Argonia girls are the sub-state champions in Caldwell.

By James Jordan, Sumner Newscow — The Argonia girls are headed to a state basketball tournament for the first time since 2014 after dominating Ingalls 38-26 Saturday in the substate finals in Caldwell.

Argonia (22-2) will be playing Linn (21-5) in the Class 1A Division 2 State tournament that starts Wednesday at Friends University in Wichita at 8 p.m. Win there, and the Raiders will advance to Emporia State University on Friday and Saturday. The full 1A-D2 state bracket is here.

Argonia’s Tori Morrison scored five 3-pointers against Ingalls. (Photos by Donita Clausen)

The Raiders will be a No. 2 seed, while Linn will be a No. 7 seed. The last time Argonia made it to the state basketball tournament was in 2014, when it lost to Dighton after going 16-5.

On Saturday, Argonia made seven three-pointers and consistently outrebounded a taller Ingalls team to control the game for most of the way.

“We live on the 3-pointer,” said Argonia head coach Morgan Grippen. “We were hitting our shots tonight.”

Grippen has been a double head coach this season, coaching both the boys and girls.

Argonia is implementing its suffocating zone defense.

The Raiders also made a living on the boards, rarely allowing Ingalls a second shot and often getting two or three shots each trip down the floor.

“We box out. We have been the smaller team all season. We shoot and crash the boards,” Grippen said. “I thought we took care of the ball pretty well, too.”

Victoria (Tori) Morrison led the way for Argonia, making five three-pointers and finishing with 20 points.

She made two halfway through the first quarter as Argonia took an 11-4 lead. Ingalls scored the first four points of the game.  Lindsay Coleman, who has been battling a knee injury, hit a three and added a shot moments later to give Argonia a 5-4 lead, and the Lady Raiders never trailed again.

Argonia’s Autumn Coleman with a deuce attempt.

Argonia outscored Ingalls 8-2 in the second quarter with two made three-pointers.

Argonia’s press also caused Ingalls some problems, and the lead swelled to 13 by the end of the third quarter.

Ingalls made a little run early in the fourth quarter, but Morrison hit two more three-pointers to put the lead at 13 halfway through the final stanza.

In addition to Morrison’s 20 points, Lindsay Coleman had 6, Autumn Coleman 5, Emmah Phillips 4, and Kara Jones 3.

It has been 12 years, but Argonia can now hoist a sub-state championship trophy in basketball.

Jill Schmeeckle led Ingalls with 9, Jennasey Stoudemire 8, Kinlee Simon 5, and Lea Stinemetz 4.

Argonia is now 22-2 and has won 19 straight. Ingalls finishes its season at 12-16.