Heights girls split

Wisconsin Heights’ girls basketball team split a pair of games last week. The Vanguards defeated New Glarus, 56-52 in their Southern Capitol Conference opener last Thursday. Heights also dropped a 72-48 decision to Dodgeville last Tuesday. Heights improved to 5-6 overall and is 1-0 in the league. “It was nice to get that first conference win after struggling against Dodgeville,” Vanguards coach Bill Sullivan said. In Heights’ win over New Glarus, Kelsey Handel had 15 points, while Miranda Keith had a double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Hanna King added eight points and four rebounds off the bench. “It was a good team victory,” Sullivan said. “I thought all the kids contributed and did a nice job of staying composed late in the game.” Heights built a 20-12 lead midway through the first half and held a 26-21 advantage at the break. “I thought we did a nice job in the first half of staying patient on offense and did a nice job on the boards limiting second shot opportunities,” Sullivan said.  Heights pushed its lead to 35-25 early in the second half, but New Glarus came back to take a 43-42 lead. Handel made a runner and got fouled to give the Vanguard a 46-43 lead, but New Glarus hit a three-pointer and went back ahead, 48-47. With the game tied, 50-50, Kylie Doherty knocked down two free throws to give Heights the lead for good. The Vanguards then converted their foul shots down the stretch and finished the night 22-of-33 from the line (66.7%). “The game was won at the free throw line,” Sullivan said. Heights also fell to Dodgeville last Tuesday in a game where the Dodgers grabbed a 42-19 halftime lead and cruised home. “Against teams like the Dodgeville you need to take advantage of opportunities you have in the paint as well as at the free throw line, which we failed to do in the first half,” Sullivan said.    Jan. 9 Wisconsin Heights 56, New Glarus 52 Heights ………….. 26 30 — 56 New Glarus ……. 21 31 — 52 WISCONSIN HEIGHTS (fg ft-fta pts) — Teela 1 4-4 6, King 2 4-4 8, Doherty 1 2-2 4, Adler 1 3-9 5, Keith 5 1-1 11, Handel 4 7-9 15, 1 1-4 4, Mickelson 1 0-0 3. Totals 16 22-33 56. NEW GLARUS — Watrud 1 0-0 3, Eichelkraut 0 1-2 1, Himmelmann 2 2-2 6, Klosterman-Havens 3 0-0 6, Noll 5 5-11 15, Marty 2 0-0 4. Totals 19 11-21 53. 3-point goals: WH 2 (Mickelson 1, Hering 1); NG 4 (Benson 3, Watrud 1). Total fouls: WH 18; NG 21.