Heights girls receive No. 8 seed

Wisconsin Heights’ girls basketball team received the No. 8 seed in its sectional and will host ninth-seeded Ozaukee in a WIAA Division 5 regional semifinal on Feb. 25. If the Vanguards win there, they’d head to top-seeded and defending WIAA Division 5 state champion Albany/Monticello for a regional semifinal on Feb. 28. The regional finals are March 1, while sectional play is March 6 and 8. Albany/Monticello was the No. 1 seed in its half of the sectional, followed by Chesterton Academy, Faith Christian, Palmyra-Eagle, Catholic Central, Williams Bay, Kenosha Christian Life, Wisconsin Heights, Ozaukee, Madison Country Day, Johnson Creek, Wayland Academy and Juda. “Our playoff path is going to be a challenge,” Heights coach Tyler Fuchs said. “I will spend this week watching film and scouting Ozaukee and Albany/Monticello and do what I can do to give the girls the best opportunity to be successful. This is an exciting time of the year.” The Vanguards also dropped a pair of games last week and fell to 10-10 on the season and 2-6 in the Capitol South Conference. Heights fell at Cambridge, 71-39, on Feb. 11, then dropped a 48-33 decision to visiting Black Hawk on Feb. 13. Sonja Severson had 14 points and six rebounds in the Vanguards’ loss to Cambridge. R.J. Kalscheur added nine points, two rebounds and two assists, while Avery Graham and Jocelyn Brabender both had five points. Cambridge made its first seven 3-pointers, raced to a 24-4 lead and never looked back. Heights trailed, 48-15, at halftime, but did outscore the Bluejays, 24-23, in the second half. “During halftime, I asked the girls what their thoughts were on the first half and a few responded that we were playing like we don’t care, which I agreed with,” Fuchs said. “I challenged them to care and compete in the second half and said that this game is probably out of reach, but let’s build some momentum going forward. The girls responded much better than I could’ve thought.” In Heights’ loss to Black Hawk, Severson had 14 points and four rebounds, while Brabender had nine points, nine rebounds, two assists and two steals. Haley Wipperfurth added five points, three assists and two steals, while Kalscheur pulled down six rebounds and Lydia Crowe had four rebounds. Heights was within 22-18 at halftime, but Black Hawk made two quick 3-pointers to open the second half and gradually pulled away. “Our offense went stagnant as we struggled to swing the ball quickly and get to the rim or take easy shots,” Fuchs said. • On deck: Heights was at Marshall Monday, then hosts New Glarus Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and hosts Pardeeville Friday at 7:30 p.m.