SOUTH WAYNE - The Warriors boys basketball team was treated to a Christmas Miracle, 11 days early, thanks to sophomore Merik Meythaler. With time winding down and his team trailing 47-46, Meythaler caught the ball 30 feet out on the left wing and without hesitation sent up a 3-pointer.
"We have a lot of confidence in Merik," Black Hawk head coach Kyle Bille said. "He's come up and been a shooter the whole way. We knew what we had in him and we're confident in letting him take that shot. He came through for us."
Meythaler's shot went through the hoop with 12 seconds left and Argyle's head coach, Brandon Bakken called timeout with 11.7 seconds left.
"A sophomore makes a 3-point shot a couple of feet behind the line? That's a tough one to swallow, but he made a good play," Bakken said. "I told the kids this is what you want to play for. You don't get to play in too many close games like this. But you have to tip your hat to Black Hawk."
Argyle had two final chances to win it. First Stephan Shambrook drove the baseline but his shot rolled out of the cup with under two seconds left.
"I told Stephan 10 out of 10 times I'd have him do that again. I wouldn't change what he did," Bakken said. "It is what it is and that's just the game of basketball."
A quick foul by Nate Thomas stopped the clock with 1.5 left, but Christian Krahenbuhl missed the front end of a bonus free throw, but the 90-foot heave by Argyle went into the rafters with 0.8 ticks left.
"Free throws have been an Achilles heal for us all season. Those are crucial to closing a team out," Bille said. "They were focused though, they saw the finish line. They had the win in their sights and we just had to finish it out."
Black Hawk threw the ball away on the inbound, giving the Orioles one final chance but Hayden Schliem swatted Matt Ritchie's inbound attempt into the backcourt to end it.
The Warriors held the biggest lead in the game at six points twice in the first half, but a flurry of 3s by Jared Johnson kept Argyle in the ball game. Black Hawk led just 27-23 at the break and Argyle held a one-point 35-34 advantage after the third quarter.
"We battled, and Argyle battled too," Bille said. "With Argyle, games are always close. We knew what we were up against. I'm proud of what we're doing and to come away with the victory."
Schliem led all scorers with 13 points. Black Hawk's Michael Wolff (11) and Krahenbuhl (10) also reached double figures. Johnson and Thomas each scored 11 to lead Argyle.
"I think we learned that we have the ability to play in a tight game. I'm hoping that's a good sign for the future. I'm hoping that it we can play like that, we can be competitive with most teams," Bakken said.
Black Hawk (3-3, 1-1 Six Rivers East) travels to defending conference champion Monticello (2-2, 1-0) Friday while Argyle (0-4, 0-2) hits the road to Barneveld (3-0, 2-0) the same evening.
"We have a lot of confidence in Merik," Black Hawk head coach Kyle Bille said. "He's come up and been a shooter the whole way. We knew what we had in him and we're confident in letting him take that shot. He came through for us."
Meythaler's shot went through the hoop with 12 seconds left and Argyle's head coach, Brandon Bakken called timeout with 11.7 seconds left.
"A sophomore makes a 3-point shot a couple of feet behind the line? That's a tough one to swallow, but he made a good play," Bakken said. "I told the kids this is what you want to play for. You don't get to play in too many close games like this. But you have to tip your hat to Black Hawk."
Argyle had two final chances to win it. First Stephan Shambrook drove the baseline but his shot rolled out of the cup with under two seconds left.
"I told Stephan 10 out of 10 times I'd have him do that again. I wouldn't change what he did," Bakken said. "It is what it is and that's just the game of basketball."
A quick foul by Nate Thomas stopped the clock with 1.5 left, but Christian Krahenbuhl missed the front end of a bonus free throw, but the 90-foot heave by Argyle went into the rafters with 0.8 ticks left.
"Free throws have been an Achilles heal for us all season. Those are crucial to closing a team out," Bille said. "They were focused though, they saw the finish line. They had the win in their sights and we just had to finish it out."
Black Hawk threw the ball away on the inbound, giving the Orioles one final chance but Hayden Schliem swatted Matt Ritchie's inbound attempt into the backcourt to end it.
The Warriors held the biggest lead in the game at six points twice in the first half, but a flurry of 3s by Jared Johnson kept Argyle in the ball game. Black Hawk led just 27-23 at the break and Argyle held a one-point 35-34 advantage after the third quarter.
"We battled, and Argyle battled too," Bille said. "With Argyle, games are always close. We knew what we were up against. I'm proud of what we're doing and to come away with the victory."
Schliem led all scorers with 13 points. Black Hawk's Michael Wolff (11) and Krahenbuhl (10) also reached double figures. Johnson and Thomas each scored 11 to lead Argyle.
"I think we learned that we have the ability to play in a tight game. I'm hoping that's a good sign for the future. I'm hoping that it we can play like that, we can be competitive with most teams," Bakken said.
Black Hawk (3-3, 1-1 Six Rivers East) travels to defending conference champion Monticello (2-2, 1-0) Friday while Argyle (0-4, 0-2) hits the road to Barneveld (3-0, 2-0) the same evening.
