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MCDONALD'S Co-GAME OF THE WEEK (Girls Basketball): Black Hawk
Black Hawk knocks off two-time defending D3 state champ Marshall
Leuzinger
Senior Natalie Leuzinger, who officially announced as the newest Wisconsin Badger after signing her preferred walk-on offer from UW, finished with 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals in Black Hawk's 74–51 over Marshall last Friday at the 2019 Watertown Shootout. - photo by Tom Gunnell

MCDONALD'S SWNEWS4U.COM GAME OF THE WEEK (Dec. 25–31)
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Black Hawk 74, Marshall 51

WATERTOWN — After winning their first five games by an average of nearly 48 points per game and never trailing at any point, the Black Hawk Warriors girls’ basketball headed to the 2019 Watertown Shootout looking to be challenged on the court.

The top-ranked and defending Division 5 state champion Lady Warriors knocked off #5-ranked and two-time defending D3 state champion Marshall 74-51 in their opening game of the Shootout on Friday, Dec. 27, and then returned to the Watertown High School court just 17 hours later to defeat Division 1 foe Madison La Follette 62-44 to go 2-0 on the weekend.

“We have been looking forward to these games since our schedule came out. The caliber of opponents and the uniqueness of the format offered good competition and memorable experiences. We appreciate the invitation from Watertown’s basketball program to participate and the growth that our players incurred as a result of the challenge,” said Black Hawk had coach Michael Flanagan. 

Marshall (6-3 overall) held a 13-11 lead five minutes into the game until a 15-5 run by the Warriors thrust them into the lead to stay. Senior Natalie Leuzinger scored 11 of the team’s 15 points during the run, including three long 3-pointers, to put Black Hawk up 26-18 with 8:57 remaining in the half.

The Warriors extended the lead out to 42-31 by the halftime break, and then used a 13-0 run at the start of the second half to open up a 22-point cushion.

The Cardinals, who are coached by former Barneveld head coach Doug Pickarts, never got closer than 19 the rest of the game.

Senior forward Hannah Butler scored a game-high 25 points and pulled down a team-high seven rebounds along with four steals and two assists to lead the Warriors. 

Leuzinger, who officially announced as the newest Wisconsin Badger after signing her preferred walk-on offer from UW, finished with 23 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Junior guard Bailey Butler, a UW-Green Bay recruit, tallied 12 points, eight assists and six steals.

Senior Maddy Huschitt netted eight points, while freshman Tara Wellnitz added five points and junior Kaylee Marty had five steals.

UW-Milwaukee recruit Anna Lutz led Marshall with 17 points. Sophomore Abby Ward scored 14 points, and junior Laura Nickel added 11 for the Cardinals.

“(Marshall) really tested our defense (with their size), and they added some support in the form of four first-half three-pointers from the Ward girl. In the end, though, our pressure really wore them down, causing over 30 turnovers,” Flanagan noted. 

Black Hawk fell behind early against the Lancers (2-6) in Saturday’s game, but used 3-pointers by Leuzinger, B. Butler and Wellnitz to pulled ahead 21-14 with around eight minutes remaining in the first half.

The Warriors closed the half with eight unanswered points to pull ahead 37-19 at the intermission.

Black Hawk built up their largest lead of the game at 62-34 with a 10-0 run midway through the second half. The Lancers answered back by scoring the final 10 points of the contest to make the final score look closer than it actually was at 62-44.

“Our legs definitely showed signs of fatigue on Saturday, and we made our task against La Folllette more difficult by missing some transition layups. They have some athleticism and size on their roster, and they certainly exhibit a different style than most of our opponents. We were proud of the kids for enduring some struggles and demonstrating perseverance, getting two wins in less than 24 hours,” stated Flanagan.

Leuzinger registered a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds along with four steals. H. Butler filled the stat book with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals, while B. Butler– who did not start the game as a precautionary measure due to a slight ailment suffered late in Friday’s game– came off the bench to tally eight points, four assists and four steals.

Wellnitz reached double digits with 10 points and added four boards and three steals for the Warriors, who went 21-of-26 from the foul line in the game.

Sophomore Imani Simmons led the Lancers with 11 points and sophomore Malia Green chipped in with 10. Senior Bryan Driver netted nine points on three first-half 3-pointers and sophomore Angelina Myhr added eight points on two second-half treys.

Black Hawk will host Dodgeville in a non-conference game on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 7:20 p.m. and will stay at home to host Albany in a meeting of Six Rivers East unbeatens on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

 

Black Hawk 74, Marshall 51
(From Friday, Dec. 27 @ Watertown Shootout)
Marshall……… 31   20 – 51
Black Hawk…. 42   32 – 74
Marshall – Lutz 17, Rateike 6, Hellebrand 3, Nickel 11, Ward 14. Totals – 18  9-11  51.
Black Hawk– Bailey Butler 12, Hannah Butler 25, Natalie Leuzinger 23, Kaylee Marty 1, Maddy Huschitt 8,  Tara Wellnitz 5. Totals – 28  9-15  74.
3-point goals– M 6 (Rateike 1, Hellebrand 1, Ward 4), BH 9 (B. Butler 2, H. Butler 1, Leuzinger 3, Huschitt 2, Wellnitz 1). Total fouls– M 11, BH 15. Fouled out– M: Nickel.


Black Hawk 62, Madison La Follette 44
(From Saturday, Dec. 28 @ Watertown Shootout) 
Black Hawk…. 37   25 – 62
LaFollette…… 19   25 – 44
Black Hawk– Bailey Butler 8, Hannah Butler 15, Kristen Knapp 2, Natalie Leuzinger 17, Kaylee Marty 3, Macie Stauffacher 3, Maddy Huschitt 2, Makayla Mau 2, Tara Wellnitz 10. Totals – 17  21-26  62.
La Follette – Driver 9, Myhr 8, Green 10, Lowrey 3, Simmons 11, Walker 3. Totals – 16  5-13  44.
3-point goals– BH 7 (B. Butler 2, H. Butler 1, Leuzinger 1, Stauffacher 1, Wellnitz 2), ML 7 (Driver 3, Myhr 2, Green 1, Simmons 1). Total fouls– BH 16, ML na. Fouled out– none.