Basketball Recap: Maddex Hemberger's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Argonia over Oxford

Argonia fought the good fight in their overtime match against Oxford on Friday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Oxford Wildcats by a score of 55-52. While losing is never fun, the Raiders can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Kansas basketball rankings (they are ranked 337th, while the Wildcats are ranked 137th).

Maddex Hemberger

Points (Career)

01/31/25 vs Oxford	16
12/12/23 @ Cunningham	12
12/09/23 @ Udall	10
02/20/24 vs Central Christian Academy	10
12/08/23 vs Norwich	9

Argonia lost despite a true team effort on offense, the best among them being Maddex Hemberger, who went 5 of 8 en route to 16 points and six boards. Those 16 points gave Hemberger a new career-high. MANUEL FERNANDEZ was another key player, going 5 for 9 on his way to 11 points along with seven rebounds and five assists.

Even though they lost, Argonia was working as a unit and finished the game with 16 assists. That's the most assists they've managed all season.

Cordell Jordan was his usual excellent self, dropping a double-double on 14 points and 14 boards for Oxford. The team also got some help courtesy of Kellen Green, who went 5 of 11 en route to 11 points in addition to eight rebounds and three steals.

Argonia's defeat was their fourth straight at home, which dropped their record down to 2-11. As for Oxford, the victory was the third in a row for them, bringing their record for this year to 11-2.

Argonia will be playing in front of their home fans against Udall at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Argonia is facing Udall at the right time seeing as Udall is stuck on a seven-game losing streak. As for Oxford, a feisty cat fight is on tap when the Oxford Wildcats challenge the South Haven Cardinals at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. One thing working in Oxford's favor is that they have posted at least 55 points in their last 11 games.