Argos could be one of area’s biggest turnarounds
ARGOS - On the surface, last year’s girls basketball season for Argos High School seems just so-so (9-11), but a closer looks shows promise for this year’s edition of the Lady Dragons.
First-year coach Scott Jennings was greeted with a brutal schedule to start with which led to an 0-7 start. After getting through that though, the team reeled off six straight wins and went 9-4 the last two months. The season ended in the sectional championship game (a six-point loss in overtime to regional finalist Triton).
This year’s squad will miss the scoring of graduates Madi Vanderweele and Sydney Shepherd, but returning are senior letterwinners Sophie Bollenbacher, Elizabeth Edmonds and Carleigh Miller, plus juniors Emma Dunlap and Isabella Stults and sophomore Samantha Redinger. Others to watch for include seniors Allison Zahm (injured last year) and Carly Ellis, junior Amanda Fajardo and newcomers Baleigh Binkley (junior, transfer), sophomore Aleasia Sarver and freshmen Ava Stackhouse and Morgyn Barcus.
“This team works extremely hard in practice to get better,” said Argos head coach Scott Jennings, who is assisted by Mallorie Sellers, Amanda (Miller) Davis and Valerie Rospopo.
“I feel with a year of experience under our belt that we should be very competitive with our schedule this year. We’ve got some depth with a lot of threats to score and our defense in practice has come a long way. We are excited to get the season started.”
The Lady Dragons open at home against Caston on Nov. 4 before the first Hoosier Plains Conference game, Nov. 6, at home versus Bethany Christian. Argos will see four of its potential sectional opponents (Culver, Oregondavis, Trinity, Triton) during the regular season. The Bi-county tournament is scheduled for the week of Jan. 18.
“I feel our conference chances are very good with Bethany Christian probably being our top competitor again,” Jennings added. “The first part of our season is highly competitive with some good teams. Caston, Bethany Christian, North Judson, Rochester, Triton and CGA are all going to test us early. The Culver rivalry “Bell Game” (Nov. 23) is always a big one for us. Then the Bi-county and sectional are always our big tournaments. Our goal is to take one game at a time and get to that championship game and see what happens. We got to the championship games of both last year but Covid cancelled the Bi-county and we came up just short in an overtime loss in the sectional. We are hoping to return.”