JUDA - Argyle senior guard Kylie Johnsen knows just one speed - fast.
Johnsen scored a game-high 17 points and had five rebounds to help Argyle roll to a 61-23 win over Juda Thursday.
"It's like our coach says, we are at our best when we don't have to run our offense and we just execute layups on the break," Johnsen said. "Our game plan is to run them off the court and that is exactly what we did. It worked out pretty well for us."
Argyle (16-6, 10-2 Six Rivers East) broke the game open with an 18-2 run in the third quarter. The Orioles thrived by getting the ball on the break and scoring in transition. Argyle senior Jozey Thoman scored eight of her 12 points during the surge and made three layups. Thoman's layup with 27.5 seconds to go in the third quarter gave the Orioles an insurmountable 47-19 lead.
"We always talk about with our press defense it's not always about the turnovers," Argyle coach Kurt Ritschard said. "It's also forcing quick shots. That is like a turnover. We want to make sure we are playing at a fast pace and tempo because that is how we want to play."
The Orioles scored more than one-third of their points from the free-throw line (22 of 33) and Juda scored about half of its points from the free-throw line (11 of 26). The Panthers had two players foul out including sophomore Sara Jordan.
"We talked at halftime about stop complaining about the physicality of the game and make adjustments," Ritschard said. "You can't control what the officials call. They were trying their best. Playing the last game after the regional seeds and pairings are out can be hard. It's kind of a tune-up for the tournament."
Juda (7-15, 2-10 Six Rivers East) scored just six points in the second half and shot 14.6 percent for the game (6 of 41). The Panthers committed 19 turnovers.
"We probably got in our heads a little bit when some calls went against us," Juda coach Curt Brown said. "It wasn't the difference in the game. It's more a credit to Argyle for playing good defense. We struggled against their pressure defense."
Early on, it looked like Juda by playing a zone defense would make life tough on the Orioles offensively. Juda sophomore Chelsea Burkhalter knocked down a jumper and the Orioles missed their first six shots and went about 5 minutes without a basket. Johnsen drilled two 3-pointers late in the first quarter to turn a five-point lead into a 14-3 lead.
"I knew that we were struggling," she said. "I looked over at my coaches and they said we just need a spark. I made that first 3-pointer and I knew I could hit it. When I made that second 3-pointer we just went on a run."
The Orioles went on a 13-0 from the end of the first quarter that spanned into the second quarter. Argyle senior Hannah Saalsaa scored twice down low to help the Orioles take a 19-3 lead. The Panthers rallied from the 16-point deficit late in the second quarter. Jordan knocked down a jumper to slice the Orioles' lead to 19-9. Despite shooting 19 percent in the first half (4 of 21), the Panthers trailed by 12 points at the half. Juda could have whittled the lead down even more before the break, but made just 9 of 20 free throws in the first half.
"We have to be able to knock down shots," Brown said of the Panthers. "When you don't get any open looks it's hard to score."
Argyle sophomore Kayla Butler-Paulson scored 10 points and had four steals. Senior teammate Jenna Langmeier added eight points and had a game-high 12 rebounds. The Orioles shot 29.6 percent for the game (16 of 54). Ritschard was excited about the offensive lift Johnsen gave the Orioles when they struggled shooting in the first quarter.
"Kylie hit some big shots," he said. "We need her to hit some outside shots to free up our inside against these zones we have been seeing."
Brown did see some performances and areas the Panthers can build on. Juda senior Molly Marass and junior Danielle Dieckhoff each scored a team-high five points. Senior teammate Cheyenne Ambler added four points.
"I think we did a better job of getting the ball inside this game," Brown said. "We have to make sure that continues."
Juda freshman Hailey Kammerer had a team-high seven rebounds and Marass added three steals.
"She (Kammerer) did a really good job of rebounding and playing defense," Brown said. "She has had some great games as a freshman. The game will catch up to her and she will keep on improving."
The Orioles received a scare when Saalsaa went down in the second half with an elbow injury.
Ritschard said Saalsaa came down on her elbow during one possession in the second half and then landed on the opposite side of the same elbow on an ensuing possession. Ritschard didn't want to speculate about the severity of the injury.
"If it is swelling up we will have to get the swelling down," he said. "We will evaluate it tomorrow. We are hoping she will be able to play in the regional. She's a big component of what we do."
