ARGYLE - Argyle girls basketball coach Steve Dammen preaches taking care of the basketball.
Turnovers proved costly in Argyle's 51-28 loss Monday night to Belmont.
"I don't want to condem them," Dammen said of the Orioles.
"Sometimes, when you are 1-10, you have to stand up with some class. If we can take care of the basketball, we start to become a better team."
Argyle (1-10, 0-5 Six Rivers East) went 8 minutes, 15 seconds without a field goal.
The cold spell was snapped when senior Kelsey Ostby scored down low to cut the Braves' lead to 14-5.
Argyle chipped away at the lead by using a 2-3 zone and a 1-2-2 press. The Orioles forced a turnover about midway through the second quarter and freshman Danielle Truethardt scored on the break to slice the Braves' lead to 18-14.
From there, the Braves went on a 6-1 spurt to close the second quarter with a 24-15 halftime lead.
The defining moment for the Braves came on an offensive rebound by Belmont senior Karlee Kamps, which set up a basket down low by freshman Kailee Kamps.
Kamps was fouled on the play and converted the three-point play at the free throw line to give the Braves a 21-14 lead.
Despite having 18 of their 29 turnovers in the first half, the Orioles trailed by just nine points at halftime.
"We just can't seem to get better at taking care of the basketball and not giving up second shots," Dammen said.
The Braves went on a 13-2 third-quarter run as the lead ballooned to 20 points. Belmont junior Sara Carey drained a 3-pointer to push the lead to 29-17 with 6 minutes to go in the third quarter.
Belmont junior Chelsey Schobert grabbed an offensive rebound and made a putback.
On Belmont's next possession, she scored on an inbounds pass to give the Braves a 34-17 lead, which they never relinquished.
Ostby led Argyle with 10 points and Truethardt added seven points.
The Orioles remain a young team with three freshmen - Truethardt, Frida Cuevas, Katie Dammen - and sophomore Kelsey Bartels receiving significant playing time.
Dammen's message to his team as the Orioles develop and evolve is simple.
He stresses winning the turnover and rebounding battles.
"When you are not as big or as fast as someone, you have to play with heart," Dammen said.
"I have really been trying to pound that into them. I think we are playing with a lot of heart."
The Orioles have installed a more up-tempo offense and pressure defense.
Dammen said the girls need to realize even if they don't get a steal on the press, the Orioles can speed up an opponent's offense and force poor shots.
Argyle will host Cassville in a Six Rivers Conference crossover game at 7:30 tonight.
"The girls need a win," Dammen said. "Hopefully, we can scare some people by the end of the year."
Turnovers proved costly in Argyle's 51-28 loss Monday night to Belmont.
"I don't want to condem them," Dammen said of the Orioles.
"Sometimes, when you are 1-10, you have to stand up with some class. If we can take care of the basketball, we start to become a better team."
Argyle (1-10, 0-5 Six Rivers East) went 8 minutes, 15 seconds without a field goal.
The cold spell was snapped when senior Kelsey Ostby scored down low to cut the Braves' lead to 14-5.
Argyle chipped away at the lead by using a 2-3 zone and a 1-2-2 press. The Orioles forced a turnover about midway through the second quarter and freshman Danielle Truethardt scored on the break to slice the Braves' lead to 18-14.
From there, the Braves went on a 6-1 spurt to close the second quarter with a 24-15 halftime lead.
The defining moment for the Braves came on an offensive rebound by Belmont senior Karlee Kamps, which set up a basket down low by freshman Kailee Kamps.
Kamps was fouled on the play and converted the three-point play at the free throw line to give the Braves a 21-14 lead.
Despite having 18 of their 29 turnovers in the first half, the Orioles trailed by just nine points at halftime.
"We just can't seem to get better at taking care of the basketball and not giving up second shots," Dammen said.
The Braves went on a 13-2 third-quarter run as the lead ballooned to 20 points. Belmont junior Sara Carey drained a 3-pointer to push the lead to 29-17 with 6 minutes to go in the third quarter.
Belmont junior Chelsey Schobert grabbed an offensive rebound and made a putback.
On Belmont's next possession, she scored on an inbounds pass to give the Braves a 34-17 lead, which they never relinquished.
Ostby led Argyle with 10 points and Truethardt added seven points.
The Orioles remain a young team with three freshmen - Truethardt, Frida Cuevas, Katie Dammen - and sophomore Kelsey Bartels receiving significant playing time.
Dammen's message to his team as the Orioles develop and evolve is simple.
He stresses winning the turnover and rebounding battles.
"When you are not as big or as fast as someone, you have to play with heart," Dammen said.
"I have really been trying to pound that into them. I think we are playing with a lot of heart."
The Orioles have installed a more up-tempo offense and pressure defense.
Dammen said the girls need to realize even if they don't get a steal on the press, the Orioles can speed up an opponent's offense and force poor shots.
Argyle will host Cassville in a Six Rivers Conference crossover game at 7:30 tonight.
"The girls need a win," Dammen said. "Hopefully, we can scare some people by the end of the year."
