rose said. "So, we stayed in a man (defense) and put that little bit of extra pressure on them at the perimeter. That what helpful for us."
Darlington's man-to-man defense on Black Hawk led to something not seen this year - the Warriors hit just four 3s despite averaging 10 per game.
"We were anticipating them to play their 1-3-1 (zone) because that's what they've played all year. But they came in and played man-to-man," Flanagan said.
Darlington (7-3) is off until a home game vs. Boscobel (6-1) on Jan. 4. Black Hawk (10-0), meanwhile, hosts Dodgeville (8-0, No. 10 in D3) on Dec. 28.
"This was a good win for our team. They did not make it easy on us," Flanagan said. "This was a tough stretch for us - Springville, Iowa, Barneveld, Darlington and now Dodgeville. That's a heck of a stretch."
"We've been prepping for them for a week and a half," Redbirds coach Kelly Rose said. "They are very athletic. We were hoping to get our shots (off). It was a really good matchup and for a good majority of the game - there were some breakdowns - I feel like we gave them a pretty good game."
The Warriors, ranked No. 1 in the state in the WisSports.net Coaches Division 5 Poll, has stymied teams using its smothering defense and sniper-like shooting skills from beyond the arc. For 22 minutes Thursday night, Black Hawk was the team with eyes wide open. Darlington trailed Black Hawk by just six points with 13:58 to play before the Warriors were able to run away and win 58-39.
"I hope we gave the impression to other teams that we're here to stay," Rose said.
From the outset it appeared that the Redbirds would be just another car Black Hawk had to pass on the road to state. The Warriors forced five Darlington turnovers in the first five possessions and jumped out to a 12-0 lead just four minutes into the game.
"We talked about making sure we took care of the ball, especially at the beginning of the game," Rose said. "We made some mistakes, but once we settled in I felt we got very confident."
Black Hawk's lead reached as high as 14 in the opening half after Natalie Leuzinger hit a 3-pointer and then drove to the lane in back-to-back possessions with 6:56 to play to make it 22-8. The Redbirds picked up their chins, lowered their shoulders and closed the half on an 11-4 run, trailing just 26-19 at the break.
"I thought (Darlington) did a good job trying to stay patient against our press and exposing a few things that we need to account for," Darlington coach Mike Flanagan said.
Just two minutes into the second half, it got even tighter after a big 3 by Darlington's Kaylee Meyers made it 28-24. It was the closest any Wisconsin team has been to Black Hawk this season in the second half.
"They were really packing it in and we weren't able to get our drives in," said freshman Bailey Butler, a starter for Black Hawk.
After four free throws by Black Hawk freshmen Kaylee Marty and Butler, Darlington's Bethany McDonald scored in transition to trim it to 32-26 with 13:58 to play in the game. It was as close as the Redbirds would get the rest of the contest, as the Warriors went on a 16-2 run to pull away.
"We told the team in the locker room that you've got to play good teams to get better. We'll take that and roll with it," Rose said.
Black Hawk, which has hardly been challenged on the hardwood this season, got its first real spark and sense of energy and emotion from not a senior leader, but a freshman. With under four minutes to go in the game, leading by 17, the Warriors were content passing around the perimeter and chewing clock. After a missed shot on offense, Black Hawk's press defense forced a turnover as Sydney Delzer picked off a pass near mid-court. The ball quickly rotated to Butler, who, instead of keeping the rock near the arc, bounced a perfect pass back inside to a wide open Delzer under the hoop. Delzer made the bucket and drew a foul, prompting Butler to punch her arm through the air and wail in delight.
"That was something I complimented her for. Those are the situations that bring that out of you - when you have to make big plays and fend off an aggressive opponent," Flanagan said.
Butler was pumped for the moment, despite the comfortable lead.
"When they are up and pressuring and we've got a wide-open player, that just gets me riled up," Butler said.
Bailey Butler led all scorers with 20 points. Leuzinger had 17 and sophomore Hannah Butler added 11 for Black Hawk. Darlington was led by Bethany McDonald's 7 points, but had nine players score in the game.
"They are really good shooters from the perimeter and beyond the perimeter," Rose said. "So, we stayed in a man (defense) and put that little bit of extra pressure on them at the perimeter. That what helpful for us."
Darlington's man-to-man defense on Black Hawk led to something not seen this year - the Warriors hit just four 3s despite averaging 10 per game.
"We were anticipating them to play their 1-3-1 (zone) because that's what they've played all year. But they came in and played man-to-man," Flanagan said.
Darlington (7-3) is off until a home game vs. Boscobel (6-1) on Jan. 4. Black Hawk (10-0), meanwhile, hosts Dodgeville (8-0, No. 10 in D3) on Dec. 28.
"This was a good win for our team. They did not make it easy on us," Flanagan said. "This was a tough stretch for us - Springville, Iowa, Barneveld, Darlington and now Dodgeville. That's a heck of a stretch."
