INDIANAPOLIS – The ball simply would not go in the basket for the Argos girls basketball team Saturday.

A cold-shooting performance proved to be the downfall for the Dragons in a 57-39 loss to Jac-Cen-Del in the Class 1-A state championship game.

The No. 6 Dragons shot just 11-49 from the field, including only 2-14 in the pivotal second quarter, is falling to the No. 2 Eagles in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

Jac-Cen-Del claims its first-ever girls basketball state title and completes its season at 27-1. The Dragons, who were making their first-ever appearance at State, wraps up an outstanding season at 24-4.

Sophomore guard Lilly Simon scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to pace the champions. Senior Jordan Day netted 12 points for the Eagles.

Junior standout Courney Dunlap paced Argos with 18 points. The talented guard, like her entire team, struggled shooting. Dunlap was 5-22 overall from the field, including 0-6 from 3-point range. She also led her team with six rebounds to go with team highs of three assists and three steals.

Senior Valerie Rospopo scored nine points for the Dragons.

Argos is coached by Gary Teel, the former girls basketball coach at Tippecanoe Valley High School.

Argos took a 10-9 lead after the opening period of play thanks to a trey by Shanna Miller late in the first quarter. The Dragons led for just a total of 2:38 in the contest.

The second quarter proved to be the turning point in the contest. The Eagles opened the frame with a 7-0 run to take a 16-10 edge. Jac-Cen-Del outscored Argos 20-5 in the key quarter to lead 29-15 at halftime. The Dragons shot just 5-26 from the field in the opening half, including a 2-14 mark in the second stanza. Jac-Cen-Del hit on 8-14 shots in the second quarter.

The Eagles opened the final half with a 7-0 run to build their lead to 36-15. JCD led 42-30 after the third period of play despite being outscored 15-13 in the frame. Jac-Cen-Del then outscored Argos 15-9 in the final stanza for the 18-point win.

Argos finished 11-49 from the field in the game, including 3-21 from distance. The Dragons had 32 rebounds and seven turnovers.

Senior Kaelyn Barlow had five points and five rebounds for the Dragons.  Sophomore Shanna Miller had three points, while junior Kennedy Binkley and sophomore Macee Strycker each scored two points.

Jac-Cen-Del hit on 20-50 shots from the field, including 4-14 from deep. The Eagles were 13-16 from the line, had 41 rebounds and nine turnovers.

Freshman Mariah Day and junior Rosie Newhart each scored eight points and senior Hayley Bruns seven for the champions.

The Dragons entered play Saturday ranked second in the state in points-per-game allowed at 32.6. The 57 points allowed on Saturday was the second highest total given up by Argos this season. The Dragons allowed 76 points in a 76-29 loss to Oregon-Davis during the regular season.

Kirk Robinson, a Tippecanoe Valley High School graduate, was the lead official for the game. It was the 14th overall state championship contest for the long-time official, including his fifth in girls basketball. Robinson, who has officiated for 32 years, is currently the secretary for the Northern Indiana Officials Association.

Abby Wagner of Jac-Cen-Del was named the recipient of the Patricia L. Roy Mental Attitude Award following the game.