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By Levi Zimmerman
The Argyle boys basketball team visited Highland Monday night in a non-conference meeting between two teams that have struggled to find consistency this season.
The Orioles entered the game at 4-4, and the Cardinals at 4-6.
They are both relatively young teams that sometimes lack an identity.
But when they are able to put all of the pieces together, they have shown they can play just about anybody.
One thing both teams have prided themselves on is their defense.
They both can also struggle to score the basketball.
All of those characteristics proved to be true as the contest went on.
It was the host Cardinals that won the first half of play.
Highland led 37-22 at the break, but it was the Orioles that got out to the hot start, as they led 14-2 early on.
Highland Sophomore Wes Kraisinger led with nine points in the first 18 minutes, including a three-pointer.
Fellow sophomore Michael Esser followed closely with eight points, drilling two, three-pointers.
Senior Colton Frost added seven points.
Argyle was carried by junior Willie Helfvogt, who had 13 points.
The offensive woes continued for both sides in the second half.
Highland held on to their double digit lead, but that was partly because of Argyle's poor shooting and cohesiveness offensively.
The Cardinals ended up winning by a final score of 50-38.
Esser led with 13 points, including three, three-pointers.
Kraisinger was also in double figures with 10 points.
Frost ended with nine.
Highland made 10, two-point baskets and eight, three-point baskets Monday.
They shot six-for-13 from the free throw line.
Helfovgt led Argyle with 21 points.
Although it was a win, Highland coach Shaun Reuter said he wasn't pleased with his team's poor execution and energy, but, at the end of the day, a win is a win.
Reuter said he hopes Highland's defensive intensity will improve in the second half of the season.
Highland improved to 5-6 overall with the win, while Argyle moved to 4-5.
Argyle head coach Jesse Halvorsen said he was dissapointed in the result Monday but looks forward to building off his team's strong start to conference play in the Six Rivers - East.
SCORE BY HALVES
Argyle 22 16 38
Highland 37 13 50
BOX SCORE
ARGYLE 38: (fg-ft-tp) N. Moen 0-0-0, Stoeger 0-0-0, Waage 2-2-6, Godfrey 3-0-6, Helfvogt 9-1-21, Nelson 0-0-0, McNett 2-1-5, Starr 0-0-0. Totals- 16-4/8-38. Fouls-11
HIGHLAND 50: Esser 5-0-13, Smith 2-0-6, Frost 3-2-9, Dreischmeier 2-2-7, Kraisinger 4-1-10, Talo 2-1-5, Shemak 0-0-0, Lee 0-0-0. Totals- 18-6/13-50. Fouls-15
3-point goals:
ARGYLE (2)- Helfovgt 2
HIGHLAND (8)- Esser 3, Smith 2, Kraisinger 1, Frost 1, Dreischmeier 1