Despite a lot of familiar faces around the Manitou Springs girls basketball team, it’s going to take some time for the Mustangs to find their chemistry. A big part of that is Juliana Argyle calling the shots as coach and the other part is the return of Grace Allen, who missed all of last year with a knee injury.
Her return was welcome as she scored 18 points in the season-opening 50-34 loss to Peyton on Nov. 30. The Mustangs (0-2 overall) accomplished some good things during that game, including holding Abbie Nickell to just three points after averaging 13 during the 2022-23 season.
But finding scoring help for Allen has been somewhat challenging in the first two games, although Argyle isn’t concerned yet.
“We just need to keep dialing in our offenses and work on gaining that confidence on the floor,” Argyle said. “We need to trust our teammates a little bit more and play together more as a team, a confident team.”
The third quarter against the Panthers proved to be the problem as the Mustangs were outscored 16-2. Tori Greene was the second-leading scorer with eight points in that game.
She and McKesson Rhodes each scored four points in the 41-30 loss to Elizabeth on Friday, Dec. 2. Allen again led the scoring effort with 15 points, while snagging 12 rebounds and getting eight steals.
There is little doubt that the wins will come, but early in the year this is still a team that is getting used to each other.
“It’s a kind of a new team this year, so we’re getting to know everyone and how they play,” Sami Benge-Kulzer said. “I think we’re starting to do that and understand that we have to keep fighting.”
The Mustangs next head to the University Tournament and will kick off play against Middle Park on Thursday, Dec. 8.
Manitou guard McKesson Rhodes drives to the basket during the Nov. 30 loss to Peyton.