---

Barneveld girls basketball players proved once again - Friday, why they are defending state champions - and why they are playing at an elite level - not only by putting up 67 points in a 67-17 road win but also by holding a senior-laden Argyle team to just 19 points - and with only three Oriole players able to get into the scoring column for the host Orioles.
Coach Jim Myers' Eagles were led by junior standout Hannah Whitish's 26 points and by senior teammate Rachel Slaney's 18 as the Eagles moved to 3-0.
The Eagles surged to an 11-0 lead in a flurry that began with a Hannah Whitish trey and which was followed in order by a Rachel Slaney transition hoop, a Mia Whitish free throw, a Taylor Owens 11 foot jumper, a Mia Whitish jumper - followed by a Slaney free throw.
Argyle senior Jenna Langmeier did the best she could in trying to keep her team in the game, scoring 10 of her team's 15 points in the first half - and Langmeier also scored all four of her team's tallies in the second half.
She pulled Argyle (3-3) to an 11-7 deficit with a pair of free throws at the 4:11 mark of the opening quarter but from there, Barneveld went on a 8-0 run over the next 4:06.
"We played them tough for a half and after their adjustments in the second half we didn't pass well and didn't play well. I'll take responsibility for that - we need to do more passing drills and to read defenses better," commented Argyle mentor Kurt Ritschard, after the final buzzer.
"I even brought in older guys (Argyle grads) to try and simulate Barneveld's athletes and defense but we just need to get better at handling pressure. Barneveld has a strong team - but for portions early, we took our time and were methodical and got good looks and good shots - and we also played some of our better defense there early on. But when Barneveld goes on a run and keeps you from scoring it's just that they are long, tall and deep and we had difficulty matching up.
We battled - but just ran up against a buzzsaw."
Barneveld's win extending their win streak into the low thirties and the victory over Argyle Friday also marked the first time the Eagles have played a D-5 opponent thus far this season - having earlier registered non-conference victories over D-2 Oregon High School and over D-4 class entry - Mineral Point.
Myers was pleased his Eagles were able to get a road win on the Orioles home hardwood.
"I thought our inside game worked well until we got into some foul trouble and then the Oimoen girl (6'2' senior Maggie Oimoen) got hurt (dislocated finger) and that took some of our size away."
"We re-focused at halftime, still going inside - but getting inside in different ways. They went into a box and one on Hannah (Whitish) and I thought that opened up the middle for other kids and she found them - in addition to hitting shots she had open in the second half," said Myers.
"I was pleased because I know how good this (Argyle) team is and how hard they are to play - down here on their home court."
It was only Barneveld's third game of the young season, while it was the sixth for the O's.
"We've had two bad weather days - both of those games were postponed - plus we had a bye on the first night of the conference season - so are a little behind on games played - and with so much time off without games. Hopefully, we can now get on a run after three long layoffs."
"Hannah (Whitish) had a big night - and played well, Rachel (Slaney) is such a force on defense and Mia (Whitish) played really big for us when we got small - plus Kelsey Fargo and Mattie Schave did a real nice job for us off the bench."
Barneveld hosts Albany tonight (Dec. 18) and plays at Monticello Dec. 23.
The Orioles will host the visiting Pecatonica Vikings tonight (Thurs-day night, December 18) on an evening when the athletes, coaches and program supporters of the Argyle and Pecatonica Girls Basketball Teams are participating in a Cancer Awareness night. The teams have been selling T-Shirts the past two weeks to raise money and all proceeds will go to the UW Carbone Cancer Center where 100 percent of the funds donated will be used for research. The night of the game, organizers will have a guest speaker (Maureen Dembskim from the Carbone Cancer Center) presenting during halftime and the evening's events will also include the sale of 'silent auction' baskets. Each team is participating/presenting baskets and anyone is interested in purchasing a T-shirt, should contact any player or either of the schools. If any businesses are interested in donating to the cause, they may contact coaches at Argyle or Pec. All are invited to attend and to support this worthy cause.
Barneveld 19 12 15 21-67
Argyle 9 6 2 2-19
Barneveld (fg-ft-tp) Owens 1-0-2, H. Whitish 9-2-26, M. Whitish 3-3-10, Schave 4-0-7, Cannoy 1-0-2, Slaney 7-4-18, Oimoen 1-0-2. Three-pointers: H. Whitish 3, Schave 2, M. Whitish. Totals: 20 (6) 7-12 67. Fouls 13.
Argyle (fg-ft-tp) Johnsen 1-0-3, Dammen 0-2-2, Langmeier 14. Three-pointers: Johnsen. Totals: 5 (1) 6-8 19. Fouls 11.
Jayvees: Barneveld won
Game notes: Barneveld players continue to draw interest from NCAA D-1 scholarship programs - as women's basketball coaching staff members from two Missouri Valley Conference universities - Skyler Young/Bradley University (Peoria) and Lisa Hayden/Illinois State University (Normal) both found their way to eastern Lafayette County Friday and both were in Argyle to evaluate talent.