JUDA - When Juda girls basketball coach Curtis Brown made the decision to move 6-foot, 2-inch freshman Ellen Kiser up to the varsity team, he knew developing a chemistry with Heather Boeke would take time.
Fortunately for the Panthers, the one-two punch of Boeke and Kiser down low has been a delight, as the two combined for 20 points in Juda's 44-31 girls basketball win Thursday over Argyle.
Boeke scored all 11 of her points in the first half and grabbed eight rebounds. Kiser scored nine points to go along with 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.
The Orioles (1-14, 0-8 Six Rivers East) erased a 21-point deficit by stepping up their pressure in the post in a comeback bid. Argyle freshman Danielle Treuthardt drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Panthers' lead to 36-24 with 7 minutes, 38 seconds to go. On the Orioles' next possession, Argyle senior Sierra Granberg banked in a jump shot to slice the Panthers' lead to 36-26.
"It never went in my mind that we would lose," Boeke said.
There was no miracle finish for the Orioles. Kiser powered her way through a triple team to score down low to give the Panthers (8-5, 2-4) a 40-26 lead with 3:22 left to seal the victory.
"We just had to keep working hard," Kiser said.
Brown wanted Kiser to earn her opportunity and playing time.
"She has always had the talent," he said. "It was just a matter of the right time. It was just a matter of wanting it. She deserves it. Night in and night out, we have two of the biggest girls on the floor. We know we will have that for a while."
Brown was confident the Panthers could weather the storm and withstand the Orioles' rally.
"We got a little lackadaisical," he said. "We got it back in order and were successful in the end."
Early on, Boeke and Kiser had their way down low. Boeke's post scoring sparked the Panthers at the end of the first quarter. She came up with a steal and pass to junior Larissa Klemm for a layup and an 8-6 lead at the end of the period.
In the second quarter, Boeke scored down low and was fouled to start a 14-2 run. She converted the conventional three-point play to give the Panthers a 13-8 lead with 5:28 left in the half. Juda junior Rachel Bartels' jumper and putback of a Boeke miss extended the Panthers' lead to 22-8. Klemm scored a team-high 12 points and Bartels had 10 points for the Panthers.
The Orioles struggled at times to break the press and had 14 of their 20 turnovers in the first half.
"When you are playing with someone bigger and stronger than you, you have to play with heart," Argyle coach Steve Dammen said. "For some reason, we haven't been able to put a whole game together. We have played a half game."
Klemm kick-started the Panthers after the half, draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key to push the lead to 33-14. After an Orioles' turnover on their next possession, Klemm found Kiser, who scored down low to give the Panthers their largest lead at 35-14.
The Orioles held Boeke scoreless in the second half.
"I think they were playing a little more physical down there," Boeke said of the Orioles' defense in the post in the second half.
Treuthardt led the Orioles with a game-high 16 points and senior Kelsey Ostby added six points.
"We really didn't do anything different as far as how we played defense in the second half," Dammen said. "We just played with a lot more heart in the second half. We did a better job of boxing out. I give (Argyle) credit. We really took the inside game away."
Fortunately for the Panthers, the one-two punch of Boeke and Kiser down low has been a delight, as the two combined for 20 points in Juda's 44-31 girls basketball win Thursday over Argyle.
Boeke scored all 11 of her points in the first half and grabbed eight rebounds. Kiser scored nine points to go along with 11 rebounds and two blocked shots.
The Orioles (1-14, 0-8 Six Rivers East) erased a 21-point deficit by stepping up their pressure in the post in a comeback bid. Argyle freshman Danielle Treuthardt drilled a 3-pointer to cut the Panthers' lead to 36-24 with 7 minutes, 38 seconds to go. On the Orioles' next possession, Argyle senior Sierra Granberg banked in a jump shot to slice the Panthers' lead to 36-26.
"It never went in my mind that we would lose," Boeke said.
There was no miracle finish for the Orioles. Kiser powered her way through a triple team to score down low to give the Panthers (8-5, 2-4) a 40-26 lead with 3:22 left to seal the victory.
"We just had to keep working hard," Kiser said.
Brown wanted Kiser to earn her opportunity and playing time.
"She has always had the talent," he said. "It was just a matter of the right time. It was just a matter of wanting it. She deserves it. Night in and night out, we have two of the biggest girls on the floor. We know we will have that for a while."
Brown was confident the Panthers could weather the storm and withstand the Orioles' rally.
"We got a little lackadaisical," he said. "We got it back in order and were successful in the end."
Early on, Boeke and Kiser had their way down low. Boeke's post scoring sparked the Panthers at the end of the first quarter. She came up with a steal and pass to junior Larissa Klemm for a layup and an 8-6 lead at the end of the period.
In the second quarter, Boeke scored down low and was fouled to start a 14-2 run. She converted the conventional three-point play to give the Panthers a 13-8 lead with 5:28 left in the half. Juda junior Rachel Bartels' jumper and putback of a Boeke miss extended the Panthers' lead to 22-8. Klemm scored a team-high 12 points and Bartels had 10 points for the Panthers.
The Orioles struggled at times to break the press and had 14 of their 20 turnovers in the first half.
"When you are playing with someone bigger and stronger than you, you have to play with heart," Argyle coach Steve Dammen said. "For some reason, we haven't been able to put a whole game together. We have played a half game."
Klemm kick-started the Panthers after the half, draining a 3-pointer from the top of the key to push the lead to 33-14. After an Orioles' turnover on their next possession, Klemm found Kiser, who scored down low to give the Panthers their largest lead at 35-14.
The Orioles held Boeke scoreless in the second half.
"I think they were playing a little more physical down there," Boeke said of the Orioles' defense in the post in the second half.
Treuthardt led the Orioles with a game-high 16 points and senior Kelsey Ostby added six points.
"We really didn't do anything different as far as how we played defense in the second half," Dammen said. "We just played with a lot more heart in the second half. We did a better job of boxing out. I give (Argyle) credit. We really took the inside game away."
