Heights has high hopes

The 2018-’19 season was a tough one for Wisconsin Heights’ girls basketball team. But the Vanguards believe they’re set for a reversal of fortune. The Vanguards went just 7-14 a year ago and finished fifth in the Southern Capitol Conference. But with every key player back — and a handful of gifted newcomers — Heights is optimistic it can challenge for a conference title. “Our goals and expectations are to compete for a conference championship, play hard and look to improve each game,” said Vanguards’ coach Bill Sullivan, whose team hosted Pardeeville Tuesday to begin its new season. “We will play with more tempo this year both on the defense and offensive end of the floor. The keys to our year will be to control the boards, avoid unforced turnovers and pressure the ball.” Leading the Vanguards will be senior Ashlee Adler, who averaged 10 points per game as a junior and was named second-team all-conference. Other top returners are seniors Kelsi Handel (8 ppg) and Natalie Hering (7.5 ppg), and junior Hana King (7.3 ppg). Additional contributors back from last season include seniors Miranda Keith (5.7 ppg) and Jada Wood (5.3 ppg), and sophomore Daryn Schaefer. “We look for them to improve on last year’s performances,” Sullivan said. Newcomers expected to help are Kylie Doherty, Sydney Duhr, Kaya Teela, Dayrn Schaefer, Ashlee Mickelson and Violet Laznicka. Sullivan believes the Vanguards’ overall depth will be their best in several years. “We have not had the numbers we have this year,” Sullivan said. “Most of the players have varsity experience and we look to build off of last year’s finish. We should have good leadership both on and off the floor. “We (also) have a nice group of freshman and sophomores playing JV that bring new energy to the floor in practice, that may be able to help us at the varsity level as the season progresses.” Marshall, which has won back-to-back WIAA Division 3 state titles, is the consensus league favorite. Cambridge, New Glarus and Belleville should all be strong, as well. But Sullivan said the Vanguards have plenty of strengths that could help make this a terrific year. “We would like to think we can be one of the top teams in the conference, but will need to control the pace of the games and be disciplined in the half court,” Sullivan said. “We are going to have to rely on our defensive pressure to create offense. “Offensively we have the speed and size, and will look to improve our shooting to extend defenses. Our practices will have to mimic game speed to become better as a team as well as individually.”