ARGOS — What started as just another day at the office turned into high drama as it took some last-second heroics to push #12 (1A) Argos to a 60-55 win in overtime.
“I could write a book on how to lose a 14 point lead in under eight minutes,” said Argos head coach Gordon Mosson. “The kids hung in there that was the key.”
It took two clutch free throws from Argos’ Jake Stults with just 0.3 seconds on the clock to send the game into an extra frame. With time expiring the Argos junior grabbed a rebound and was in the process of putting it back when he was fouled.
“Jake stepping hitting two in that situation is huge,” said Mosson. “I told him afterward I’ve seen great college players and great NBA players not be able to do that.”
A nail biter to the very end it didn’t begin that way as the Dragons methodically worked their way to a 10 point cushion at the half that ballooned to 14 early in the third quarter.
Judson would change all that as the third frame went on and they found 6’5″ sophomore time and again to turn the Argos lead into a deficit early in the fourth quarter.
“They are a good team and they were hitting the bucket,” said Mosson. “(Kelson) Jordan played phenomenal tonight. He had a career third quarter and we didn’t have any solutions for him. He’d hit a three, go inside and score from the low post. He did a nice job.”
Jordan had 15 of his 19 points in the third frame.
The Blue Jays were able to make their run by forcing five Argos turnovers in a four-minute span of the third quarter and capitalized on some cold shooting by the Dragons down the stretch.
“That has been our bugaboo all year and I’m telling you we work on that all the time in practice,” said Mosson of the spat of turnovers. “I don’t know if we get tired or get caught up in the emotion of it or the nerves of it. We are still trying to find solutions for it. When you have more turnovers than you have assists you have a problem.”
Argos managed to fight through the slump cutting a five-point lead to two in the final :40 before Stults’ heroics.
Stults was one of four Dragons in double figures scoring with 11, including 4-5 from the line in the final eight minutes and six assists. J.J. Morris had a big first half on the way to 14 points on the night Michael Richard had 13 with five rebounds.
The biggest night came from Dylan Kindig who had 17 points and seven rebounds including a pair of free throws in overtime that would ice the win.
“It was a total team effort that’s for sure,” said Mosson. “You saw what we see in practice (from Kindig). He can dominate practice at times. With him it’s just a matter of slowing down a little bit, reading the defense, and not getting down on himself. He’s got great moves and great hands.”
Judson had a total team effort as well. Along with Jordan’s 19, Blayne Wilcox added 17 and seven rebounds, and four steals.
North Judson is now 4-11 and takes on Hebron this morning. Argos is 14-4 with a big game at home tonight against #13 (1A) Triton.
•ARGOS 60, NORTH JUDSON 55
at Argos
Argos 17 32 43 53 60
N. Judson 13 22 43 53 55
Argos (60) — M. Richard 5 0-0 13, Morris 6 2-3 14, Nifong 0 0-0 0, Stults 3 4-5 11, Redinger 2 0-0 5, S. Richard 0 0-0 0, Kindig 7 3-3 17. Totals 23 9-11 60.
N. Judson (55) — Jordan 9 0-0 19, Wilcox 6 5-6 17, Hampton 0 0-0 0, Cox 1 2-3 4, Sanchez 1 0-0 2, Shumaker 2 1-2 5, Allen 2 0-2 5. Totals 21 8-13 55.
3 Pt. FG — Argos 5 (M. Richard 3), N. Judson 5 (Jordan 4).
Rebounds — Argos 22 (Kindig 7), N. Judson 16 (Wilcox 7).
Assists — Argos 15 (Stults 6), N. Judson 11 (Cox 4).
Steals — Argos 5 (Kindig 2), N. Judson 11 (Wilcox 4).
Turnovers — Argos 16, N. Judson 11.
Fouls (Fouled out) — Argos 11, N. Judson 17 (Sanchez).
