SOUTH WAYNE — Black Hawk wrapped up a perfect finish to the 2017 portion of their schedule by dumping the previously unbeaten Dodgeville Dodgers, 64-40, in a non-conference girls’ basketball game played at BHHS on Thursday, Dec. 28.
    The Lady Warriors (11-0 overall, ranked #1 in Division 5) have given themselves a challenging non-conference schedule this season and the Dodgers (8-1, ranked 10th in D3) posed quite a challenge to their unbeaten record.
    “It was a game where things came in streaks. There were stretches where I thought we looked really good, and there were times where we were a little bit sloppy or lethargic. Overall, it was a quality win against a quality team. We have to be happy with the results,” said Warriors’ head coach Michael Flanagan.
    Black Hawk got everyone involved in the offense early to jump out to a quick double-digit lead on the visiting Dodgers. Sophomore Natalie Leuzinger and freshman Bailey Butler combined to score the first nine points of the game, while sophomore Hailey Butler added seven points and senior Brianna Hagen and freshman Kaylee Marty each buried a 3-pointer to thrust the Warriors to a 22-7 advantage with 6:10 to play in the half.
    Dodgeville’s senior standout Hannah Jones, a University of Sioux Falls recruit, scored 11 of her team’s first 13 points to keep things close, and a late trey by freshman Olivia Argall cut the Warriors’ lead to 26-16 by the halftime break.
    “(Jones) had 11 points in the half, but seven came from the line. I thought our help was getting there late and our on-the-ball defense was getting a little bit greedy,” admitted Flanagan. “Once we started keeping our eyes in the right places and once our help kids started to get to her at the right times and right angles, we were able to make it tougher on her than it was in the first half.”
    The Warriors came out on fire in the second half, hitting of six of their first seven field goal attempts including four from beyond the 3-point arc, to charge off on a 20-6 scoring run in the first five minutes of the period to extend their lead to 46-22.
    “At the half, we talked about some basics we needed to return to. On the defensive end, it was some positioning stuff. On the offensive end, it was about the kids having the courage to shoot with some confidence. Once we started doing that, the threes started falling. And when those fall, we’re pretty tough to guard,” Flanagan stated.
    Jones didn’t score her first point in the second half until the 8:21 mark after the Warriors had opened up a 27-point lead, and she finished with just three points in the half to end the game with a team-high 14 points, which is nearly 10 points below her season average.
    B. Butler sank three of the team’s six 3-pointers in the second half to net a game-high 17 points and she also dished out six assists. H. Butler followed with 16 points and five rebounds, while Leuzinger tallied 11 points, nine rebounds and three steals for the Warriors.
    Marty scored nine points and Hagen added six, while senior Hannah Butler chipped in with six assists and five steals.
    “I feel like we’re doing alright, but I don’t think we’re hitting our stride just yet. We’re on the cusp of making some strides forward. On offense, the kids are starting to get comfortable with their roles and what they’re supposed to do. On defense, I think we have the potential to be a pretty darn good team,” said Flanagan.
    Black Hawk has Six Rivers West games at home against Albany on Thursday, Jan. 4, and at Pecatonica on Tuesday, Jan. 9.
    The Lady Warriors will also host Shullsburg in a girls and boys doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 6. The girls’ junior varsity game will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday, followed by the boys’ JV game at 3 p.m., the girls’ varsity game at 5 p.m. and the boys’ varsity game at 7 p.m.
 
Dodgeville…….. 16   24 – 40
Black Hawk…… 26   38 – 64
    Dodgeville– Heimerl 6, Jones 14, Ludwig 2, Pham 3, G. Borne 4, E. Argall 2, O. Argall 7, T. Borne 2. Totals – 13  13-17  40.
   Black Hawk – Brianna Hagen 6, Natalie Leuzinger 11, Hannah Butler 16, Kaylee Marty 9, Bailey Butler 17, Abby Argall 2, Macie Stauffacher 3. Totals – 27  5-5  64.
   3-point goals– D 1 (O. Argall 1), BH 9 (Hagen 2, Leuzinger 1, H. Butler 1, Marty 1, B. Butler 3, Stauffacher 1). Total fouls– D 9, BH 16. Fouled out– none.