Sports

The future looks bright. Then again, it looks sunny for a handful of teams inside the Southern Capitol Conference. Wisconsin Heights’ boys basketball team is coming off a season where it went 11-12 overall and 4-6 in the conference. 

Anger. Sadness. Frustration. Loneliness. Those are the emotions swirling around coaches, athletes and the sporting communities at both Sauk Prairie and Wisconsin Heights High Schools as all activities have been placed on hold in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The great, but somewhat crusty Mark Twain once proclaimed: “Golf is a good walk spoiled.” The way many golf courses in the area feel, Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has also spoiled their good walk.

Sauk Prairie’s girls basketball team posted the program’s most victories in a season in 10 years this winter. Then, the Eagles received some well-deserved recognition when it came time to postseason honors.

Wisconsin Heights’ boys basketball team didn’t win as many games as it hoped for this season. But the Vanguards were still recognized when it came to all-Southern Capitol Conference honors. Junior wing De’Shawn Barsness was named first-team all-conference. Sophomore post Devin Brabender was named honorable-mention all-conference.

Sauk Prairie senior forward Trevor Spray and junior forward Brandt Wilson enjoyed terrific years on the hardwood. And both were recently recognized for their strong seasons. The 6-foot-7 Spray was named second-team all-Badger North Conference. The 6-foot-7 Wilson received honorable mention recognition.

Wisconsin Heights’ girls basketball team recently had three players named all-Southern Capitol Conference. Senior guard Ashlee Adler was named first-team all-conference. Senior post Miranda Keith and senior wing/post Kelsi Handel were both named honorable-mention all-conference.

Sauk Prairie was supposed to have its first track and field meet of the season on Friday. All of the Eagles’ spring sports teams were going to be on the practice field by the start of next week. Not anymore, though.

Just as in the regular season, it was a 50-50 split when Sauk Prairie’s boys basketball team competed in postseason play. Seventh-seeded Sauk Prairie opened the week with a convincing 60-39 victory over Badger North Conference rival and 10th-seeded Baraboo in a WIAA Division 2 regional quarterfinal game on March 3.

Wisconsin Heights’ trip to the postseason was a short one. The Vanguards’ boys basketball team fell to River Ridge, 56-48, in a WIAA Division 4 regional quarterfinal on March 3. Heights finished the year with an 11-12 record. Heights trailed, 26-21, at halftime and River Ridge kept the Vanguards at bay in the second half.