Johnsen scored a game-high 17 points and had five rebounds to help Argyle roll to a 61-23 win over Juda Thursday.
"It's like our coach says, we are at our best when we don't have to run our offense and we just execute layups on the break," Johnsen said. "Our game plan is to run them off the court and that is exactly what we did. It worked out pretty well for us."
Argyle (16-6, 10-2 Six Rivers East) broke the game open with an 18-2 run in the third quarter. The Orioles thrived by getting the ball on the break and scoring in transition. Argyle senior Jozey Thoman scored eight of her 12 points during the surge and made three layups. Thoman's layup with 27.5 seconds to go in the third quarter gave the Orioles an insurmountable 47-19 lead.
"We always talk about with our press defense it's not always about the turnovers," Argyle coach Kurt Ritschard said. "It's also forcing quick shots. That is like a turnover. We want to make sure we are playing at a fast pace and tempo because that is how we want to play."
The Orioles scored more than one-third of their points from the free-throw line (22 of 33) and Juda scored about half of its points from the free-throw line (11 of 26). The Panthers had two players foul out including sophomore Sara Jordan.
"We talked at halftime about stop complaining about the physicality of the game and make adjustments," Ritschard said. "You can't control what the officials call. They were trying their best. Playing the last game after the regional seeds and pairings are out can be hard. It's kind of a tune-up for the tournament."
Juda (7-15, 2-10 Six Rivers East) scored just six points in the second half and shot 14.6 percent for the game (6 of 41). The Panthers committed 19 turnovers.
"We probably got in our heads a little bit when some calls went against us," Juda coach Curt Brown said. "It wasn't the difference in the game. It's more a credit to Argyle for playing good defense. We struggled against their pressure defense."
Early on, it looked like Juda by playing a zone defense would make life tough on the Orioles offensively. Juda sophomore Chelsea Burkhalter knocked down a jumper and the Orioles missed their first six shots and went about 5 minutes without a basket. Johnsen drilled two 3-pointers late in the first quarter to turn a five-point lead into a 14-3 lead.
"I knew that we were struggling," she said. "I looked over at my coaches and they said we just need a spark. I made that first 3-pointer and I knew I could hit it. When I made that second 3-pointer we just went on a run."
The Orioles went on a 13-0 from the end of the first quarter that spanned into the second quarter. Argyle senior Hannah Saalsaa scored twice down low to help the Orioles take a 19-3 lead. The Panthers rallied from the 16-point deficit late in the second quarter. Jordan knocked down a jumper to slice the Orioles' lead to 19-9. Despite shooting 19 percent in the first half (4 of 21), the Panthers trailed by 12 points at the half. Juda could have whittled the lead down even more before the break, but made just 9 of 20 free throws in the first half.
"We have to be able to knock down shots," Brown said of the Panthers. "When you don't get any open looks it's hard to score."
Argyle sophomore Kayla Butler-Paulson scored 10 points and had four steals. Senior teammate Jenna Langmeier added eight points and had a game-high 12 rebounds. The Orioles shot 29.6 percent for the game (16 of 54). Ritschard was excited about the offensive lift Johnsen gave the Orioles when they struggled shooting in the first quarter.
"Kylie hit some big shots," he said. "We need her to hit some outside shots to free up our inside against these zones we have been seeing."
Brown did see some performances and areas the Panthers can build on. Juda senior Molly Marass and junior Danielle Dieckhoff each scored a team-high five points. Senior teammate Cheyenne Ambler added four points.
"I think we did a better job of getting the ball inside this game," Brown said. "We have to make sure that continues."
Juda freshman Hailey Kammerer had a team-high seven rebounds and Marass added three steals.
"She (Kammerer) did a really good job of rebounding and playing defense," Brown said. "She has had some great games as a freshman. The game will catch up to her and she will keep on improving."
The Orioles received a scare when Saalsaa went down in the second half with an elbow injury.
Ritschard said Saalsaa came down on her elbow during one possession in the second half and then landed on the opposite side of the same elbow on an ensuing possession. Ritschard didn't want to speculate about the severity of the injury.
"If it is swelling up we will have to get the swelling down," he said. "We will evaluate it tomorrow. We are hoping she will be able to play in the regional. She's a big component of what we do."
