SOUTH WAYNE - The Black Hawk girls basketball team has done plenty of winning in recent seasons, but precious few of those victories have come in tight games or have required huge comebacks.
The Warriors checked both items off their to-do list Monday night in a 48-47 non-conference victory against Clinton.
Trailing by 16 points at halftime, the state's No. 2-ranked Division 5 team stormed back behind a big second half from sophomore point guard Jen Wellnitz and a solid bench effort to improve to 5-0.
"You want a team you feel confident going to war with and these kids showed the ability to battle," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We've won a lot of games the last few years and a lot of those games were somewhat lopsided. We've played in big games, but haven't played in a lot of close games like that.
"It's a good learning experience for our kids - veterans and novices alike. It was a good test for us as a team."
Clinton (3-2) bolted to a 16-8 lead after one quarter and led 31-15 at halftime. The worst part for the Warriors at the break was they'd already given up the 31 points they'd allowed on average through four games.
"We had to stay optimistic," Flanagan said. "I said it after the game that I don't know how many people in the gym thought we could come back from down 16 at the half. But we had 13 people in our locker room - the 10 players and three coaches - who thought they could and found a way to do it."
Wellnitz scored 16 of her game-high 23 points in the second half - including 10 in the fourth quarter, when Black Hawk outscored Clinton 17-6. Flanagan said Wellnitz's layup late in the fourth quarter gave the Warriors their first lead of the game.
"A lot of hustle plays," Flanagan said of Wellnitz in the second half. "She was everything she's billed to be tonight."
Senior forward Kate Quinn added 13 points for Black Hawk, and Flanagan said the Warriors bench - especially sophomore guard Michelle Flanagan and junior guard Kelly Neuenschwander - was excellent when senior starters Chaesta Shager and Katie Powers got into foul trouble.
"Those two came in when Shager and Powers were on the bench and they just did a really good job of defending and taking care of the basketball," Mike Flanagan said. "We need those kids to step up and they did. I was pretty happy to see that."
Megan Lantz scored 15 points and Mallory Niemann added 13 for Clinton.
Redbirds' game canceled
DARLINGTON - The Darlington girls basketball team's game at Orfordville Parkview scheduled for Monday night was canceled and will not be made up.
Darlington coach Mike Chambers said the game was canceled due to Darlington's Christmas concert.
The Warriors checked both items off their to-do list Monday night in a 48-47 non-conference victory against Clinton.
Trailing by 16 points at halftime, the state's No. 2-ranked Division 5 team stormed back behind a big second half from sophomore point guard Jen Wellnitz and a solid bench effort to improve to 5-0.
"You want a team you feel confident going to war with and these kids showed the ability to battle," Black Hawk coach Mike Flanagan said. "We've won a lot of games the last few years and a lot of those games were somewhat lopsided. We've played in big games, but haven't played in a lot of close games like that.
"It's a good learning experience for our kids - veterans and novices alike. It was a good test for us as a team."
Clinton (3-2) bolted to a 16-8 lead after one quarter and led 31-15 at halftime. The worst part for the Warriors at the break was they'd already given up the 31 points they'd allowed on average through four games.
"We had to stay optimistic," Flanagan said. "I said it after the game that I don't know how many people in the gym thought we could come back from down 16 at the half. But we had 13 people in our locker room - the 10 players and three coaches - who thought they could and found a way to do it."
Wellnitz scored 16 of her game-high 23 points in the second half - including 10 in the fourth quarter, when Black Hawk outscored Clinton 17-6. Flanagan said Wellnitz's layup late in the fourth quarter gave the Warriors their first lead of the game.
"A lot of hustle plays," Flanagan said of Wellnitz in the second half. "She was everything she's billed to be tonight."
Senior forward Kate Quinn added 13 points for Black Hawk, and Flanagan said the Warriors bench - especially sophomore guard Michelle Flanagan and junior guard Kelly Neuenschwander - was excellent when senior starters Chaesta Shager and Katie Powers got into foul trouble.
"Those two came in when Shager and Powers were on the bench and they just did a really good job of defending and taking care of the basketball," Mike Flanagan said. "We need those kids to step up and they did. I was pretty happy to see that."
Megan Lantz scored 15 points and Mallory Niemann added 13 for Clinton.
Redbirds' game canceled
DARLINGTON - The Darlington girls basketball team's game at Orfordville Parkview scheduled for Monday night was canceled and will not be made up.
Darlington coach Mike Chambers said the game was canceled due to Darlington's Christmas concert.
