Pilgrims lose to Marian, Argos girls beat CGA
ARGOS — An undefeated team versus one searching for its first win. A mismatch, right?
Tell that to the Argos girls basketball team as they held off a late rally to defeat previously unbeaten Culver Girls Academy, 45-39, Friday night at the Dragon Den.
“It was good to get that first win,” said Scott Jennings, who gets his first career victory as a head coach with the ‘W’. “We’ve had a tough battle. We’ve played some tough teams here to start with, then we were off two weeks. We hadn’t won a game and they hadn’t lost, but you never know what is going to happen. I’m glad we hung on and got that one because we needed it.”
Already playing without two of its starters, CGA post player Madison Miller was whistled for two fouls in the first quarter and the Lady Eagles quickly found themselves in a hole right away as the Lady Dragons outscored the visitors 7-2.
Things didn’t go much better for CGA in the second as Miller received foul No. 3 just two minutes in and Taylor Bowen, the team’s leading scorer, ended up with three as well before halftime. With a combined 21 fouls called in the first 16 minutes (11 for CGA, 10 for Argos), the Lady Dragons also had two starters (Sydney Shepherd, Liz Edmonds) with three infractions heading to the break as they held a six-point lead.
“All the big girls were in foul trouble,” Jennings replied. “I thought some of the calls were a little picky and they should have let them play a little more, but it is what it is.”
With Miller and Bowen getting fouls No. 4 early in the third quarter, Madi Vanderweele 4-for-4 effort from the charity stripe and Shepherd’s second 3 of the game highlighted a 13-8 period for Argos as the lead reached as high as 13 before settling at 30-19 going into the final frame.
The gap reached its highest point two minutes into the fourth quarter, 35-19, but things turned after Edmonds and Miller were called for a double foul, ending the night for each. Bowen scored the next 11 points for the Lady Eagles and with 2:30 to play the lead was down to just seven, 39-32. Most of the points from there on though, came at the free throw line. Argos’ Emma Dunlap
hit 4-of-6, while CGA was just 2-of-7 collectively. The Lady Eagles did get within six twice - with 50 seconds remaining and on a 3 by Dionna Craig just before the buzzer - but Argos was able to hold on to the win.
“That was crazy,” Jennings said of the 20-point CGA fourth quarter run. “With Liz being out, that made it tough. Besides scoring and rebounding, we count on her to handle the ball too. She sees the floor and makes good passes. Luckily others stepped up. Emma hit some free throws down the stretch and that helped a bunch. Madi had a good game. She’s aggressive and probably needs to score more, especially when Liz goes out. She works hard. She’s just a good solid player. She can handle the ball, she can shoot, she passes the ball well.”
Argos’ offense was a balanced attack. Dunlap finished with nine points, while Shepherd, Vanderweele and Edmonds each added eight.
“We had a better attitude on defense too,” continued Jennings. “They are getting more aggressive, going after loose balls. The rebounding was better. I didn’t see that the first few games. Practices have been a little more aggressive and they are starting to get at it. They are figuring out what that feels like. To come back and get this one was great.”
Bowen led all scorers with 21 points. Craig added 10.
“She can shoot,” Jennings said of the junior standout Bowen. “We had to have a hand in her face, but towards the end there she was taking over. She’s tough and she’s got another year.”
Argos’ next game is a Hoosier Plains Conference contest scheduled for next Thursday with South Bend Career Academy.
“I hope we can get a couple of wins next week and get this thing rolling a little bit,” concluded Jennings. “By the time Bi-county comes around (in January), I think we’ll be ready for that and then its build for sectionals.”
CGA was scheduled to have a quick turnaround, hosting South Bend Riley tonight, but Riley had to postpone its Friday night game due to COVID so it looks like the Lady Eagles will have to wait until after the New Year before taking the court again.
• ARGOS 45, CGA 39
At Argos
CGA 2 11 19 39
Argos 7 17 30 45
CGA: Dionna Craig 3 2-5 10, Leah Marquell 1 0-0 2, Mallory Magee 2 0-2 4, Alexandra Orendain 0 0-0 0, Taylor Bowen 7 5-9 21, Lena Spiller 1 0-1 2, Madison Miller 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 14 7-17 39.
ARGOS: Samantha Redinger 0 2-2 2, Sydney Shepherd 3 0-0 8, Isabella Stults 2 0-0 4, Emma Dunlap 1 6-8 9, Madi Vanderweele 2 4-4 8, Carleigh Miller 0 0-0 0, Sophie Bollenbacher 3 0-0 6, Liz Edmonds 3 2-4 8. TOTALS: 14 14-18 45.
3-pointers: CGA 4 (Bowen 2, Craig 2), Argos 3 (Shepherd 2, Dunlap). Fouls (fouled out): CGA 20 (Miller), Argos 23 (Edmonds)
Records: CGA 6-1, Argos 1-7 JV score: CGA 30, Argos 29