ARGYLE - If Oscar awards were given out after each game, the Argyle girls basketball team would have a team full of leading ladies deserving of awards after pulling out a thrilling 50-48 overtime win over Belmont Monday night.
Argyle junior Jessica Treuthardt scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds and sophomore Kylie Johnsen also scored a team-high 13 points. However, Argyle (5-5, 2-2 Six Rivers East) would not have had a chance to win the game if it wasn't for the heads-up play of senior Rachel Tollakson. With the Orioles down by two points in the fourth quarter, Tollakson scored on a putback to beat the buzzer and tie the game at 43, forcing overtime.
"I was just thinking 'just make it,'" Tollakson said. "You have to have confidence. I wanted to make it for my team."
The Orioles overcame 27 turnovers and a couple of big plays down the stretch by the Braves. Belmont's Kalyn Kamps hit a jumper with 56 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 39. Katelyn Schobert, who battled foul trouble, drilled a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to give the Braves a 42-39 lead. That set the stage for the rally capped by Tollakson's putback.
"Teams in the past in Argyle would have tried, but would not have been able to overcome some of those things," Argyle coach Kurt Ritschard said. "The girls have the tenacity to overcome adversity this year."
Argyle senior Kayla Ostby came up with a steal and layup with 1:14 left in the overtime to give the Orioles a 47-46 lead. Treuthardt then scored down low on an inbounds play with 51 seconds to go to give the Orioles a 49-46 lead. Belmont sophomore Keegan Kamps, who scored a game-high 17 points, came off of several screens, and just rimmed out a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
"During the timeout we said any ball screens switch on," Ritschard said. "Kylie was late on rotating out and we didn't get a hand up. It was a shot that could have gone either way. It went down and out."
Treuthardt was just excited to get back on the winning track.
"Coming off the Black Hawk loss, we were really down," Treuthardt said. "It was really nice to get back on track. I think it will give us a lot of confidence going into Monticello."
Argyle made 18 of 24 free throws including 6 of 10 in the final 3 minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
"To shoot that type of percentage was key to our victory," Ritschard said.
The Orioles used a fullcourt press throughout the game. The press gave the Braves fits early on as they had three straight turnovers in the first quarter. The Orioles went on an 8-0 second quarter run sparked by Johnsen and Treuthardt. Johnsen knocked down a 3-pointer during the surge and Treuthardt converted a three-point play to propel the Orioles to a 19-11 lead. The lead didn't last long as the Braves closed the second quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 20-19 lead at the half. Keegan Kamps had two steals and layups to spark the Braves.
"In the first half, we were trying to throw the ball over Keegan Kamps' head. She's too tall and lanky. We were trying to pass it from the hip and throwing it at our post players' feet. You have to give credit to Belmont. They pressure the ball hard. Keegan is a game-changer type player."
Ritschard liked the performance of Johnsen who is starting at point guard after coming off the bench earlier in the season.
"We moved Kylie to point guard because we thought Kayla would get more scoring opportunities," Ritschard said. "I'm very pleased with the way Kylie Johnsen played tonight. Kylie is really good attacking the basket and getting to the rim."
Argyle junior Jessica Treuthardt scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds and sophomore Kylie Johnsen also scored a team-high 13 points. However, Argyle (5-5, 2-2 Six Rivers East) would not have had a chance to win the game if it wasn't for the heads-up play of senior Rachel Tollakson. With the Orioles down by two points in the fourth quarter, Tollakson scored on a putback to beat the buzzer and tie the game at 43, forcing overtime.
"I was just thinking 'just make it,'" Tollakson said. "You have to have confidence. I wanted to make it for my team."
The Orioles overcame 27 turnovers and a couple of big plays down the stretch by the Braves. Belmont's Kalyn Kamps hit a jumper with 56 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 39. Katelyn Schobert, who battled foul trouble, drilled a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left to give the Braves a 42-39 lead. That set the stage for the rally capped by Tollakson's putback.
"Teams in the past in Argyle would have tried, but would not have been able to overcome some of those things," Argyle coach Kurt Ritschard said. "The girls have the tenacity to overcome adversity this year."
Argyle senior Kayla Ostby came up with a steal and layup with 1:14 left in the overtime to give the Orioles a 47-46 lead. Treuthardt then scored down low on an inbounds play with 51 seconds to go to give the Orioles a 49-46 lead. Belmont sophomore Keegan Kamps, who scored a game-high 17 points, came off of several screens, and just rimmed out a potential game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer.
"During the timeout we said any ball screens switch on," Ritschard said. "Kylie was late on rotating out and we didn't get a hand up. It was a shot that could have gone either way. It went down and out."
Treuthardt was just excited to get back on the winning track.
"Coming off the Black Hawk loss, we were really down," Treuthardt said. "It was really nice to get back on track. I think it will give us a lot of confidence going into Monticello."
Argyle made 18 of 24 free throws including 6 of 10 in the final 3 minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
"To shoot that type of percentage was key to our victory," Ritschard said.
The Orioles used a fullcourt press throughout the game. The press gave the Braves fits early on as they had three straight turnovers in the first quarter. The Orioles went on an 8-0 second quarter run sparked by Johnsen and Treuthardt. Johnsen knocked down a 3-pointer during the surge and Treuthardt converted a three-point play to propel the Orioles to a 19-11 lead. The lead didn't last long as the Braves closed the second quarter with a 9-0 run to take a 20-19 lead at the half. Keegan Kamps had two steals and layups to spark the Braves.
"In the first half, we were trying to throw the ball over Keegan Kamps' head. She's too tall and lanky. We were trying to pass it from the hip and throwing it at our post players' feet. You have to give credit to Belmont. They pressure the ball hard. Keegan is a game-changer type player."
Ritschard liked the performance of Johnsen who is starting at point guard after coming off the bench earlier in the season.
"We moved Kylie to point guard because we thought Kayla would get more scoring opportunities," Ritschard said. "I'm very pleased with the way Kylie Johnsen played tonight. Kylie is really good attacking the basket and getting to the rim."
