If you had a chance this weekend to catch the Black Hawk High School Girls Basketball Team at the Wisconsin State Tournament, you had a chance to see an awesome demonstration of the Run and Jump Press. On Friday in the State Semi Finals, Coach Michael Flanagan and the Warriors were tremendous in their Run and Jump, pressing to a 51-16 halftime lead. IT was an ABSOLUTE Run & Jump CLINIC! Black Hawk went on to (28-0) and win the Division 5 State Championship over Clayton on Saturday.
It is quite obvious, the Black Hawk program has made a 100% commitment to the Run and Jump Press. They press the entire game, press off both misses and makes and work to fatigue their opponents. They force turnover after turnover, as their opponents can never get comfortable. Their rotations and traps are timely and smothering.
In the State Championship game versus Clayton, the Bears did a good job of spacing the press out and Black Hawk made the decision to go straight up person to person in the press. I suspect they did this to save their legs on such a quick turnaround and as a result, shot the ball much better in the second half, winning the State Championship – 51-36.
Earlier in the year I watched film of Black Hawk versus Melrose- Mindoro, this year’s Division 4 State Runner Up. Melrose only had one loss during the regular season and that was to the Run and Jump Pressing Warriors. Once again, the press forced turnovers and fatigue, and Black Hawk won handily.
COACH EDDIE ANDRIST 