Vanguards’ girls drop two of three

It was a tough week for Wisconsin Heights’ girls basketball team, as the Vanguards dropped two of three games. Heights defeated Juda, 48-39, on Jan. 13. The Vanguards then fell to Cambridge, 62-27, on Jan. 14 and dropped a 42-35 decision to Marshall on Jan. 17. Heights is now 7-5 overall and 0-3 in the Capitol South Conference. Here’s a recap of the Vanguards’ week. • Wisconsin Heights 48, Juda 39 — Sonja Severson had 17 points, seven rebounds and four steals to power the Vanguards past Juda. R.J. Kalscheur added 12 points, 10 rebounds and three steals, and Haley Wipperfurth had seven points and 11 rebounds. Lydia Crowe chipped in six points, four assists and three steals, and Mya Boebel and Abrie Schoenemann both had five rebounds. Heights started slow, but rallied late in the first half to take a 20-16 lead at the break. The Vanguards then opened the second half on a 13-0 run to surge to a 33-16 advantage. Juda made a mini-run late in the game, but Heights held on for the win. “Fortunately, we were able to hang on to get the victory,” Heights coach Tyler Fuchs said. • Cambridge 62, Wisconsin Heights 27 — R.J. Kalscheur had 14 points, four rebounds and two steals in a losing effort. Sonja Severson added eight points, six rebounds, two assists and two blocks. The Vanguards were missing two of their top six players due to injury or sickness. “We knew Cambridge was going to be a battle, and that was before … girls were missing,” Fuchs said. “I told the girls that it was the next girl up and that it was a good opportunity for others to step up.” Heights trailed, 27-10, at halftime, and were within 39-22 midway through the second half. Cambridge finished the game on a 23-5 run, though, and pulled away. “We were playing great defense and forcing them to take tough, contested shots,” Fuchs said. “Eventually, we ran out of gas. This was our sixth game in 13 days and the girls were feeling the effects of that many games.” • Marshall 42, Wisconsin Heights 35 — Sonja Severson had 14 points and six rebounds, but it wasn’t enough as the Vanguards fell to the Cardinals. R.J. Kalscheur added 12 points and six rebounds, while Lydia Crowe had six points, five rebounds and two assists. Jocelyn Brabender chipped in with three points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists, while Avery Graham had four rebounds and three assists. Heights shot just 14-of-47 from the floor, though (29.8%). “Our inability to score during long stretches of this game really put us in a tough spot,” Fuchs said. Heights led, 7-3, early when Marshall answered with a 17-1 run and took a 20-8 lead. “We were slow to close out on their shooters,” Fuchs said.  Heights closed within 25-18 by halftime and allowed just 10 points in the first 16 minutes of the second half. The Vanguards couldn’t establish any offensive consistency, though, to overtake Marshall. In the final 2 minutes, Heights was forced to foul and the Cardinals shot well enough from the charity stripe to hang on. • On deck: Heights hosted Pardeeville Tuesday, then is at New Glarus Thursday at 7:30 p.m., and hosts Black Hawk Friday at 6 p.m.