ARGYLE — After a two-game losing streak, including a 27-point loss to Shullsburg on Nov. 30, Argyle got back into the win column with a 72-26 victory over Benton on Monday, Dec. 4. Seven different players scored with four of them in double figures.
“I thought it was a good team win,” Argyle head coach Jesse Halverson said. “It was nice to see us get back to that, where the last two games were more iso. It was a good win going into another tough game Thursday (Dec. 7 against Albany).”
The Orioles built up an 18-5 lead midway through the first half. Although Desmand Morrissey banked a shot to close within 11, Argyle extended its lead to 20 points with an 11-point run. Braelyn Meinert scored on an offensive putback. Ike Waage then kicked it out to Will Helfvogt for three. For the 27-7 lead, Waage took a steal all the way back for two.
Despite eight points from the Zephyrs in the last three minutes, the Orioles ended the first half on a 6-0 run. Mason McNett went 2-for-2 at the free-throw line, Meinert scored in the post and Helfvogt made a reverse layup with 8.9 seconds left.
With a 39-15 lead after the first frame, Halverson wanted his team to fine-tune its skills in the second.
“We wanted to focus on moving the ball and being patient,” Halverson said. “You can move it down the floor as fast as you want, but when you get into close games you need to run your offense right. Defensively, we wanted to stay sound, even though we were up.”
The first eight minutes of the second period weren’t as crisp as the last eight of first half, though. Helfvogt picked up his third and fourth fouls, both offensive. Brayden Kilcoyne also scored 11 points for Benton, including back-to-back 3s.
Argyle tightened its defense, though, and worked its offense to build up a 30-point lead. Waage scored through contact, giving the Orioles a 53-23 advantage.
Halverson was then able to sub in his bench, allowing other players to gain experience. In fact, Garrett Phillipson’s bucket sparked a 19-point run that Argyle carried to the end of the game.
“It’s nice to get our starters some rest and not kill them the whole time,” Halverson said. “It also gives these younger kids some experience because there will be times we run into foul trouble and we will need them.”
In that time, McNett scored on an inbounds play and then assisted Waage on a 3-pointer. Casper Moen drew a foul and made one free throw. Phillipson’s second basket of the run gave Argyle a 67-26 lead and started the running clock with two minutes left. Helfvogt ended the game with five straight points—scoring through a triple-team and on 3-pointer.
Helfvogt was one of four Argyle players in double figures with a team-high 16 points. McNett tallied 14, followed by Waage with 13 points. Max Godfrey scored 10 points, all within the arc. Moen, who got the start in place of an unavailable Jeremiah Collins, recorded seven points.
“I’m just trying to help the team win after a two-game losing streak,” Moen said of the opportunity. “We found our groove again. We played good all-around.”
