ARGYLE - For three quarters, the Argyle boys basketball team looked quicker than East Dubuque and was on the verge of a season-opening win Monday.
That's until the fourth quarter, when the Orioles hit a wall with a sputtering offense in a 54-39 loss to the Warriors.
Argyle (0-1) led 32-28 at the end of the third quarter, which was sparked by a 3-pointer by senior Andy Bohlman.
East Dubuque senior Mike Middendorf opened the fourth quarter by draining a 3-pointer to cut the Orioles' lead to 33-31. That started a 14-1 Warriors' run and a 42-33 lead on a jumper by Stephen McDermott, who scored a game-high 20 points.
"We got kind of relaxed," said Bohlman, who led the Orioles with 16 points. "Our defense started to get a little tired. Our defense collapsed and they (East Dubuque) started to get the momentum. Our offense didn't click and we started to go into panic mode."
Argyle went almost six minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter before Matt Cash's 3-pointer broke the cold spell.
"I don't know if we ran out of gas," Argyle coach Travis Erickson said. "We are just playing five players. But that's no excuse to get outscored 26-7."
Argyle started fast, with Bohlman scoring five straight points, and the Orioles took a 10-4 lead on a Cash 3-pointer.
The Orioles used a 2-3 zone throughout the first half to frustrate a sputtering Warriors' offense. Argyle packed it in the lane, limiting McDermott's touches. The Orioles held the Warriors to 8-of-26 shooting in the first half.
In a see-saw battle in the second half, Bohlman drilled a 3-pointer to give the Orioles a 28-27 lead. But Argyle's third-quarter lead vanished in a flurry.
The Warriors shot 6-for-32 from the 3-point line. However, 3-pointers by Middendorf and Darin Schultz were back-breakers in the fourth quarter.
Erickson said those 3-pointers during a quick 9-0 Warriors' spurt, that ballooned to a double-digit lead, just killed his team.
East Dubuque received a big lift from junior Kyle Huesman, who scored all 11 of his points in the second half.
"It's kind of like coach said, 'It all comes down to who wants the ball in the fourth quarter,' " Bohlman said. "We have to step up when it's crunch time."
Kevin Berg scored nine points and Cash added eight.
Argyle opens Six Rivers East Conference play Friday night at Monticello. Erickson is looking for someone to step up as a third scorer. At the end of games, it's no secret the Orioles will look to Bohlman and Berg.
"Everyone knows they (opponents) will take away Berg and Bohlman," Erickson said. "We are not a two-man team. We have five guys. We need all five guys."
That's until the fourth quarter, when the Orioles hit a wall with a sputtering offense in a 54-39 loss to the Warriors.
Argyle (0-1) led 32-28 at the end of the third quarter, which was sparked by a 3-pointer by senior Andy Bohlman.
East Dubuque senior Mike Middendorf opened the fourth quarter by draining a 3-pointer to cut the Orioles' lead to 33-31. That started a 14-1 Warriors' run and a 42-33 lead on a jumper by Stephen McDermott, who scored a game-high 20 points.
"We got kind of relaxed," said Bohlman, who led the Orioles with 16 points. "Our defense started to get a little tired. Our defense collapsed and they (East Dubuque) started to get the momentum. Our offense didn't click and we started to go into panic mode."
Argyle went almost six minutes without a field goal in the fourth quarter before Matt Cash's 3-pointer broke the cold spell.
"I don't know if we ran out of gas," Argyle coach Travis Erickson said. "We are just playing five players. But that's no excuse to get outscored 26-7."
Argyle started fast, with Bohlman scoring five straight points, and the Orioles took a 10-4 lead on a Cash 3-pointer.
The Orioles used a 2-3 zone throughout the first half to frustrate a sputtering Warriors' offense. Argyle packed it in the lane, limiting McDermott's touches. The Orioles held the Warriors to 8-of-26 shooting in the first half.
In a see-saw battle in the second half, Bohlman drilled a 3-pointer to give the Orioles a 28-27 lead. But Argyle's third-quarter lead vanished in a flurry.
The Warriors shot 6-for-32 from the 3-point line. However, 3-pointers by Middendorf and Darin Schultz were back-breakers in the fourth quarter.
Erickson said those 3-pointers during a quick 9-0 Warriors' spurt, that ballooned to a double-digit lead, just killed his team.
East Dubuque received a big lift from junior Kyle Huesman, who scored all 11 of his points in the second half.
"It's kind of like coach said, 'It all comes down to who wants the ball in the fourth quarter,' " Bohlman said. "We have to step up when it's crunch time."
Kevin Berg scored nine points and Cash added eight.
Argyle opens Six Rivers East Conference play Friday night at Monticello. Erickson is looking for someone to step up as a third scorer. At the end of games, it's no secret the Orioles will look to Bohlman and Berg.
"Everyone knows they (opponents) will take away Berg and Bohlman," Erickson said. "We are not a two-man team. We have five guys. We need all five guys."
