SOUTH WAYNE - The Six Rivers East Conference showdown between Black Hawk and Barneveld was well worth the wait.
Black Hawk sophomore Jen Wellnitz scored a game-high 21 points and had seven steals to lead the Warriors to a 43-32 win over Barneveld on Saturday. It was the first meeting between two of the state's top five teams. After two previous games were postponed due to inclement weather, Wellnitz said, the Warriors had something to prove.
"At the beginning of the season in The Monroe Times, most of the coaches picked Barneveld to win the conference because they thought we were down," Wellnitz said. "We had a point to prove that we could play with Barneveld."
Black Hawk (15-1, 7-0 Six Rivers East), ranked fourth in the Division 5 Associated Press state poll, has now won 32 straight conference games and the Warriors have a one-game lead on the Eagles (16-2, 8-1).
"It's a single game," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We can't make more of it than what it is. We know how tough it will be when we play at Barneveld."
Barneveld coach Jim Myers said Wellnitz is one of the best athletes he has seen on the court.
"She (Wellnitz) is like a team in herself with all she does on defense, rebounding and passing," Myers said. "She is a hell of a player. We don't have anyone who can physically match up with her. Today she just took over the game."
The Warriors opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run highlighted by senior Katie Powers who scored nine of her 11 points in the period. Wellnitz came through with a steal and banked in a shot to start the third period. Black Hawk senior Kate Quinn scored down low, Wellnitz scored on a layup and Powers knocked down a 3-pointer to help the Warriors take a 30-19 lead.
"I noticed no one was on me," Powers said of her 3-pointer. "I had to take that shot. I know I don't usually shoot much in games. When I get a shot, I don't want to pass it up. Jen did an awesome job. She's always tough. There are times when other people are going to have to step up and score because teams are going to lock down on her."
Both teams struggled shooting early on. Black Hawk shot 1-for-15 in the first period and the Eagles were 1-for-11. Wellnitz picked up two fouls in the first quarter and was forced to the bench for about the final 3 minutes.
The Warriors found their shooting eye in the second quarter. Black Hawk senior Chesta Shager drilled a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 7-4 lead early in the second quarter. Wellnitz came up with a steal, but kept her dribble alive while falling to one knee. She then hit a turnaround jumper on the break and was fouled. Wellnitz made the free throw to convert the three-point play to give the Warriors a 12-8 lead. She followed that up with another three-point play to give the Warriors a 15-8 lead with 2:46 left in the second quarter.
Black Hawk led by as many as 13 points in the second half after Wellnitz scored down low to start the fourth quarter. Every time the Eagles would cut Black Hawk's lead to seven or eight points, Wellnitz answered.
"I hate when the game gets close," Wellnitz said. "I get all worried and we don't always play our game."
Flanagan was excited with Wellnitz and Powers' ability to make big shots in the second half.
"You have to have some kids rise to the occasion," Flanagan said. "We had a couple of our better players step up and score. There are times when things came easy for her (Wellnitz). That happens sometimes."
Barneveld freshman Rachel Slaney scored 11 of her 12 points in the second half to keep the Eagles within striking distance.
"Rachel Slaney came out, wasn't feeling well," Myers said. "I didn't know how much she was going to be able to play. It was a little bit of her will. She kept us in the game in the fourth quarter."
Black Hawk will play at Barneveld on Friday. Myers is focused on coming up with a way to slow down Wellnitz to earn a season split and a share of the conference title.
"We are not going to get any bigger in a week," Myers said. "We will have to get a little tougher."
Black Hawk sophomore Jen Wellnitz scored a game-high 21 points and had seven steals to lead the Warriors to a 43-32 win over Barneveld on Saturday. It was the first meeting between two of the state's top five teams. After two previous games were postponed due to inclement weather, Wellnitz said, the Warriors had something to prove.
"At the beginning of the season in The Monroe Times, most of the coaches picked Barneveld to win the conference because they thought we were down," Wellnitz said. "We had a point to prove that we could play with Barneveld."
Black Hawk (15-1, 7-0 Six Rivers East), ranked fourth in the Division 5 Associated Press state poll, has now won 32 straight conference games and the Warriors have a one-game lead on the Eagles (16-2, 8-1).
"It's a single game," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We can't make more of it than what it is. We know how tough it will be when we play at Barneveld."
Barneveld coach Jim Myers said Wellnitz is one of the best athletes he has seen on the court.
"She (Wellnitz) is like a team in herself with all she does on defense, rebounding and passing," Myers said. "She is a hell of a player. We don't have anyone who can physically match up with her. Today she just took over the game."
The Warriors opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run highlighted by senior Katie Powers who scored nine of her 11 points in the period. Wellnitz came through with a steal and banked in a shot to start the third period. Black Hawk senior Kate Quinn scored down low, Wellnitz scored on a layup and Powers knocked down a 3-pointer to help the Warriors take a 30-19 lead.
"I noticed no one was on me," Powers said of her 3-pointer. "I had to take that shot. I know I don't usually shoot much in games. When I get a shot, I don't want to pass it up. Jen did an awesome job. She's always tough. There are times when other people are going to have to step up and score because teams are going to lock down on her."
Both teams struggled shooting early on. Black Hawk shot 1-for-15 in the first period and the Eagles were 1-for-11. Wellnitz picked up two fouls in the first quarter and was forced to the bench for about the final 3 minutes.
The Warriors found their shooting eye in the second quarter. Black Hawk senior Chesta Shager drilled a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 7-4 lead early in the second quarter. Wellnitz came up with a steal, but kept her dribble alive while falling to one knee. She then hit a turnaround jumper on the break and was fouled. Wellnitz made the free throw to convert the three-point play to give the Warriors a 12-8 lead. She followed that up with another three-point play to give the Warriors a 15-8 lead with 2:46 left in the second quarter.
Black Hawk led by as many as 13 points in the second half after Wellnitz scored down low to start the fourth quarter. Every time the Eagles would cut Black Hawk's lead to seven or eight points, Wellnitz answered.
"I hate when the game gets close," Wellnitz said. "I get all worried and we don't always play our game."
Flanagan was excited with Wellnitz and Powers' ability to make big shots in the second half.
"You have to have some kids rise to the occasion," Flanagan said. "We had a couple of our better players step up and score. There are times when things came easy for her (Wellnitz). That happens sometimes."
Barneveld freshman Rachel Slaney scored 11 of her 12 points in the second half to keep the Eagles within striking distance.
"Rachel Slaney came out, wasn't feeling well," Myers said. "I didn't know how much she was going to be able to play. It was a little bit of her will. She kept us in the game in the fourth quarter."
Black Hawk will play at Barneveld on Friday. Myers is focused on coming up with a way to slow down Wellnitz to earn a season split and a share of the conference title.
"We are not going to get any bigger in a week," Myers said. "We will have to get a little tougher."
