Heights boys enjoy a thrilling week

It’s often been said the best bargain in all of sports is a high school basketball game. For a small price, most nights you’ll see tremendous effort, great atmosphere and exciting games. That was certainly the case with Wisconsin Heights’ boys last week. The Vanguards dropped a thrilling, 77-76 triple overtime decision to Pecatonica on Feb. 11. Heights then battled back and posted a 66-59 win at Waterloo on Feb. 13. The Vanguards are now 7-12 overall and 2-5 in the Capitol South Conference. “It was a good week of basketball for us and hopefully we can keep the momentum going moving forward,” Heights coach Nolan Krentz said. Here’s a recap of the Vanguards’ week. • Pecatonica 77, Wisconsin Heights 76 (3 OTs) — The visiting Vanguards scored in the final seconds of regulation and of the first overtime to keep the game alive. In the third overtime, Heights had a chance to win on the final seconds, but couldn’t convert. “This was one of those games that it was too bad someone had to lose,” Krentz said. “Both teams played extremely well.” Heights’ Mike Fancsali had a magnificent game with a career-high 28 points, along with nine rebounds and four blocks. Logan Duhr added 17 points, while Reed Adler had 12 points and three steals. Brayden Van Riper added 12 rebounds and six assists, and Ethan Myers had 10 assists. Heights held a 46-36 lead in the second half, when Pecatonica went on a 16-5 run to take a 52-51 lead. The Vikings led, 58-56, when Fancsali grabbed an offensive rebound on a missed free throw with one second left. Heights called timeout and set up an inbounds play. There, Duhr was fouled, then with no time remaining, he stepped to the free throw line and calmly hit both attempts to force overtime No. 1.   In the first overtime, Fancsali made a basket off an inbounds play with 10 seconds remaining to help force a second overtime tied at 65. Heights had a chance to win it in the second overtime, but missed a three pointer at the horn, and the teams headed to a third OT tied, 71-71. In the final overtime, Heights trailed, 77-76, with 8.6 seconds remaining and got a terrific look at a layup, but could not convert. “Several times it looked like Pecatonica was going to pull away, but we made plays at the end of regulation and in the first overtime to keep the game going,” Krentz said. “Unfortunately, we could not come out on top.   “This was a terrific game to be a part of and both teams should be very proud of their efforts. It definitely was tough to be on the losing end, but you learn a lot in games like this and hopefully the experience helps us with postseason play right around the corner.” • Wisconsin Heights 66, Waterloo 59 — The Vanguards closed the game on an 8-0 run and survived a scare from the Pirates. Mike Fancsali led the way with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Reed Adler had 14 points. Brayden Van Riper had 13 points, six assists and four blocks, and Lucas Lemke had three steals. “Despite their record coming into the game, I knew Waterloo has been playing better,” Krentz said. “I knew they would put up a fight on their home court and they did just that.” Heights led, 37-28 at halftime, but could not shake the Pirates. Waterloo led, 59-58, in the final minutes before Heights finished the game on an 8-0 run behind two baskets from Adler and free throws from Fancsali and Logan Duhr.   The Vanguards shot a sizzling 51.2% (22-of-43) from the field and 46.2% from 3-point land (6-of-13). “Despite Waterloo making a run at us in the second half, we were able to respond by running our offense and knocking down free throws when it mattered the most,” Krentz said. “I was really pleased with the way we bounced back from Tuesday night and were able to get the job done on the road. Waterloo is not an easy place to play and we had to work very hard for this victory.” • On deck: Heights hosted Belleville Tuesday, then hosts Marshall Friday at 7:30 p.m. Postseason seeds will then be announced Sunday at 1 p.m. where the Vanguards will learn their playoff path.