Lynn Valley Lift-Off: Argyle Pipers Soar Past SMUS Blue Jags in First Round
Argyle Pipers v. SMU Blue Jags
December 11, 2025
At the home of the Pipers in Lynn Valley, Argyle is looking to put on a show for the packed crowd as they take on SMU to open up their 2025 No Regrets Tourney!
The Pipers have come out strong, looking to take that energy from their supporters and convert it into an early lead—and that’s exactly how it’s played out—giving them a quick 10–1 lead in this first quarter. Argyle is turning to some early full-court pressure to try to increase their lead and test the strength of the Blue Jags’ ball-handling and quick decision-making.
Big man #1 for the Pipers, Maydan, rips through from the perimeter and finishes with the big two-handed slam down the lane. Not to be outdone, #22 Sarderi—who seems to be a crowd favourite—gives the pump fake, gets his D-man to jump, and knocks down the three before the first-quarter buzzer goes off.
End of first Q: Argyle 23 – SMU 10.
Argyle has a significant height advantage, in particular the twin towers of #21, Szpak, and #1, Maydan, who are equally comfortable handling the ball as they are getting above the rim to finish with force. The combination of their size and athleticism has allowed the Pipers to continue to extend that lead significantly into the second quarter—seeing the lead get to 30+ points.
Halftime score: Argyle 51 – SMU 18.
Halftime Fact #1: The Pipers’ gym is located on the second floor of their school—a rarity in the world of high-school hoops.
Halftime Fact #2: SMU is well known in the basketball world as Steve Nash’s high school—but did you know that Stewart Butterfield, the founder of the tech company Slack, also attended SMU?
It’s early season, and the Blue Jags will be looking to take advantage of this opportunity to get comfortable with their sets against a lengthy and athletic group in the Pipers. A win might feel out of reach, but putting together a competitive half to build on for this tournament and into their regular season is important.
#12 for the Blue Jags, Will Bateson, has moved to space as his teammates have penetrated, and that has resulted in getting himself open looks—and he’s taken advantage, knocking down his fair share.
End of third quarter: Argyle 79 – SMU 27.
With the Pipers extending the lead during the third, they are able to get solid minutes across the roster and keep those legs fresh heading into the rest of the tourney. On the other end, SMU is getting the opportunity on both ends of the court to play against a competitive team—forcing them to make quicker-than-desired decisions. Great opportunity early in a long season.
#12 Bateson for the Blue Jags continues to take advantage of his opportunities—making the majority of his deep-ball attempts while finding moments to get to the hoop. In the end, the Pipers were no doubt the dominant team, but SMU kept fighting till the final whistle. Good luck to both of these squads for the remainder of the 2025 No Regrets Tourney.
Final Score: Argyle 92 – SMU 42.
Player of the Game: Argyle’s #21 N. Szpak