SOUTH WAYNE - The big question after the Black Hawk girls basketball team pulled out a 46-41 season-opening win over New Glarus was the status of Jen Wellnitz, after the junior was forced out of the game after falling to the court following a drive to the basket.
With 1 minute, 29 seconds to go, Wellnitz drove to the basket and appeared to hit her head after falling to the court Tuesday night.
"I think she hit her head," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "She showed no signs of a concussion. We checked her eyes and her coherence and she showed no signs."
Flanagan said after the game Wellnitz had a headache and felt nauseous. For the game, Wellnitz just missed a triple-double, scoring a game-high 16 points to go along with 10 rebounds, nine assists and eight steals.
"She will get checked out," he said. "We may not have her on Monday when we play at Potosi."
After Wellnitz went back into the game, she zipped a pass to junior Mikayla Sigafus who scored on the break to give the Warriors a 45-41 lead with 22.3 seconds left. Sigafus stepped up big in her first varsity start, scoring 12 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.
"I think our girls figured it out last year," Flanagan said. "If they run the floor and get their head turned around, Jen will set them up. I'm just really happy for Mikayla. What a way to open her junior year."
Sigafus was excited to come through.
"It feels great to kick off the season with a win," Sigafus said. "It felt great to be there for my team and put some points in to help us win."
New Glarus junior Mandi Sargent blocked a shot midway through the fourth quarter and that led to senior Lexi Hanson drilling a 3-pointer with 3:42 left to slice the Warriors' lead to 43-41. Black Hawk junior Michelle Flanagan had a putback with 2:59 left to give the Warriors a 43-39 lead. The Knights had four straight possessions to tie the game or take the lead in the final 1:30, but they committed three turnovers.
After losing to Black Hawk by 23 points last year, New Glarus coach Megan Scheele was encouraged by Tuesday's performance and the start to the season, but she sees improvements the team can make to get better.
"It was a great test to see where we stood against a good team like Black Hawk," Scheele said. "(We) played much better than last year. We still have some things we need to work on. Passing and rebounding were big keys for us tonight. We had too many costly turnovers."
With only one starter back, Flanagan wasn't sure what to expect against a deep and taller New Glarus team. The Warriors weren't the only team that was adjusting to an injury. The Knights were playing without senior starter Anya Schween, who is recovering from a torn ACL.
"I didn't know if we would be able play with them," Flanagan said. "New Glarus won the Monroe summer league. I think (Schween) would have scored the few points they needed. You feel bad for a kid like her because she is a great player. With all the players coming back, I knew it would be a dogfight. We will take it."
New Glarus junior Courtney Feller scored a team-high 12 points and Hanson added 10. Junior Karina Moen chipped in eight points off the bench.
"She did a great job," Scheele said of Moen. "She gave us a spark off the bench."
Michelle Flanagan and senior Abby Schiferl each added seven points for the Warriors. Black Hawk shot 10 of 20 from the free throw line, and the Knights were 7 of 18.
"It's a carry over from last year," Flanagan said of the Warriors' low free throw percentage. "It's so much mental. It's great to get to the line and shoot that many. From a defensive standpoint you could see it was a first game. The kids were just a step slow on defense."
Black Hawk will play at Potosi on Monday.
"People have to understand it's a work in progress," Flanagan said. "The only thing I will guarantee is that we will get better."
With 1 minute, 29 seconds to go, Wellnitz drove to the basket and appeared to hit her head after falling to the court Tuesday night.
"I think she hit her head," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "She showed no signs of a concussion. We checked her eyes and her coherence and she showed no signs."
Flanagan said after the game Wellnitz had a headache and felt nauseous. For the game, Wellnitz just missed a triple-double, scoring a game-high 16 points to go along with 10 rebounds, nine assists and eight steals.
"She will get checked out," he said. "We may not have her on Monday when we play at Potosi."
After Wellnitz went back into the game, she zipped a pass to junior Mikayla Sigafus who scored on the break to give the Warriors a 45-41 lead with 22.3 seconds left. Sigafus stepped up big in her first varsity start, scoring 12 points and grabbing 9 rebounds.
"I think our girls figured it out last year," Flanagan said. "If they run the floor and get their head turned around, Jen will set them up. I'm just really happy for Mikayla. What a way to open her junior year."
Sigafus was excited to come through.
"It feels great to kick off the season with a win," Sigafus said. "It felt great to be there for my team and put some points in to help us win."
New Glarus junior Mandi Sargent blocked a shot midway through the fourth quarter and that led to senior Lexi Hanson drilling a 3-pointer with 3:42 left to slice the Warriors' lead to 43-41. Black Hawk junior Michelle Flanagan had a putback with 2:59 left to give the Warriors a 43-39 lead. The Knights had four straight possessions to tie the game or take the lead in the final 1:30, but they committed three turnovers.
After losing to Black Hawk by 23 points last year, New Glarus coach Megan Scheele was encouraged by Tuesday's performance and the start to the season, but she sees improvements the team can make to get better.
"It was a great test to see where we stood against a good team like Black Hawk," Scheele said. "(We) played much better than last year. We still have some things we need to work on. Passing and rebounding were big keys for us tonight. We had too many costly turnovers."
With only one starter back, Flanagan wasn't sure what to expect against a deep and taller New Glarus team. The Warriors weren't the only team that was adjusting to an injury. The Knights were playing without senior starter Anya Schween, who is recovering from a torn ACL.
"I didn't know if we would be able play with them," Flanagan said. "New Glarus won the Monroe summer league. I think (Schween) would have scored the few points they needed. You feel bad for a kid like her because she is a great player. With all the players coming back, I knew it would be a dogfight. We will take it."
New Glarus junior Courtney Feller scored a team-high 12 points and Hanson added 10. Junior Karina Moen chipped in eight points off the bench.
"She did a great job," Scheele said of Moen. "She gave us a spark off the bench."
Michelle Flanagan and senior Abby Schiferl each added seven points for the Warriors. Black Hawk shot 10 of 20 from the free throw line, and the Knights were 7 of 18.
"It's a carry over from last year," Flanagan said of the Warriors' low free throw percentage. "It's so much mental. It's great to get to the line and shoot that many. From a defensive standpoint you could see it was a first game. The kids were just a step slow on defense."
Black Hawk will play at Potosi on Monday.
"People have to understand it's a work in progress," Flanagan said. "The only thing I will guarantee is that we will get better."
