SOUTH WAYNE - Black Hawk coach Jerry Mortimer knows what it takes to build a basketball team.
Mortimer, who has 368 wins and counting in 26 years of coaching, wants to make a statement in his final season with the Warriors.
"It's my last chance at this," Mortimer said. "I want to prove we can build a team here."
Argyle doesn't need any convincing that Black Hawk will be a force in the Six Rivers East Conference after the Warriors cruised to a 39-27 win Tuesday night.
Argyle senior Andy Bohlman knifed through the lane and hit a running layup with 1 minute, 34 seconds left in the game to cut the Warriors' lead to 32-23. Black Hawk (3-1, 1-1 Six Rivers East) answered by connecting on 7 of 9 free throws in the final 1:22 to ice the game.
"I think we are still growing as a team," Mortimer said. "We are not anywhere close to where we want to be."
The Warriors jumped out to a 9-2 first-quarter lead. Black Hawk senior Payton Schliem drained a 3-pointer at the start of the second quarter to give the Warriors a 12-2 lead.
Despite shooting 3-for-17 in the first half, the Orioles trailed 14-6 at halftime. Bohlman, who scored a team-high 10 points, scored four second-quarter points and had a steal to keep the Orioles within striking distance.
Argyle (0-4, 0-3) switched to a 2-3 zone in the second quarter to slow the Warriors.
In the second half, the Warriors attacked the 2-3 zone by moving the ball and making the extra pass. Black Hawk junior TJ Adams drilled a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 19-8 lead with 4:37 left in the third quarter. About a minute later, sophomore Michael Wolff buried a 3-pointer to push the Warriors' lead to 22-9.
Adams, who scored 10 of his game-high 12 points in the second half, made some clutch shots. He hit a 3-pointer that just beat the buzzer at the end of the third quarter, giving the Warriors a 27-15 lead.
"Coach Mortimer talked to us about playing with intensity," Adams said. "I know if I have confidence in myself, I can pretty much make any shot. That is what I did in the third quarter."
Adams wasn't surprised the Warriors made 7 of 9 free throws down the stretch, since the team practices foul shots after running in practice every day.
"It's all about confidence," he said. "If you think you will make it, you will make it."
Argyle coach Travis Erickson said the Orioles wanted to take away Black Hawk senior Michael Place down low.
"Place is their go-to guy," Erickson said. "We double teamed him and he still spun through some of them. Some guys stepped up and hit some big 3s. That is what we were daring them to do."
Place had 10 points, Schliem added eight and Wolff chipped in seven.
Mortimer said the Warriors moved the ball well attacking the 2-3 zone in the second half.
"We hit a couple of jumpers and that just breaks the game open," Mortimer said. "I'm very happy with our defense right now. We have to get our offense going. I think it will come."
Argyle sophomore Nate Thomas scored six of his seven points in the third quarter and added 11 rebounds.
"It's nice to have a sophomore step up," Erickson said. "Some of our other guys need to kick it in gear. I expect more out of our seniors. I wish I could get more out of them. I know they are capable. I know they have done it in the past."
Mortimer, who has 368 wins and counting in 26 years of coaching, wants to make a statement in his final season with the Warriors.
"It's my last chance at this," Mortimer said. "I want to prove we can build a team here."
Argyle doesn't need any convincing that Black Hawk will be a force in the Six Rivers East Conference after the Warriors cruised to a 39-27 win Tuesday night.
Argyle senior Andy Bohlman knifed through the lane and hit a running layup with 1 minute, 34 seconds left in the game to cut the Warriors' lead to 32-23. Black Hawk (3-1, 1-1 Six Rivers East) answered by connecting on 7 of 9 free throws in the final 1:22 to ice the game.
"I think we are still growing as a team," Mortimer said. "We are not anywhere close to where we want to be."
The Warriors jumped out to a 9-2 first-quarter lead. Black Hawk senior Payton Schliem drained a 3-pointer at the start of the second quarter to give the Warriors a 12-2 lead.
Despite shooting 3-for-17 in the first half, the Orioles trailed 14-6 at halftime. Bohlman, who scored a team-high 10 points, scored four second-quarter points and had a steal to keep the Orioles within striking distance.
Argyle (0-4, 0-3) switched to a 2-3 zone in the second quarter to slow the Warriors.
In the second half, the Warriors attacked the 2-3 zone by moving the ball and making the extra pass. Black Hawk junior TJ Adams drilled a 3-pointer to give the Warriors a 19-8 lead with 4:37 left in the third quarter. About a minute later, sophomore Michael Wolff buried a 3-pointer to push the Warriors' lead to 22-9.
Adams, who scored 10 of his game-high 12 points in the second half, made some clutch shots. He hit a 3-pointer that just beat the buzzer at the end of the third quarter, giving the Warriors a 27-15 lead.
"Coach Mortimer talked to us about playing with intensity," Adams said. "I know if I have confidence in myself, I can pretty much make any shot. That is what I did in the third quarter."
Adams wasn't surprised the Warriors made 7 of 9 free throws down the stretch, since the team practices foul shots after running in practice every day.
"It's all about confidence," he said. "If you think you will make it, you will make it."
Argyle coach Travis Erickson said the Orioles wanted to take away Black Hawk senior Michael Place down low.
"Place is their go-to guy," Erickson said. "We double teamed him and he still spun through some of them. Some guys stepped up and hit some big 3s. That is what we were daring them to do."
Place had 10 points, Schliem added eight and Wolff chipped in seven.
Mortimer said the Warriors moved the ball well attacking the 2-3 zone in the second half.
"We hit a couple of jumpers and that just breaks the game open," Mortimer said. "I'm very happy with our defense right now. We have to get our offense going. I think it will come."
Argyle sophomore Nate Thomas scored six of his seven points in the third quarter and added 11 rebounds.
"It's nice to have a sophomore step up," Erickson said. "Some of our other guys need to kick it in gear. I expect more out of our seniors. I wish I could get more out of them. I know they are capable. I know they have done it in the past."
