Heights girls fall to Dells

Bring on the Southern Capitol Conference. That’s how Wisconsin Heights’ girls basketball team must feel following a demanding non-conference schedule. The Vanguards fell to Wisconsin Dells, 47-36, last Friday and slipped to 4-5 in non-conference games this season. Heights hosted Dodgeville Tuesday, then was set to dive into conference action Thursday when it travels to New Glarus at 7:30 p.m. “Marshall is the favorite in the conference and all the rest of the teams are pretty even,” Vanguards’ coach Bill Sullivan said. “We have an experienced team, but need to learn how to win on a consistent basis.” That was evident against Wisconsin Dells. Heights jumped to an early nine-point lead and held a 24-23 advantage at halftime. But the Vanguards couldn’t hold on and Dells rallied back for the win. Natalie Hering led a balanced Heights attack with eight points, while Miranda Keith scored seven. Kelsie Handel and Daryn Schaefer both had six points, while Ashlee Adler had four. “We continue to struggle finishing in the paint and our outside shooting hasn’t opened up things for us when teams play zone,” Sullivan said. “So it’s important that we finish when we have the opportunity to. We need to have more focus throughout the game and be more consistent from start to finish.” Sullivan has seen signs that his team can be a threat in the Capitol Conference. What he hasn’t seen is the consistency the Vanguards need. “We play one good half and then are not focused the other half,” Sullivan said. “We either we have a poor shooting half or our defense is not where it needs to be. Three of our five losses are attributed to those two things.  “If we want to be a top team competing for the Capitol South Conference we’re going to have to really work on getting better in these two areas. That starts at practice.”   Jan. 3 Wisconsin Dells 47,  Wisconsin Heights 36 Heights .................. 24 12 — 36 Dells ....................... 23 24 — 47 WISCONSIN DELLS (fg ft-fta pts) — Smith 2 1-3 6, Meister 1 0-0 3, Anchor 3 3-6 9, Gray 6 2-4 17, Jones 2 0-0 5, Jonson 1 2-2 4, Thundercloud 1 1-3 3. Totals 16 9-18 47. WISCONSIN HEIGHTS — Teela 1 1-1 3, Duhr 1 0-0 2, Adler 1 2-4 4, Keith 3 1-2 7, Handel 3 0-0 6, Hering 3 0-0 8, Schaefer 2 0-0 6. Totals 14 4-7 36. 3-point goals: WD 6 (Gray 3, Jones 1, Meister 1, Smith 1); WH 4 (Hering 2, Schaefer 2). Fouls: WD 5; WH 17.             BOYS    BASKETBALL Wisconsin Heights dropped a 67-58 decision to visiting Richland Center last Friday. The Vanguards fell to 3-4 overall. Cole Cribbs led the Vanguards with 15 points, while De’Shawn Barsness added 14. Heights is at Barneveld Thursday at 7:30 p.m., then hosts Palmyra-Eagle Saturday at 2:30 p.m.   Jan. 3 Richland Center 67, Wisconsin Heights 58 Richland Center..... 38 29 — 67 Heights ................... 27 31 — 58 RICHLAND CENTER (fg ft-fta pts) — Rizner 3 9-15 15, McDonald 0 3-6 3, Darling 1 0-0 2, Ellenson 1 1-2 3, Schauf 4 3-6 14, Bosworth 0 0-2 0, Louis 0 1-2 1, Keller 10 9-13 29. Totals 19 26-46 67. WISCONSIN HEIGHTS — Buol 2 0-0 5, Cribbs 5 3-4 15, Barsness 6 2-4 14, Adler 2 1-2 6, Herrling 2 0-0 5, Brabender 2 0-0 4, Hosking 3 0-0 9, Jacobus 0 0-0 0. Totals 22 6-10 58. 3-point goals: RC 3 (Schauf); WH 8 (Hosking 3, Cribbs 3, Adler 1, Herrling 1, Buol 1). Fouls: RC 15; WH 26. Fouled out: Herrling, Jacobus.