ARGYLE — After finishing 6-17 overall and winless in the Six Rivers East a season ago, the Orioles are trying to figure out how to make some noise this year.

“I believe we can compete with every team on our schedule this year,” Argyle head coach Justin Jensen said. “We are going to be in a lot of close games and if we can learn how to close out games early in the season, it will propel us through the rest of the season.”

The Orioles return 10 players from a year ago, most notably juniors Gavin Johnson (7.9 ppg) and Miken Godfrey (4.5 ppg). Three seniors return, as well as five total juniors. Sophomores Connor Carius, Clay Ritschard and Joey Hinojosa will also fight for minutes.

“We have a very athletic and deep group of players who have had a lot of success in their other sports. I believe that will benefit them on the basketball court,” Jensen said.

Despite going 0-12 in the Six Rivers East, Argyle was 4-2 against the Six Rivers West, beating Highland, Shullsburg and Belmont (twice). The Orioles also knocked off Iowa-Grant and Madison Abundant Life. Four times in conference games Argyle lost by 10 points or less, and lost both games to conference champion Pecatonica by an average of just 8.5 points.

“We need to be able to execute late in close games to come out on top. I would like to see us become a tough-minded team that makes each team we play earn every point,” Jensen said. “Offensively, we need to have our younger guys step up into scoring roles.”

Jensen expects Pecatonica to once again make a run at the conference title, while “Barneveld always reloads each season and Black Hawk will be right there as well.” Albany and Monticello also return solid groups, Jensen said. “The conference is very balanced and should be able to create a lot of entertaining, down to the wire games.”