ARGYLE — Although the Orioles finished fifth in the Six Rivers East conference last season with a 3-9 record, half of the opposing coaches consider Argyle a threat this season.

Aside from seniors Kaden Hartwig — a Second-Team All-Conference selection —and Alex Gilbertson, Argyle returns a once youthful core that now as more experience as upper classmen.

Junior Willie Helfvogt leads all returners as an All-Conference Honorable Mention selection last season, averaging 10.4 points per game. Senior Caden Stoeger and junior Max Godfrey return as starters from last year, too. They averaged 3.9 and 8.8 points per game, respectively.

As a freshman off the bench, Ike Waage averaged 10.3 points per game to lead the non-starting returners. His is joined by senior Noah Moen and fellow sophomore Mason McNett.

Head coach Jesse Halvorsen, who enters his third year at the helm for the Orioles, anticipates senior Thomas Nelson and sophomore Casper Moen to also make contributions on varsity.

While Halvorsen believes his guard play and overall speed to be the team’s strength, he worries about post play and height.

“We don’t have a true big and will be the smaller team most games,” Halvorsen said. 

While others see the Orioles as a contender for conference, Halvorsen sees Barneveld, Black Hawk and Pecatonica as the teams to beat.