ARGYLE — The top-ranked Division 5 girls basketball team, Argyle-Pecatonica, received an un-welcomed midseason assessment right before the holiday break. Division 4 powerhouse Mineral Point came to town and cosplayed as the Grinch on the Whoville Highway 78 faithful’s joyous Ugly Christmas Sweater night. The Pointers out-played the home team down the stretch on Monday, Dec. 22, and pulled the upset 57-51. It was the first loss of the season for AP (6-1).

“We’ve got to hand it to Mineral Point — they’re a good ball club,” assistant coach AJ Hendrickson said. “We got out-hustled, we got out-played and out-rebounded. All the little things they did right, and we didn’t do any of them right. When it comes down to it, we just got out-worked.”

The 78ers played without their head coach, Jen Krogman, who had a pre-scheduled medical procedure. While she showed up late in the second half, arm still in a sling, AP was led by Hendrickson.

“Not having our head coach really set us back. Coach AJ did a great job, but we were playing a bit like we weren’t trying out there,” said Brooke Wellnitz, junior forward.

“It was definitely a different environment and different situation to get thrown into,” Hendrickson said. “We knew Jen had a surgery going into it, we just never knew what day it was until last week.’

Mineral Point (4-4) opened the game with a pair of three-pointers as AP tried to find a rhythm on offense. Eventually, the 78ers did catch their counterpart at 11-11 with 13 minutes to play in the first half thanks to a free throw from Loretta Tisch. Later during the opening half, AP went on a patented 11-0 run, holding MP scoreless over a seven minute stretch, taking the lead to as much as eight points at 23-15. 

But the Pointers continued to pick up rebounds and loose balls — practically out-hustling the always-hustling 78ers — and closed the half on a 12-7 run of their own to claw back to within three points at the break, 30-27.

“We got stagnant in our offense, and that was because we were exerting so much energy on defense. By the time we got to the offensive side, we were just gassed,” Hendrickson said.

The Pointers kept their momentum going coming out of the locker room, as Sophie Miller buried a three-pointer to equalize the score just 14 seconds into the half. 

Three times over the next six minutes AP was able to reach out for a three-point lead, and each time the Pointers had a response. Mineral Point took the lead back at the 10:25 mark thanks to a putback by Bree Swenson. Kylie Butler, AP’s leading scorer, responded with a tear-drop floater to even it back up at 40-40. 

Krogman snuck across the gymnasium to the bench at that moment, trying to assess what was happening with her squad. She conferred with Hendrickson, who had hoped his leader’s mere presence would spark some added life into a dulled display of second half effort. Poor shooting and costly turnovers plaqued AP for much of the night.

“The energy just wasn’t there at any point. We just never had it tonight,” Hendrickson said.

Maddy Kabat of MP and Brooke Wellnitz (AP) then traded threes to lift the scoreboard to 43-43. AP took another lead 6:45 left in the second half when Butler sank a pair of free throws to put her team ahead 45-43. 

As the clock ticked down, whistled stayed mostly silent as the officials allowed play to get more physical for both squads down the stretch.

“I think their shooting just really got to us,” said Wellnitz, who multiple times appeared to appeal for a foul on a shot attempt down the stretch. “When we don’t get the call, we just have to let it go and look for that next opportunity.”

Trailing 46-45 with under five minutes to play, Butler dribbled down the court and pulled up for a three with a hand in her face — burying it to give AP its final lead at 48-46.

Mineral Point out-scored Argyle-Pecatonica 11-3 from there, with AP’s lone points coming via Butler, who channeled her inner-Stephen Curry and splashed a three-pointer from seemingly Wiota with just 21 seconds left. However, Mineral Point still held a four-point lead at that time, and Sadie Miller sank two more free throws with 14.2 seconds left to put the game out of harms way.

Butler led all scorers with 23 points, including connecting on three 3-pointers. Sadie Miller hit four 3-pointers, and Sophie Miller had three for Mineral Point. Sophie Miller finished the night with 20 points, while Sadie Miller had 16. Wellnitz added 18 for AP.

“I kind of think it was good for us to lose one and get that monkey off our back. We just have to push harder next time. Now we know what it feels like to lose,” Wellnitz said. “We’d rather lose now than in playoffs.”

The 78ers will try to enjoy what they can from the holiday break, as players and coaches are taking a three-day pause from all activities. Practice returns on Friday, Dec. 26, and AP’s next gae is Monday, Dec. 29 against Laconia at the Marshall Invitational. Laconia (4-4) reached the state tournament in Division 3 a season ago, bowing out in the semifinals to eventual champion Oostburg.

“It’s not alwyas a bad thing to lose a game. Sometimes it’s a good thing to really open your eyes and really look at where our blind spots are; you know, what we’re missing,” Hendrickson said. “We just have to come to practice now with energy and be ready to work against Laconia.