Vanguards planning to reload

Patience. It’s not a word most coaches have in their vocabulary. But it’s one Wisconsin Heights boys basketball coach Zack Colby might need this winter. The Vanguards return just one starter from last year’s team that went 16-7 overall and finished in second place in the Capitol South Conference. The good news for the Vanguards is that one returning starter is junior guard DeShawn Barsness — a frontrunner for Player of the Year honors in the league. There is also a solid group of newcomers ready to make that mark. But Colby knows his Vanguards could be a work-in-progress early on this season. “I’ll never be one to not have high expectations, but I do foreshadow some of the boys needing time to adjust to the pace of the varsity game,” said Colby, whose team opened its new year Tuesday at Black Hawk. “But they will. “Thankfully, we’re aware of it, and it’s a central point in all of our practices. It’s one thing when you have two or three guys starting for the first time on opening night, but I’ve never been in a scenario when we’re starting the season with four new starters. It’s the type of challenge you look forward to as a maturing coach.” Fortunately for Colby, he can rely heavily on Barsness. A year ago, Barsness averaged 13.8 points per game and was the only non-senior named first-team all-conference. “I would expect him to be pushing for player of the year in the Capitol South this season,” Colby said. “He has improved his three-point shot significantly and has off the charts athleticism.” Rhead Jacobus (2.4 points per game last year) is the Vanguards’ only senior and will see an expanded role this season. Sophomore Devin Brabender (3.4 ppg) will most likely start at center. And junior Cole Cribbs (2.3 ppg) will take on a bigger role, as well. The rest of the varsity roster includes juniors Everett Buol, Trevor Dimpfl, Preston Herrling, Jonathan Holcomb and Hunter Walz, sophomores Lathan Parman and Carson Hosking, and freshmen Derek Adler and Jacob Brabender. “Rhead, Devin and Cole will most likely earn starting spots and have to elevate their games from the players they were last year,” Colby said. “Other than that, we are a mixed bag of freshman-to-juniors who all lack varsity experience. “We have some talented juniors and freshman stepping into roles that will take some time to fully fill, but I’m confident they will get there sooner. A lot of questions will be answered these next few weeks on who steps up and who doesn’t.” Cobly seemingly has the program humming along. Heights has gone 33-13 the last two years with back-to-back second place finishes in the league. Maintaining that standard with so much youth could be tough, but Colby is optimistic his Vanguards can eventually excel this winter. “I’m excited for us to improve all season long,” Colby said. “That’s the great thing about having youth on a varsity team. We’re going to get much better each and every week, and the boys will continue to mature both physically and mentally. “Don’t get me wrong. We have talent in our program, it’s just going to take some time to unlock all their potential. As I’ve mentioned, our lack of experience is something we’re going to have to work through. The only way the boys can get comfortable with some of the moments they will face is with in-game experience.” Colby sees WIAA Division 4 defending state champion New Glarus as the league favorite once again. He also expects Marshall and Belleville to be in the hunt for a league title. But Colby fully expects Heights to be in the mix, too. “As long as I am coaching here, I will always say we’re in the hunt for a conference title,” Colby said. “We had the state champs from last year (New Glarus) down in the second halves of both games we played against them, and New Glarus was an absolute force. This might be the first year in several where the conference championship team might have a loss or two.”