Web posted
Monday, January 21, 2008
Argonia edges Dexter for SCBL girls title
|
Photo by David Wolman
click image to enlarge
|
By MIKE JOSEPH
Traveler Correspondent
Looking to avenge their only loss on the season, the Dexter Lady Fighting Cardinals came up just short in the championship game of the Dale Misak/SCBL tournament as the Argonia Lady Raiders took top-honors with a hard-fought 52-48 win Saturday night at W.S. Scott Auditorium.
Trailing 51-48, senior Krissy Kill's three-point attempt glanced off the front of the rim with 11.8 seconds remaining. Argonia was unable to control the rebound as the ball went out of bounds giving the Cardinals another try with less than 10 seconds showing on the clock. Kill was able to get open, received the pass and her second three-point attempt barely missed, rimming out with four seconds left.
Ali Brewster grabbed the rebound and was immediately fouled by Allie Crow. Brewster put the contest out of reach, hitting one-of-two from the line with one second on the clock setting off a celebration on the Argonia bench.
The Cardinals got out to an early 7-4 lead with 4:05 left in the first period. Argonia took their first lead of the game,10-9, on a pair of free-throws by Davi Peetoom with 1:44 left. Kill hit her first three of the game giving Dexter a 12-10 lead. Freshman Ashton Stansbury tied the score inside the one-minute mark.
Crow and fellow senior Camille Kahrs picked up their second fouls in the first minute of the second period, sending both to the bench. Argonia took advantage, going on a 10-1 run, taking a 22-13 lead with less than three-minutes left in the half.
Dexter stormed back, with a 9-0 run, highlighted by a runner in the lane by freshman Alexis Hafenstein, tying the contest at 22 with 1:27 left. Hannah Hemberger gave the Raiders the lead, 24-22 on a 12-foot jumper inside the lane.
Leading 26-23 at the half, the Raiders opened the third period with another run, taking a 34-25 lead with 5:16 left. Dexter stepped up their defense, holding the Raiders to a single point the rest of the quarter, while rallying to trail by two, 35-33, on a steal and layup by Hafenstein with eight-seconds left in the final period.
Dexter continued the run in the final quarter with Hafenstein getting loose for another layup with 7:30 left and a three-pointer by Kill with 7:02 left giving the Cardinals a 38-35 lead. Toni Peetoom's jumper pulled the Raiders back within one, but Kill hit her second three of the quarter on the next Cardinal possession extending the lead to 41-37 at the 6:00 mark.
Kill committed her fourth foul following a basket by Stansbury. The traditional three-point-play shrunk the Dexter lead to 41-40. Ashley Adams gave the Raiders the lead 42-41, converting two free throws after Crow picked up her fourth foul.
Amanda Defore scored two baskets around a Hemberger inside bucket, giving the Cardinals their last lead at 45-44 with less than four minutes left. Argonia took a 48-46 lead before Kahrs steal and layup knotted the contest at 48 with 1:21 left.
Hemberger and Kacie Blake hit three of four foul shots with less than a minute left, giving the Raiders a 51-48 lead.
"I thought we really played with a lot of heart and determination," said Dexter coach Debbie Callison. "We made them (Argonia) play our game and to our tempo tonight. I thought we did a better job rebounding and executing our offense (than the teams' earlier season meeting)."
Kill led all scorers with 14 points for the Cardinals. Defore added 10 points, seven rebounds and four blocked shots for Dexter. Hemberger led a balanced Argonia attack with 12 points and seven rebounds.
"I couldn't be prouder of these girls," said Callison. "They played hard and have nothing to hang their heads about."
Dexter returns to the court Tuesday at South Haven.
DEXTER 12 11 10 15 -- 48
ARGONIA 12 14 9 17 -- 52
Dexter -- Kill 14, Defore 10, Kahrs 9, Hafenstein 8, Crow 4, Fanning 2, Lawrence 1.
Argonia -- Hemberger 12, Stansbury 9, D. Peetoom 8, Brewster 7, T. Peetoom 6, Boatright 5, Adams 3, Blake 2.Adams 3, Blake 2.
Above: Dexter's Krissy Kill, left, drives past an Argonia defender during the championship game of the Dale E. Misak/South Central Border League Tournament on Saturday at W.S. Scott Auditorium.
|
