Morris’ 2nd quarter scoring burst sends Argos to sectional final

Clingler scores 8, but Culver falls to Dragons for 10th straight time

BY VAL TSOUTSOURIS

Sports Editor, RTC

Boys basketball

Argos 30, Culver 21: J.J. Morris scored 10 of his game-high 15 points in the second quarter to lead the Argos boys basketball team past Culver in a Class 1A, Sectional 50 semifinal at Culver Friday.

Michael Richard added nine points for Argos, who improved to 18-5.

Owen Clingler scored all eight of his points in the first half for Culver, who finished 7-16. Jalen King missed his fourth straight game for Culver. King scored a team-high 14 points in a 42-32 loss to Argos on Feb. 11 in their most recent meeting.

Culver made just two of 13 free throws in the second half. Mason Herbert had Culver’s only second half field goal, a 3-pointer in the fourth quarter.

Argos outscored Culver 13-4 from the foul line. Morris went nine for 10 from the line.

Argos led 20-16 at halftime.

Argos beat Culver for the third time this season and the 10th consecutive time overall. Argos also knocked Culver out of the sectional for the third straight season.

Argos will take on Triton in the sectional final at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Triton beat Oregon-Davis 59-41 in the second semifinal.

Argos beat Triton 51-39 on Feb. 20 in their regular season meeting. Argos also beat Triton in the sectional final each of the last two years.

CULVER (21) (7-16)

Ethan Keller 0 0-0 0, Owen Clingler 3 0-0 8, Emiliano Ortiz 0 2-4 2, Braxton Conley 0 1-5 1, Marquez Anderson 1 0-0 2, Cameron Minix 0 0-0 0, Joey Pizur 0 0-0 0, Shane Shuman 1 1-6 3, Mason Herbert 1 0-0 3, Ollie Morgan 0 0-0 0, Auston Zehner 1 0-0 2

TEAM: 7 4-15 21

ARGOS (30) (18-5)

Michael Richard 3 2-5 9, Jake Stults 0 0-0 0, J.J. Morris 3 9-10 15, Teddy Redinger 0 0-0 0, Dylan Kindig 2 0-0 4, Caden Nifong 0 0-0 0, Kayden Brady 0 0-1 0, Sean Richard 0 2-4 2, Zak Heiman 0 0-0 0

TEAM: 8 13-20 30

Three-point field goals:

Culver 3 (Clingler 2, Herbert),

Argos 1 (M. Richard)

Total fouls: Culver 26, Argos 14

Fouled out: Clingler (CUL)

Turnovers: Culver 10, Argos 17

Score by quarters

Culver 9 7 2 3 – 21

Argos 9 11 4 6 – 30