SOUTH WAYNE - When two superstars go head-to-head, something has to give. Bird versus Magic, LeBron against Kobe, Wellnitz facing Chandler.
In the final installment of the four-year battle of Kim Wellnitz (Black Hawk) and Kimee Chandler (Pecatonica), it was the Warriors led by Wellnitz that came out on top Thursday in a WIAA Division 4 Darlington regional semifinal 55-36.
"We just played a good team out there," Wellnitz said. "When we started hitting shots we just got fired up."
Chandler picked up two quick fouls while Wellnitz went off for 10 points in the first quarter and 19 at halftime, which included 12 in a row in just 2 minutes, 29 seconds between the first and second quarters.
"(Wellnitz) played a real good game, especially in that first half," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "Pec is a good team. We have a lot of respect for them and quite a lot of history with them - we've met up several times now. Kimee Chandler has had a heck of a career."
Wellnitz's run, plus a 3-pointer by Chaesta Shager with 6:59 left in the second, carried the Warriors from a 10-6 advantage to a 25-6 cushion.
"Our press really started to help us. We got a lot of turnovers," Wellnitz said. "Defense wins games, and that's what it comes down to. You have to play your hearts out."
Chandler couldn't help her team climb out of the hole.
"It's tough. (Black Hawk is) obviously a great team," she said. "They are very balanced and they have a very good coach and they came ready to play. We knew we could stay with them if we were aggressive and knocked down our shots."
The Vikings (10-14) kept it close early on thanks to aggressive play on the boards. The physical element caused frustration for both teams, but Pecatonica head coach Tom Wilkins was pleased with how the play developed in the first six minutes of the contest.
"I thought it was great. I was so happy with the kids," he said. "We went on the boards with them. We just rushed things a little bit offensively and missed some shots."
Flanagan noticed how physical the game was, too.
"You kind of got a feeling where the game was going. There were times when it got a little physical and the referees let them play. It just became a matter of battling and getting the ball inside," Flanagan said.
The big lead the Warriors accumulated grew each minute. By the time halftime rolled around, Black Hawk (23-1) held a 30-12 advantage.
Pecatonica gained one point on Black Hawk in the third, but Chandler quickly found out of the game in the fourth. A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit, and already two-time all-state player, Chandler picked up her fourth and fifth fouls in the first 1:40 of the fourth quarter.
"When you get fouls you have to play smart. You can't leave your feet and you can't be stupid - you have to play smart," she said. "I was just taking everything in when I was sitting on the bench. Taking all of my four years and everything in. A lot went on in my mind in those six minutes. My Milwaukee coach was there and talked to me after the game which made me a lot happier."
Chandler, who averaged over 17 points per game this season, finished with just 11. Wellnitz had 24 points and 10 rebounds.
"It was fun watching her all year. She is a great player and she did some neat things," Wilkins said. "It's been a pleasure working with her and I'm sure she's going to have a good career at Milwaukee."
Katie Place had nine points and 11 rebounds for Black Hawk, which out-rebounded the Vikings 35-28 in the game. The Warriors collected 21 offensive rebounds. Black Hawk also won the turnover battle 35-22.
"You would think that your seniors would have that little bit of added incentive to play well. They really don't want their season to end. I think Kim and Katie did what they had to do to help us out and take the team on their shoulders," Flanagan said.
Top-seeded Black Hawk moves on to the regional championship where it will face conference rival Barneveld (17-7), the second seed.
"We have to remind the kids of just how many teams won't be practicing tomorrow. We are one of the lucky teams who get to practice. We'll take the opportunity and prep for Barneveld and we'll see what happens on Saturday," Flanagan said, whose team goal is to return to the state tournament in Madison for the second-straight season.
In the final installment of the four-year battle of Kim Wellnitz (Black Hawk) and Kimee Chandler (Pecatonica), it was the Warriors led by Wellnitz that came out on top Thursday in a WIAA Division 4 Darlington regional semifinal 55-36.
"We just played a good team out there," Wellnitz said. "When we started hitting shots we just got fired up."
Chandler picked up two quick fouls while Wellnitz went off for 10 points in the first quarter and 19 at halftime, which included 12 in a row in just 2 minutes, 29 seconds between the first and second quarters.
"(Wellnitz) played a real good game, especially in that first half," Black Hawk head coach Mike Flanagan said. "Pec is a good team. We have a lot of respect for them and quite a lot of history with them - we've met up several times now. Kimee Chandler has had a heck of a career."
Wellnitz's run, plus a 3-pointer by Chaesta Shager with 6:59 left in the second, carried the Warriors from a 10-6 advantage to a 25-6 cushion.
"Our press really started to help us. We got a lot of turnovers," Wellnitz said. "Defense wins games, and that's what it comes down to. You have to play your hearts out."
Chandler couldn't help her team climb out of the hole.
"It's tough. (Black Hawk is) obviously a great team," she said. "They are very balanced and they have a very good coach and they came ready to play. We knew we could stay with them if we were aggressive and knocked down our shots."
The Vikings (10-14) kept it close early on thanks to aggressive play on the boards. The physical element caused frustration for both teams, but Pecatonica head coach Tom Wilkins was pleased with how the play developed in the first six minutes of the contest.
"I thought it was great. I was so happy with the kids," he said. "We went on the boards with them. We just rushed things a little bit offensively and missed some shots."
Flanagan noticed how physical the game was, too.
"You kind of got a feeling where the game was going. There were times when it got a little physical and the referees let them play. It just became a matter of battling and getting the ball inside," Flanagan said.
The big lead the Warriors accumulated grew each minute. By the time halftime rolled around, Black Hawk (23-1) held a 30-12 advantage.
Pecatonica gained one point on Black Hawk in the third, but Chandler quickly found out of the game in the fourth. A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee recruit, and already two-time all-state player, Chandler picked up her fourth and fifth fouls in the first 1:40 of the fourth quarter.
"When you get fouls you have to play smart. You can't leave your feet and you can't be stupid - you have to play smart," she said. "I was just taking everything in when I was sitting on the bench. Taking all of my four years and everything in. A lot went on in my mind in those six minutes. My Milwaukee coach was there and talked to me after the game which made me a lot happier."
Chandler, who averaged over 17 points per game this season, finished with just 11. Wellnitz had 24 points and 10 rebounds.
"It was fun watching her all year. She is a great player and she did some neat things," Wilkins said. "It's been a pleasure working with her and I'm sure she's going to have a good career at Milwaukee."
Katie Place had nine points and 11 rebounds for Black Hawk, which out-rebounded the Vikings 35-28 in the game. The Warriors collected 21 offensive rebounds. Black Hawk also won the turnover battle 35-22.
"You would think that your seniors would have that little bit of added incentive to play well. They really don't want their season to end. I think Kim and Katie did what they had to do to help us out and take the team on their shoulders," Flanagan said.
Top-seeded Black Hawk moves on to the regional championship where it will face conference rival Barneveld (17-7), the second seed.
"We have to remind the kids of just how many teams won't be practicing tomorrow. We are one of the lucky teams who get to practice. We'll take the opportunity and prep for Barneveld and we'll see what happens on Saturday," Flanagan said, whose team goal is to return to the state tournament in Madison for the second-straight season.
