Argo junior Apple Guerrero knows how to find the basketball.
Especially when it’s coming back out after someone misses a shot.
“Yeah, when someone shoots, I just try to hurry up and find someone and box them out,” Guerrero said. “The ball usually comes to me. And I’m tall, so I can jump.”
The 5-foot-10 forward was a master in the middle Tuesday night against host Bremen, grabbing a whopping 20 rebounds.
Guerrero also contributed on offense for the Argonauts during their 50-26 South Suburban Conference victory in Midlothian.
Abby Gamboa was the top scorer with 12 points for Argo (7-7, 5-0). Guerrero added 11 points, while Jada Madgett contributed eight.
Shakila Brownlow had 10 points and seven rebounds for Bremen (7-10, 2-3). Kaycee McManus added 10 points.
Guerrero was a catalyst in several ways for the Argonauts. By halftime, she had already pulled down 13 rebounds as Argo opened up a 28-11 lead.
Her finest offensive moment probably came early in the third quarter, when she made a quick move to the basket, sank the layup and completed a 3-point play.
On Argo’s next two baskets by Madgett and Gamboa, Guerrero delivered the assist.
A team player, through and through.
“I think team ball is really important,” Guerrero said. “It’s what I’ve always been taught. So being unselfish is my No. 1 thing when I play.”
Nobody has seen it more than Gamboa, who has been a teammate on various teams with Guerrero for 10 years.
“We started in the same community programs and then moved on to Argo’s feeder program,” Gamboa said. “It’s just been really fun to watch Apple grow as a player.
“She’s tall and she’s lengthy, but she can also be a point guard. She can basically play any position on the court and she can do it well. And she gets her teammates involved. I really enjoy that.”
Gamboa, meanwhile, also provided an offensive spark against Bremen.
The senior guard hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter and also provided some key baskets in the second half when Guerrero got into foul trouble
“I enjoy playing with Abby,” Guerrero said. “She’s a really good passer and she’s not selfish. She’s just a good, good point guard.”
As a freshman, Guerrero played on a sophomore team that went 24-2. She was the leading scorer.
This spring, Argo coach Dan McCarthy intended to bring her up to the varsity as an offensive supplement to leading scorer Breana Dugans.
When Dugans suffered an ACL injury and was unable to play, Guerrero was thrust into the leadership role.
Guerrero responded by averaging 16.8 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists.
“Honestly, I never really played with ‘Bre’ in season,” Guerrero said. “I’ve always been kind of used to playing with these girls, so it wasn’t a big change for me.
“It’s never really scared me to step up and be a leader.”
This season, Guerrero is averaging 16 points. She has eclipsed the 30-point mark twice. Tuesday’s work on the boards should push her into double digits in rebounds.
“Defensively, she’s been able to use her size and length to be a pretty dominant rebounder down low,” McCarthy said. “She has those long arms and she has great hands, so she is able to secure the majority of the rebounds that come down.
“Offensively, we’ve asked her to do a lot this year while we’re trying to get more players on track to score. Night in and night out, we ask a lot and so far she has been consistently productive.”
