NEW GLARUS - Black Hawk senior forward Kim Wellnitz scored 10 points in the first half of Monday's 53-26 win over New Glarus, surpassing former teammate Paige Butler for the all-time school record for career points.
Wellnitz (1,108 points) played with Butler (1,103) the three seasons prior to this year, reaching the WIAA Division 4 state semifinals a year ago.
"It's quite the milestone," Warriors head coach Mike Flanagan said. Black Hawk led 37-13 at the half, which allowed Wellnitz to take plenty of time off in the second half. She finished with 14 points in the game.
The Glarner Knights knew that Black Hawk's press defense packed a heavy punch. What they didn't realize was just how much Ivan Drago-like the punch could be.
"We practiced for it and planned for their press, but their speed we couldn't match in practice," New Glarus head coach Braden Rindy said after his team lost the non-conference game Monday to one of last year's state qualifying teams, 53-26.
The Warriors forced countless turnovers to open the game, and finished each jab with an uppercut into the basket. Black Hawk scored the game's first nine points, led 13-1 just three minutes in to the game, and went on a 17-0 run in the second quarter.
"We've bought into playing some pretty good defense," Flanagan said. "We challenged our post to work a little bit harder on defense and I thought we did a good job of making (New Glarus) work for everything they got."
Rindy said his team felt a little disheartened after turning the ball over and allowing Black Hawk to get on top so quickly.
"They got their heads down and I couldn't get them back up," Rindy said. "I told (the team) we have to find something to motivate us for the rest of the season going into regionals. It would be nice to knock some teams down."
The Knights slowed down the tempo and played tighter defense in the third quarter. Black Hawk responded by scoring just 11 points in the frame.
"In the first half we played a little zone because we didn't want them to lob it against us. We wanted to take away their big girls. In the second half we went to man," Rindy said.
Flanagan was able to get his entire bench into the game to play throughout the fourth quarter, something he was pleased with.
"They got out there and battled hard. Those kids deserve a little bit of recognition. They come to practice everyday and they play their guts out," he said. "We just love to get the opportunities for them late in a game like that."
New Glarus did have moments of hope in the game. Lauren Narveson three times jumped in front of a pass for a steal. The team's offense, when able to run its halfcourt set, found open players in the post and the team played with more of a spark in the second half.
"I told them to start trying for some steals because we needed the points. Lauren is a good player, a real scrappy player. She'll get into foul trouble a lot doing that, but if you let her go she'll definitely get you some steals," Rindy said.
Black Hawk's early aggressiveness led to a flurry of points. Senior Rachel Rygh scored nine of her 18 points in the first quarter and had 16 at halftime. Junior guard Melissa Wellnitz added 11 for the Warriors.
"(Black Hawk is) well coached and a good team," Rindy said. "(Our girls) can learn just how fast they can play. They can play at that speed and I've told them that. They have the talent. Right now they're just not executing."
Senior forward Tanya Gruter led New Glarus with nine points and sophomore post player Alycia Atwell had eight.
"We knew coming in New Glarus was tough. They are a Division 3 school and they've got some kids that can really play ball. Their post game is pretty tough," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk hosts Juda Thursday in a Six Rivers East contest while New Glarus travels to Capitol South foe Marshall the same evening.
"We're just a little bit closer to the postseason and we want to take steps forward every night. That's what we have to have if we want to do some good things," Flanagan said.
Wellnitz (1,108 points) played with Butler (1,103) the three seasons prior to this year, reaching the WIAA Division 4 state semifinals a year ago.
"It's quite the milestone," Warriors head coach Mike Flanagan said. Black Hawk led 37-13 at the half, which allowed Wellnitz to take plenty of time off in the second half. She finished with 14 points in the game.
The Glarner Knights knew that Black Hawk's press defense packed a heavy punch. What they didn't realize was just how much Ivan Drago-like the punch could be.
"We practiced for it and planned for their press, but their speed we couldn't match in practice," New Glarus head coach Braden Rindy said after his team lost the non-conference game Monday to one of last year's state qualifying teams, 53-26.
The Warriors forced countless turnovers to open the game, and finished each jab with an uppercut into the basket. Black Hawk scored the game's first nine points, led 13-1 just three minutes in to the game, and went on a 17-0 run in the second quarter.
"We've bought into playing some pretty good defense," Flanagan said. "We challenged our post to work a little bit harder on defense and I thought we did a good job of making (New Glarus) work for everything they got."
Rindy said his team felt a little disheartened after turning the ball over and allowing Black Hawk to get on top so quickly.
"They got their heads down and I couldn't get them back up," Rindy said. "I told (the team) we have to find something to motivate us for the rest of the season going into regionals. It would be nice to knock some teams down."
The Knights slowed down the tempo and played tighter defense in the third quarter. Black Hawk responded by scoring just 11 points in the frame.
"In the first half we played a little zone because we didn't want them to lob it against us. We wanted to take away their big girls. In the second half we went to man," Rindy said.
Flanagan was able to get his entire bench into the game to play throughout the fourth quarter, something he was pleased with.
"They got out there and battled hard. Those kids deserve a little bit of recognition. They come to practice everyday and they play their guts out," he said. "We just love to get the opportunities for them late in a game like that."
New Glarus did have moments of hope in the game. Lauren Narveson three times jumped in front of a pass for a steal. The team's offense, when able to run its halfcourt set, found open players in the post and the team played with more of a spark in the second half.
"I told them to start trying for some steals because we needed the points. Lauren is a good player, a real scrappy player. She'll get into foul trouble a lot doing that, but if you let her go she'll definitely get you some steals," Rindy said.
Black Hawk's early aggressiveness led to a flurry of points. Senior Rachel Rygh scored nine of her 18 points in the first quarter and had 16 at halftime. Junior guard Melissa Wellnitz added 11 for the Warriors.
"(Black Hawk is) well coached and a good team," Rindy said. "(Our girls) can learn just how fast they can play. They can play at that speed and I've told them that. They have the talent. Right now they're just not executing."
Senior forward Tanya Gruter led New Glarus with nine points and sophomore post player Alycia Atwell had eight.
"We knew coming in New Glarus was tough. They are a Division 3 school and they've got some kids that can really play ball. Their post game is pretty tough," Flanagan said.
Black Hawk hosts Juda Thursday in a Six Rivers East contest while New Glarus travels to Capitol South foe Marshall the same evening.
"We're just a little bit closer to the postseason and we want to take steps forward every night. That's what we have to have if we want to do some good things," Flanagan said.
