ARGYLE - The Argyle High School girls basketball team found success with a full-court press and rode that momentum to a 67-53 win over rival Pecatonica Tuesday night.
"The girls did a good job with their rotations on the press," Argyle coach Kurt Ritschard said. "They got a lot of steals and scored in transition."
Argyle junior Kayla Butler-Paulson scored a team-high 17 points, and freshman Jena Saalsaa added 13 points.
The Orioles (2-12, 1-4 Six Rivers East) helped their cause by shooting 64 percent from the free-throw line (16 of 25).
"We have a young team," Ritschard said. "Some of these freshmen are getting invaluable minutes. It's a big jump from eighth grade to varsity. I think the girls are starting to adjust to the speed and physicality of the game."
Pecatonica was led by Lizzy Tisch, who scored a game-high 22 points. Pecatonica senior Sam Erickson added nine points on three 3-pointers.
Butler-Paulson made 9 of 13 free throws.
"She made free throws when they mattered to put the game away," Ritschard said of Butler-Paulson. "She did a nice job of taking ownership of the offense and the defense and getting everyone in the right spot. She showed a lot of nice leadership."
Saalsaa entered the game averaging 9.2 points per game. She has given the Orioles a spark this season.
"As a freshman, she is one of our more consistent scorers," Ritschard said of Saalsaa. "I think the more reps and games she gets she will turn into a nice ballplayer."
"The girls did a good job with their rotations on the press," Argyle coach Kurt Ritschard said. "They got a lot of steals and scored in transition."
Argyle junior Kayla Butler-Paulson scored a team-high 17 points, and freshman Jena Saalsaa added 13 points.
The Orioles (2-12, 1-4 Six Rivers East) helped their cause by shooting 64 percent from the free-throw line (16 of 25).
"We have a young team," Ritschard said. "Some of these freshmen are getting invaluable minutes. It's a big jump from eighth grade to varsity. I think the girls are starting to adjust to the speed and physicality of the game."
Pecatonica was led by Lizzy Tisch, who scored a game-high 22 points. Pecatonica senior Sam Erickson added nine points on three 3-pointers.
Butler-Paulson made 9 of 13 free throws.
"She made free throws when they mattered to put the game away," Ritschard said of Butler-Paulson. "She did a nice job of taking ownership of the offense and the defense and getting everyone in the right spot. She showed a lot of nice leadership."
Saalsaa entered the game averaging 9.2 points per game. She has given the Orioles a spark this season.
"As a freshman, she is one of our more consistent scorers," Ritschard said of Saalsaa. "I think the more reps and games she gets she will turn into a nice ballplayer."
