Bulldogs turn IF-A over for opening regional win

Bulldogs turn IF-A over for opening regional win

By Kristi Nixon

HAMPTON — When the shots weren’t falling for the Bulldog girls’ basketball team, they relied on their defense to score a Class 3A Region 3 opening win over Iowa Falls-Alden.

That wasn’t asking a lot since the Cadets were seventh in most turnovers among Class 3A girls teams.

Nevertheless, the 18-3 Bulldogs forced a pair of back-to-back turnovers that all led to scores and forced IF-A to call timeout after both to take a big lead in the eventual 62-34 win on Saturday, Feb. 15.

“We found a way to score,” Bulldog coach Miranda Valley said. “We weren’t hitting from the outside, which what is what has been our goal, but we found a way to score.

“Grover was huge inside for us with some boards, but I think our defensive pressure cranked it up another notch in the second quarter and able to get steals. Once you can get the momentum on your side, create that pressure, which is what we go off of, I knew we were in a good place.”

Maci Arjes was the beneficiary of the steals early as she scored 10 of her team-sharing high of 11 points with her twin sister, Kaci, who went from five points at half to 11.

The Bulldogs combined for 21 steals, led by Kaci Arjes’ seven. Lauren Meader and Courtney Miller each tallied four. IF-A’s Jenny Wibholm led all scorers with 21 points.

“When we steal and get our defense on a great run, then I can cherry pick, or Lauren can cherry pick and that’s how we get our points,” Maci Arjes said. “We owe it all to our passers getting those steals.”

Next up for the Bulldogs is 18-4 Jesup, 68-26 winners over Oelwein, also on Saturday evening. They’ll play today (Wednesday, Feb. 19) at Hampton.

“They are going to be good,” Valley said. “They are athletic, playing in a strong conference. They’ve played Dike, they’ve played Denver, they’ve played other teams that have been ranked, so they are very similar to us and I’m excited to see what is going to happen.”

Maci Arjes said that the team hasn’t seen Jesup yet, but also said that the J-Hawks will be a tough test.

“We haven’t looked at film yet, because we’re kind of superstitious about that,” Maci Arjes said. “Only focus on one team. They are going to be tough and they are going to be a good match-up for us.”

Bulldogs 62, Iowa Falls-Alden 34

IF-A (3-18, final)– Jenny Wibholm 7-12 4-6 21, Marlee Lancaster 0-2 0-0 0, Hailey Bridgewater 3-13 1-5 9, Cailin Reimer 0-2 0-0 0, Analinn Phipps 0-0 0-0 0, Kate Hutchinson 1-2 0-1 2, Chloe Fagerlind 0-2 0-0 0, Abigail Ites 0-3 0-0 0, Madison Jass 0-0 0-0 0, Eiley Nelson 0-1 0-0 0, Allison Off 0-1 0-0 0, Hannah Uhlenberg 0-0 0-0 0, Alexis Hill 0-0 0-0 0, Emma Harding 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 12-39 5-11 34.

Bulldogs (19-3, 11-3, conf. final) –Kaci Arjes 4-10 2-3 11, Alana Johnson 0-1 0-0 0, Lauren Meader 4-11 0-0 8, Maci Arjes 4-6 3-4 11, Calista Polk 2-6 2-2 6, Courtney Miller 3-12 0-2 6, Avery Hanson 3-9 1-1 7, Gina Schmitt 0-0 0-0 0, Faith Grover 0-2 0-0 0, Briana Grover 3-6 2-2 8, Morgyn Anderson 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 24-64 10-14 62.

IF-A9            3   10   12      -   34

H-D             13   18   18   13      -   62

Three-point goals – IF-A 5-19 (Wibholm 3-6, Bridgewater 2-7, Reimer 0-1, Fagerlind 0-1, Ites 0-1, Nelson 0-1, Lancaster 0-2); H-D 4-26 (Miller 3-10, K. Arjes 1-5, Johnson 0-1, Polk 0-2, Hanson 0-2, F. Grover 0-2, Meader 0-4). Rebounds– IF-A 26, 8 off., 18 def. (Wibholm 10, Harding 6, Hutchinson 3, Hill 3, Lancaster, Bridgewater, Fagerlind, Nelson); H-D 39, 18 off., 21 def. (Hanson 8, B. Grover 8, Meader 7, K. Arjes 4, Miller 4, M. Arjes 3, Anderson 2, Johnson, Polk). Assists– IF-A 10 (ites 4, Lancaster 3, Bridgewater 3); H-D 10 (Meader 6, Miller 2, Hanson 2). Steals– IF-A 4 (Wibholm, Lancaster, Ites, Harding); H-D 21 (K. Arjes 7, Meader 4, Miller 4, M. Arjes 2, Hanson 2, Polk, B. Grover). Blocks– IF-A, None; H-D 3 (B. Grover 2, K. Arjes). Total fouls– IF-A 15, H-D 17. Fouled out – None.