AUSTIN – Facing an obstacle like 6-4 Robinson center Rachel Hargis, Argyle could not afford to get off to a bad start in the Class 3A state championship game.

But it did.

Robinson scored the game’s first nine points and defeated Argyle, 49-33, Saturday morning at Frank Erwin Center.

Argyle’s start really couldn’t have been much worse. It missed its first six shots (four of them didn’t hit backboard or rim) and went scoreless until Molly Hennesy’s 3-pointer at 1:40 of the first quarter.

BOB PEARSON / Special to DMN

Argyle's Jenn Speer (center) battles for a loose ball with Robinson's Alex Alexander.

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With taunts of “air ball” ringing in its ears from the large Robinson fan contingent, Argyle trailed, 22-3, three minutes into the second quarter.
Argyle senior Jessica Bonfield said her team came out tight, a contrast to the way it played in Thursday’s semifinal win over Hidalgo.

“We weren’t going for the ball today like we did on Thursday,” she said. “We seemed shy.”

Argyle coach Steve Schmidt said Robinson’s defensive intensity had a lot to do with it.

“But we weren’t moving well and or passing well early,” Schmidt said.

Hargis was named the game’s most valuable player, finishing with 20 points and 13 rebounds. She towered over Argyle’s tallest players.

“Anybody 6-4 is going to create problems for us,” Schmidt said. “We need to hit our shots and get early momentum going. It just didn’t happen.”

Junior guard Claire Pettibon provided Argyle’s best moments, connecting on three straight 3-pointers to reduce Robinson’s lead to 12 points, 43-31, midway in the fourth quarter. But four free throws by Hargis defused the comeback.

Pettibon was 4-for-7 on 3-pointers and scored a team-high 17 points. Bonfield led Argyle in rebounds with nine, but Argyle was out-rebounded, 35-24.

Argyle was limited to only four 2-point baskets, which Schmidt attributed to Hargis’ defensive presence.

Robinson guards Mackenzie Roach and Ashley James scored 13 and eight points respectively, and combined for five 3-pointers.

The state title was the second for Robinson (34-5) in five state tournament appearances. It also won in 1970.

Argyle won the Class 2A title in 2006 in its only previous state tournament appearance.

“Hargis is a big player to hold off,” said Argyle senior Amy Beacher, “and it makes it tougher when their guards can also shoot. They have a well-rounded team.”

Robinson coach Brenda Gomez credited her team’s early defensive intensity for keeping a hand in the face of Argyle’s outside shooters.

“I knew we had them when they only had three points in the second quarter,” Hargis said.